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The Great Train Robbery
- Narrated by: Michael Kitchen
- Length: 8 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Action & Adventure
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Summary
In teeming Victorian London, where lavish wealth and appalling poverty live side by side, Edward Pierce charms the most prominent of the well-to-do as he cunningly orchestrates the crime of the century. Who would suspect that a gentleman of breeding could mastermind the daring theft of a fortune in gold? Who could predict the consequences of making the extraordinary robbery aboard the pride of England's industrial era, the mighty steam locomotive? Based on fact, as lively as legend, and studded with all the suspense and style of a modern fiction master, here is a classic caper novel set a decade before the age of dynamite - yet nonetheless explosive....
Michael Crichton wrote and directed the screen adaptation of The Great Train Robbery, starring Sean Connery and Donald Sutherland.
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What listeners say about The Great Train Robbery
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Frankie
- 07-11-16
Entertaining and Informative
As always with Michael Crichton, his research is phenomenal, entertaining storyline but you always feel you have learnt a lot about the subject matter too. So in this case Mr Crichton includes relevant details on the history and beliefs of the time, the social etiquette and class restrictions and on a variety of matters from dog fighting to safes, prisons and the police force. A sad day when we lost this amazing writer full of imagination but committed to researching his subject matter.
7 people found this helpful
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- Just
- 02-02-20
The Great Download
Michael Kitchen reads this book well, and it is one of Michael Crichton's better books from the 1970s. For enthusiasts of Crichton, of Victoriana, of true crime, this will undoubtedly appeal. For those who just want an entertaining listen, then it will not disappoint.
1 person found this helpful
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- Eddie Kingham
- 04-12-18
A terrific listen!
Crichton is under-rated. This is yet another that proves it. Kitchen's narration is superbly dry.
1 person found this helpful
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- David
- 09-06-22
Stick with it...
Takes a while to get used to reader's tone and cadence but really comes together after a few chapters.
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- Miya B
- 12-04-22
Great story, brilliantly narrated
I found the start of the book a little slow and Michael Kitchen’s narration took a little getting used to but am I glad I did not give up. The story was itself fascinating, and made more so by being based on true events. But the absolute delight of this book are the characters brought to life by the amazing rendition of accents by Michael Kitchen. I am about to go listen to the whole thing again just for the pleasure of hearing the narrator again.
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- L. Broadhead
- 18-11-21
Enjoyable
Was not what i had expected. But i love most michael crichton book. But very enjoyable. I would highly recommend to everyone
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- TeePee
- 30-08-21
Brilliant
Absolutely brilliant. Not only a great story but also very informative about the time it was in. Michael Kitchen as usual on great form, thoroughly enjoyed it
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- Stuart Houston
- 20-06-21
Cracking yarn
Brilliant story and an education in Victorian Britain and it’s culture, values, prejudices and society. Gripping all the way through and expertly told and narrated. Fantastic read/listen.
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- Tony D
- 04-06-21
A great listen
At first it was hard to keep up with all the old slang, however, it is a great book that I stumbled on by accident.
The narration took time to get used to but, as the book went on i became
more in tune with it.
Have to say, the picture it paints of old Victorian London amongst the classes, the way they interacted and used each other, their living conditions and their never dull slang, is quite amazing.
What a place and time it must have been to live in.
Fully recommended as a listen.
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- Amazon Customer
- 30-10-20
Caper and History Lesson in one book
Loved this. The story is engaging on its own, the background vignettes about life in London in the 1850s make it all the better. Highly recommend.
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- stevenk1155
- 20-09-17
UTTERLY DELIGHTFUL!
A gem of a crime story, artfully told with liberal use of the amusing, endearing jargon of the criminal element in Victorian London, written in the form of brief chapters in a manner that engages the reader/listener, not least because the author manages to build and sustain suspense, even while providing strong hints and outright facts about what's to come.
The central figure leads a cast of characters worthy of a Dickens novel, and it's hard to imagine the superb performance of the reader being any better or more suitable for the historical setting and subject matter of the story.
An enthusiastic 5 STARS!
65 people found this helpful
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- Matthew
- 21-11-15
An unusual but rewarding listen
Any additional comments?
Michael Kitchen is not a typical sort of narrator, but he ends up being absolutely perfect for Michael Crichton's The Great Train Robbery, which is not a typical sort of novel. If you're familiar with Kitchen from FOYLE'S WAR, then just imagine Christopher Foyle reading an audiobook and you have some idea what to expect. Kitchen uses the same cadence and delivery that he does in that character, offering unusually breathy, matter-of-fact, brisk narration. It doesn't sound like someone narrating an adventure; it sounds like someone recounting events. And... that perfectly matches Crichton's writing style.
The Great Train Robbery is a novel, and some of the events are fictionalized, but it is based on true events. Crichton uses the same quasi-non-fiction style that he uses for his other historical novels like Eaters of the Dead or Pirate Latitudes. There are so many accurate period details and references to other events happening at the time or even events happening later that you think you're reading non-fiction... but then the events seem just a little too thrilling to be completely true. The novel is as much about early Victorian society as it is about the titular robbery, and it's largely a condemnation of that society. A story about the criminal element proves the perfect vessel for such condemnation, and Michael Kitchen proves the perfect narrator. He sounds like a professor - granted, a really interesting professor, probably the best you ever had - delivering a particularly good lecture. And that really does add to the reading experience!
The downside to Crichton's historical style is that you never really get into the characters' heads, since the tale is delivered as if by a researcher who would have no way of knowing their inner throughts. But then, rich characterizations were never what Crichton was best at anyway. What he's best at is making details - be they about genetics or viruses or Victorian London - fascinating and exciting. And that's certainly the case here.
Kitchen's unique style takes some getting used to, and despite being a fan of his, I wasn't sure I was going to like it at first. But stick with it, because you suddenly realize it's PERFECT for this material, and adds a lot!
109 people found this helpful
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- Wayne
- 06-10-17
Wonderfully researched novel based on true story
This 1975 novel was only the third published by Michael Crichton using his own name. It is not a techno-thriller like most of his novels, but the marvelous Victorian England trivia clearly demonstrates the normal quality of Crichton research obvious in all of his novels. I do not believe The quality of the story of The Great Train Robbery deserves 5 stars, but the Victorian trivia does. So does the narration.
26 people found this helpful
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- scott Ringwelski
- 22-08-17
Great pace and realism
read the book, saw the movie, but listening has been a great pleasure. Try it
17 people found this helpful
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- David E. Hurley
- 29-01-16
Outstanding Story and Performance
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
I would recommend this to everyone. This is the most perfect combination of story and performance I have ever heard, and I have heard a lot of good books. Michael Kitchen sets the perfect tone for Crichton's narrative. The writing is a history of Victorian England in itself and the story rushes along to a very satisfying conclusion
Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?
The plot moves from episode to episode with a great flow and engaging dialog. There is a great education in the slang of Victorian criminals that is in itself worth the reading. Find out how Scotland Yard got its name and what the nicknames for police are at that time. Authentic insight into the mores of Victorian England.
What does Michael Kitchen bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Michael Kitchen is the perfect choice for this story. His pace and accents bring Victorian England alive for the reader. This would not be the same without his perfect performance. His tone, pace and elocution are just right. When the occasion calls for it you can almost hear him insert his tongue into his cheek.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
The narrative of the ploy used to enter the railroad office is particularly engaging, but so were many of the other schemes to leverage Victorian customs to the advantage of the thieves. Many of these will make you laugh out loud
Any additional comments?
Listen to this book. It was great fun from beginning to end.
59 people found this helpful
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- Kristen R. Daniels
- 13-10-17
What a fun ride!
I really loved this book! It reminded me of a Sherlock Holmes book from the thief's perspective. Crichton does an amazing job giving you a feel for the era and the background info is what makes this book such a pleasure. Michael Kitchen is awesome in his narration, although it took me awhile to warm to his style.
My only criticism is that, after reading the book, I found out that Crichton had fictionalized the account and I wish I had known that from the start. I actually thought his account was completely factual (it is for the most part) and I felt kind of duped. But I would highly recommend this book!
12 people found this helpful
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- Dorothy
- 22-08-16
Great Book with lots of fun Victorian Trivia
I opted for this book because it was read by Michael Kitchen. I had previously listened to a Robert Goddard book read by Mr. Kitchen (no longer available) and loved his style. This book was a perfect fit for his narration style. I do understand why some might not be drawn to him as a narrator. But, I love his voice, tambour etc. and the clipped nature of his delivery.
The story itself is superb. What a great writer Mr. Crichton was! I am not a huge science fiction fan and I wished while listening that he had written more novels like this one.
The characters are all perfectly drawn and you definitely find yourself cheering on the robbers.
I don't want to give anything away. I did find that his little detours into history were fascinating and the explanation of Victorian street slang was very fun. I listened straight through. Could not stop. Highly recommend.
33 people found this helpful
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- Peggy and Cydney Kramer
- 31-08-17
absolutely wonderful!
the narrator was so excellent, I hung on every word. just loved it!
8 people found this helpful
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- Timothy
- 13-10-17
Exciting listen!
Some people will be put off by the narrator's style, or the additional tidbits of information that Crichton threw in to his historical, but I found both to be enjoyable and effective in setting the scene and tone of the era. I will likely listen to this piece again.
6 people found this helpful
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- Cameron McColough
- 04-08-17
Far different from the usual Critchon
Simply nothing short of Fantastic. I was skeptical, but extremely pleased i gave it a shot!
13 people found this helpful