A thinking man's adventure-thriller -- even more so than any of his other works, this is easily Crichton's second-best novel over the course of his career. In almost every other effort he relentlessly covered contemporary or near-future territory and the theme of scary, or potentially dystopia-invoking technology. Here, 'Train Robbery' is where he really wrote something out of his usual comfort zone. Something really unique both for him and for the thriller genre.It has quite a lot going for it. Historical setting, Anglophilia, some racy sexual peccadilloes; atmosphere; detailed settings and observations about the Victorian era; and fun characters. A mixture of history and embroidery; all with an engaging theme of larceny. The story of the robbery itself, was unknown to most Americans at the time of the book's release--and perhaps still is. But the novel wowed those with a love for intelligent escapism; and stunned even those who thought they knew everything Crichton could do. They didn't. This concept --and the research needed to be carried out in order to tell the tale--landed with a very satisfying splash. There's almost no complaint which can be leveled at it. Crichton was a superbly adroit, confident, polished storyteller. This strange crime yarn rollicks along with truly jolly, brisk, pacing and for once--in a work of Crichton's--there is no doom or gloom.Crichton must have been a secret train enthusiast, can be the only deduction one can make: the book is obviously a labor of love. He coined some charming sequences in knitting together the threads of the story: the train sequence naturally happens at the end.What you absorb long before you get there is a cornucopia of information about the Victorian underworld. The protagonist, strolling through a dark alley, about to be waylaid by cutpurses--suddenly extends a sword-cane. A harlot and a bobby have a confrontation. A wealthy merchant visits a brothel to get rid of a venereal disease. Another merchant has his pocket picked and the wallet replaced before he knows it was gone. Information about Londoner's paranoid fears of premature burial. Factoids about the dangers of 'railway sway' upon early carriage trains. The whole thing is just fascinating: data interwoven with light bits of dialog and repartee as four mysterious safe-keys must be obtained to open the safes aboard a moving train. So it is the tale of four separate individual Victorian heists, rather than just one.Best and most monumental scene in the book: the details of how a veteran cat burglar cracks a safe in less than a minute, inbetween rounds of a passing sentry, in the dark, in stockinged feet. This scene was lost in the movie version; perhaps it is un-filmable. But you can hardly ask for a more riveting treat of a book.
Reasons why I implore you to check out this bookThe Setting: The 1850's, Victorian England. Rich, colourful and detailed, this is one of the most dynamic periods of English history, forever loved by readers both young and old. It was a world of contradictions: beneath the aforementioned richness, lay the pall of poverty, sickness, prostitution and death, harboured by the ongoing Industrial Revolution. The author, Michael Chrichton flits so seamlessly between the two, that it creates a wonderfully vivid picture!The Plot: Like another fellow reviewer so correctly said (I could not have put it better), imagine "Oceans Eleven" in Victorian England, and you will get the plot! Edward Pierce, a charismatic 'cracksman', or master thief, plans a heist to steal a shipment of twelve thousand pounds being transported on a train from London for the Crimean War. The novel, written mainly with the help of court proceedings ( It is based on a TRUE incident) talks about how he brought his plans into execution.The Protagonist: The (anti)hero is so drool worthy that I actually fell in love with him! Yes, he's your typical bad-boy. He uses people for his needs, pretends to be in love with a rich lady with an ulterior motive, and even engages in stealing the government gold. But inspite of all that, he has a spark. His unabashed love for the thrill of flirting with danger makes him quite a thinking woman's sex symbol.The Structure: The book is divided into 5 parts: * Preparations * The Keys * Delays and Difficulties * The Great Train Robbery * Arrest and TrialWith short chapters(which is great as you can leave at any time, though you'd never feel like; instead, they'd make you feel like reading just one more before you go, which will end up making you read the full thing in a couple of sittings), Crichton does a marvelous job of describing the incidents along with providing a very interesting social and criminal commentary on the Victorian Age. Fast paced, and very gripping, this book is a perfect read for those long train journeys.The Ending: I have hardly ever come across such a stylish book ending. I only wish that the heist had taken place a good 40 years later, so that Dr. Watson might have been able to chronicle Mr. Holmes' reactions to the matter. I would love to see a battle of brains between the enigmatic detective (who I'm sure Scotland Yard would have approached, with the case) and the smartest criminal of the Victorian Era.Wait. Am I actually blurring the line between facts and fiction? Never mind, that's what stories are for anyway.Off I go, for another great read. You my dear reader, by the way, do give this book a chance and experience the thrill for yourself!
What do You think about The Great Train Robbery (1979)?
All I'm going to say about Crichton is that he has a knack for what I call the "miracle ending". In one summer I read Congo, Jurassic Park, The Andromeda Strain, Terminal Man, The Great Train Robbery and Sphere. I felt the same about each of them when I finished each. He's a very good writer with captivating storylines, dead on science, compelling plot and in depth characters, but...I feel like he gets tired of writing the same story or can't properly tie things together at the end so he has some miraculous event do it for him.
—Ed G
This book had all the ingredients for a great adventure -- a charming rogue for a lead character, an intricate Ocean's Eleven-style heist, a well-drawn Victorian London setting (you could almost feel Sherlock Holmes in the background investigating), and top-notch writing.However, since it is made clear in the beginning of the novel that the heist was pulled off successfully, the story is lacking any "will they or won't they pull it off" suspense. The fact that the novel is still so gripping and enjoyable is a testament to the late Michael Crichton -- and make no mistake, the novel is gripping and quite enjoyable.
—Eric
Based on factual accounts through excerpts of the trial, Crichton delivers a fast-paced Victorian crime story. I liked how Crichton set up the story from the inception, to the planning, to the mishaps, and eventually to the execution of The Great Train Robbery. Edward Pierce, the mastermind behind The Great Train Robbery of 1855, is a smart and calculating character. As a reader, I found myself rooting for the bad guy, so to say, as Crichton did a fantastic job telling the story through the eyes of the people behind the robbery. Crichton also interjects nuances and background knowledge on 19th century Victorian socitety throughout the book. By doing so, this allowed the reader to understand the thoughts behind the characters. Overall, a quick read that is just plain fun to read.
—Agatha Diaz
