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| Book Title | The Great Train Robbery |
| Genre | Thriller |
| Author | Michael Crichton |
| Publisher | Ballantine Books |
| Published | 1995 |
| Format | Mass Market Paperback |
| Condition | Good |
| Condition Notes | Pre-owned mass market paperback with moderate shelf and reading wear. The front cover shows noticeable rubbing along the edges and spine, small creases and scratches, light surface scuffing, and wear at the corners, including heavier rubbing near the upper-left and lower edges. There is some age-related discoloration to the lighter lettering and general handling wear across the cover. Despite the cosmetic wear, the cover remains intact, the artwork is bright and clearly readable, and the book presents as a solid vintage reading copy. |
| Condition | Good |
Victorian England, 1855. A fortune in gold is being regularly transported by train from London to the coast to finance British troops fighting in the Crimean War. The shipment appears virtually impossible to steal: the gold is locked inside heavily secured safes, multiple keys are carefully guarded, and railway officials believe their security system cannot be defeated.
Master criminal Edward Pierce thinks otherwise. Intelligent, sophisticated, and extraordinarily patient, Pierce begins constructing an elaborate plan to steal the gold without anyone realizing what he is attempting until it is too late. Every key must be copied, every security procedure studied, and every participant must perform perfectly.
Inspired by the real Great Gold Robbery of 1855, Crichton turns the historic crime into a clever, fast-moving combination of heist story, historical adventure, and suspense thriller. The pleasure lies as much in watching the intricate plan come together as in discovering whether Pierce and his accomplices can actually pull it off.
EugeneBookStore Summary
The Great Train Robbery shows a different side of Michael Crichton. Instead of futuristic science or medical technology, he takes readers into Victorian England for an intricately planned criminal caper based on an actual historical robbery. Packed with period detail, ingenious schemes, colorful characters, and steadily building suspense, it is an excellent choice for readers who enjoy intelligent heist stories and historical thrillers.
Collector Notes
Originally published in 1975, The Great Train Robbery became another major success during Crichton’s early career. Crichton later wrote and directed the 1978 film adaptation, starring Sean Connery, Donald Sutherland, and Lesley-Anne Down. This Ballantine mass market paperback carries ISBN 9780345390929 and features the dramatic locomotive cover artwork along with prominent promotion of Crichton’s bestselling Disclosure. It is a later paperback rather than an early collectible printing, but it remains an attractive period edition for readers building a Michael Crichton collection.
