»The Great Train Robbery

Kate sent a copy of Michael Crichton's thrilling bestseller The Great Train Robbery. Fascinating for its detailed, fictionalized account of a bank heist, the book contains a delightful amount of early Victorian slang: some rhyming slang, some Cockney, and much from the "criminal class", all artlessly lumped together. Still, the narrative rushes along with exciting twists and characters.
The story no doubt inspired pieces of movies such as The Sting, Ocean's 11, The Limey, but the tales of grift, deceit, and ruthless thievery it contains are entirely its own.