The train robbers

by Piers Paul Read

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Genres: History, True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

British novelist and non-fiction writer. Educated at the Benedictines' Ampleforth College, and subsequently entered St John's College, University of Cambridge where he received his BA and MA (history). Artist-in-Residence at the Ford Foundation in Berlin (1963-4), Harkness Fellow, Commonwealth Fund, New York (1967-8), member of the Council of the Institute of Contemporary Arts (1971-5), member of the Literature Panel at the Arts Council, (1975-7), and Adjunct Professor of Writing, Columbia University, New York (1980). From 1992-7 he was Chairman of the Catholic Writers' Guild. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (FRSL).

His most well-known work is the non-fiction Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors (1974), an account of the aftermath of a plane crash in the Andes, later adapted as a film.

Reviews

[Fonch · Rating 4 out of 5]

dedicated with affectione to the group of Sabbath Erin McCole Cup, Carolyn Astfalk, Joseph Pearce, and Mary Nash Fiorella.
Ladies and gentlemen, sometimes arise unexpected unpleasant, that escape him one. I had begun to write this review in the morning, but my sister came before, and rush keep bad criticism and I had to start from the beginning. The machines are as whimsical magical swords-(.) Why I am Distributista, although I are useful to write these reviews.
This criticism wrote it before making a scary final exam course in the language Center, and the people who dedicated to me, that as know few people who read my reviews and don't die of boredom. I am a collector of Catholic writers, and people who take my criticism are part of the most valuable findings of my collection. In the examination of the language Center (that by the way Absolutely Horrendous, and most likely left me is that you suspended it) one of the tests is called Listening and I train hearing conversations in English. COPM no who hold the political correctness of the TED talks I decided to listen to my friends. Here is the link that I heard and robe, to Carolyn Astfalk (who by the way, take this opportunity to present one of his novels), https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... (good looks, which has changed the link but I have to got :-) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyA7p...
, but I wanted to dedicate my criticism to the original participants Erin McCole Cupp https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
It is famous for his fantasy novels, and his retelling of "Jane Eyre" (my sister and I love). Regarding Mrs McCole only have a complaint that I I did not accept me, and if my friend Jorge Sáez Criado (with which shows your good taste, because Jorge is more handsome than me :-)) * joke *.) Corinna Turner together with Read that I'm commenting on her work is one of the few Catholic English writers from the United Kingdom and is famous for its dystopias, and his novels of fantasy. I've heard the rumor, although I don't know if it is true (that I say, that it is a rumor) that will soon be edited in Spain (I hope, that it is true, because I am looking forward to read it) https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... for my Pearce, no doubt already before we hear of it was interested in Catholic literature, but in the words of one of the characters from that disastrous film Troy Agamemnon/Cox all living Catholic writers Joseph Pearce dixit https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... is together my Juan Manuel de Prada https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
my favorite writer, but is my friend Manuel Alfonseca https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
which I love most of all. The book of "converts writers in an age of disbelief" Joseph Pearce https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
It is the second book of non-fiction more important, that I have ever read. Thanks to him I could discover great treasures. One of the things that I will always regret is that Joseph Pearce came to Valladolid to lecture, and when ended it not because I thought that my father would be angry with me, and shy I didn't have the value of ask to sign me his book. I always will regret this great act of cowardice-(.) The fifth writer did not participate in the Conference, but because of the love that I am I decided to include Mary Fiorella in the list. Because I wanted to devote a better critique that I have written, and also because it is that you love most, because it is that supports me with more patience (is that I have to say I am unacceptably heavy).
The book "the train robbers of Glasgow" buy it in a bookstore of second-hand books. Already knew to Piers Paul Read, which is the largest of the English Catholic writers alive. You could say that it is the last of a great lineage of Homeric Giants or literary giants as Professor Pearce. He has written no fiction, and fiction, and I as weirdo prefer you as writer of fiction, despite recognizing his talent in his history of the Knights Templar (where just the conspiracy version that people like Dan Brown. (To which by the way very soon will write a critique of the "code Da Vinci") https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... but perhaps the book, which has made him more famous (curiously the one I'm least interested) is "Alive" the story of a team of American football, whose plane crashed, and had to survive in the Andes. Is his work of fiction what attracts me Piers Paul Read's "Upstart" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
It is a mixture of the best work of two antagonistic writers (not you could not see) William Somerset Maugham https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... and Evelyn Waugh https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... with a touch of the criminal novel. Something, which we will see in this book of nonfiction, collecting the Harrogate train robbery (by the way this book has made that "Upstart" which the writer Manuel Alfonseca reward along with the novel by my friend "Jacob scale" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... & from_search = true as the best book of the year). That same year also the wonderful 'the daughter of the Professor " https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8...
It is the biggest slap, that has stuck him to the American progressivism, while not show critical interventions as the Viet Nam war. It was a severisimst corrective to the Hippie movement, and liberalism which today seem to be rising in the United States again. Piers Paul Read is Edmund Burke's https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
It seems he will praise or admire, to then attack with a punch, or crochet that already signed by Muhammad Ali. Their bite is more fierce than the shark's Benchtley https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... & from_search = true
, or Alten https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... Read is a critical against modernism that came out of Vatican II, also against the liberation theology as did shows in their brilliant "death of a Pope" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6... only regret one thing not having Unable to find more books to Read, which were published long ago, but are now unlocateable. This book (I'll follow the structure of my writing in English or writing. I was going to write about "The girl in the train" as can be seen in my criticism https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... I didn't like. But as it was the obligatory reading of the course, despite that David my teacher is not in favour of imposing books did not want to make blood. Asi_que I chose "Train robbers"). The book is divided into three parts. The sociological first that tells who's who, and the relations of the robbers with their families. Their lives as criminals, is organized the heist. A surprise, if there was the contribution foreign by one of the creators of ODESSA (the Organization of undercover nazis. We recommend the sensational novel by Frederick Forsyth https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... ). Skorzeny was a military success, and great value, which rescued Mussolini, kidnap the son of Horthy and fled to Spain, founding this network of nazis. Then Read tells us about the robbery. I must confess a thing, and it is that this book up to 200 page not was interested at all. I didn't know who was who, and theft I cared three peppers. Despite Arsene Lupin, Raffles & adorable Donald E. Westlake Boys ' Hot rock ' https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... Not attracted me history, in part to which I share the prejudices of Poirot (Agatha Christie character, with respect to crime "my attitude is very bourgeois, I disapprove it" unless that thief is others (the good thief), or Philip Gastón "Lady Hawk" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... (of course that the character played by Rutger Hauer Etienne Navarre :-) I like more), however a different fate to "Anno domini" https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... which was from least to most.) The second part which tells the capture, the fate of thieves, and leaks, which almost seem to great Evasion sacadas I reconciled with the book. Not to mention that the tone of it is very moral. More or less the same conclusion is very similar to that of "crime and punishment" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7... but does not fall on the Existentialism of a Bresson or Funimori Nakamura https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4... perhaps the most interesting is the Appendix counting as hired the bandits to Piers Paul Read through a South African called Gary Van Dick, as they almost reach the hands (is what you have to work with the criminal class. I think, I'm too Pharisee :-)) on if Skorzeny or Germans participated. Also like me, to Read as in "Alive" analyse the beliefs of criminals. I believe that the moral of the story is that despite the feat crime always pays, as I said to David. Enjoy Goodreads user. My next criticism will be the books of Tannia Lopes Ortiz https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... and the Lady Marta Luján de Argmenon 'The fall of Therram' https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... (that I liked a lot), and but I write them, eat me a Tysarus. I hope, that God is benign but fulfilled this oath.
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Dedicada con afecto al grupo Sabbath Erin McCole Cup, Carolyn Astfalk, Joseph Pearce, y Fiorella Mary Nash Damas y caballeros a veces ocurren imprevistos desagradables, que se le escapan a uno. Había empezado a escribir esta crítica por la mañana, pero mi hermana llegó antes, y con las prisas guarde mal la crítica y he tenido que empezar desde el principio. Las máquinas son como las espadas mágicas caprichosas :-(. Por eso soy Distributista, aunque me son útiles para escribir estas críticas.
Esta crítica la escribí antes de hacer un terrorífico examen final de curso en el Centro de Idiomas, y las personas a las que me dedicó, que como sabrán las pocas personas que lean mis críticas y no se mueran de aburrimiento. Yo soy un coleccionista de escritores católicos, y las personas a las que dedique mi crítica son parte de los hallazgos más valiosos de mi colección. En el examen del Centro de Idiomas (que por cierto me salió Absolutely Horrendous, y lo más probable es que lo haya suspendido) una de las pruebas se llama Listening y me entrene oyendo conversaciones en inglés. Copmo no hay quien aguante la corrección política de los TED talks me decidí a escuchar a mis amigos. Aquí dejo el enlace que oí y que le robe a Carolyn Astfalk (quien por cierto aprovecho la ocasión para presentar una de sus novelas) https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... (bueno parece, que ha cambiado el enlace pero lo he conseguido :-) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyA7p... , pero quería dedicar mi crítica a los participantes originales Erin McCole Cupp https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... que es famosa por sus novelas de fantasía, y por su retelling de “Jane Eyre” (a mi hermana y a mí nos encanta). Respecto a la señora McCole sólo tengo una queja que no yo me haya aceptado a mí, y si a mi amigo Jorge Sáez Criado (con lo que demuestra su buen gusto, pues Jorge es más guapo, que yo :-)) *broma*. Corinna Turner que junto con Read al que le estoy comentando la obra es una de las pocas escritoras inglesas católicas del Reino Unido y es famosa por sus distopías, y sus novelas de fantasía. He oído el rumor, aunque no sé si será cierto (por eso digo, que es un rumor) de que será próximamente editada en España (espero, que sea cierto, porque estoy deseando leerla) https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... En cuanto a mi Pearc, sin duda ya antes de oír de él estaba interesado en la literatura católica, pero en palabras de uno de los personajes de esa nefasta película Troya Agamenón/Cox dixit de todos los escritores católicos vivos Joseph Pearce https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... es junto mi Juan Manuel de Prada https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... mi escritor favorito, pero es mi amigo Manuel Alfonseca https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... al que más quiero de todos. El libro de “Los escritores conversos en una época de incredulidad” Joseph Pearce https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... es el segundo libro de no ficción más importante, que he leído nunca. Gracias a él pude descubrir grandes tesoros. Una de las cosas de las que siempre me arrepentiré es que Joseph Pearce vino a Valladolid a dar una conferencia, y cuando la terminó no porque pensaba que mi padre se enfadaría conmigo, y por timidez no tuve el valor de pedirle que me firmase su libro. Siempre me reprocharé este gran acto de cobardía :-(. La quinta escritora no participó en el coloquio, pero debido al cariño que le tengo he decidido incluir a Fiorella de Maria en la lista. Porque quería dedicarle una crítica mejor de las que he escrito, y además porque es a la que más quiero, porque es la que me soporta con más paciencia (es que debo decirlo soy intolerablemente pesado).
El libro “El tren de los ladrones de Glasgow” lo compre en una librería de libros de segunda mano. Ya conocía a Piers Paul Read, que es el más grande de los escritores católicos ingleses vivo. Se podría decir, que es el último de una gran estirpe de colosos homéricos o de literary giants como diría el Profesor Pearce. Ha escrito no ficción, y ficción, y yo como bicho raro lo prefiero como escritor de ficción, pese a reconocer su talento en su historia de los templarios (dónde acaba con la versión conspirativa que gente como Dan Brown. Al que por cierto muy pronto escribiré una crítica del “Código Da Vinci”) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... aunque quizás el libro, que le haya hecho más famoso (curiosamente el que menos me intereso) sea “Alive” la historia de un equipo de Fútbol Americano, cuyo avión se estrelló, y que tuvo que sobrevivir en los Andes. Con todo es su obra de ficción lo que más me atrae de Piers Paul Read “Upstart” https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... es una mezcla de los mejores trabajos de dos escritores antagónicos (no se podían ni ver) William Somerset Maugham https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... y Evelyn Waugh https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... con un toque de la novela criminal. Algo, que veremos en este libro de no ficción, que recoge el atraco al tren de Glsgow (por cierto este libro ha hecho que “Upstart” a la que premie junto a la novela de mi amigo el escritor Manuel Alfonseca “La escala Jacob” https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... como el mejor libro del año). Ese mismo año también la maravillosa “La hija del Profesor” https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8... que es el mayor bofetón, que se le ha pegado al progresismo americano, sin por ello no dejar de mostrarse crítico con intervenciones como la guerra del Vietnam. Fue un correctivo severísimo al movimiento hippy, y al liberalismo que hoy parece volver a resurgir en Estados Unidos. El estilo de Piers Paul Read es muy de Edmund Burke https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... , parece que va a alabar, o admirar, para luego atacar con un puñetazo, o crochet que ya firmaría Muhamad Ali. Su dentellada es más feroz, que la del tiburón de Benchtley https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... , o Alten https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... . Read es un crítico contra el modernismo que surgió del Vaticano II, también contra la Teología de la Liberación como hizo muestra en su brillante “Muerte de un Papa” https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6... Sólo lamento una cosa no haber podido encontrar más libros de Read, que se editaron hace tiempo, pero hoy se encuentran ilocalizables.
Este libro (voy a seguir la estructura de mi redacción de inglés o writing. Iba a escribir sobre “La chica del tren” que como pueden ver en mi crítica https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... no me gusto. Pero como era la lectura obligatoria del curso, pese a que David mi profesor no es partidario de imponer libros no quise hacer sangre. Así que escogí “Train robbers”).
El libro se divide en tres partes. La primera sociológica en la que se nos cuenta quien es quien, y las relaciones de los ladrones con sus familias. Sus vidas como delincuentes, cómo se organiza el atraco. Con una sorpresa, si hubo la aportación extranjera por parte de uno de los creadores de ODESSA (esa organización de nazis encubiertos. Recomendamos la sensacional novela de Frederick Forsyth https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... ). Skorzeny fue un militar de mucho éxito, y gran valor, que rescato a Mussolini, secuestro al hijo de Horthy y huyó a España, fundando esta red de nazis. Luego Read nos cuenta el atraco. Debo confesar una cosa, y es que este libro hasta la página 200 no me estaba interesando en absoluto. No sabía quién era quien, y el robo me importaba tres pimientos. Pese a Arsene Lupin, Raffles y los adorables muchachos de Donald E. Westlake “Hot rock” https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... . No me atraía la historia, en parte a que comparto los prejuicios de Poirot (el personaje de Agatha Christie, respecto al crimen “Mi actitud es muy burguesa, lo desapruebo” salvo que ese ladrón sea Demas (el buen ladrón), o Philip Gastón de “Lady Halcón” https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... (claro que a mí me gusta más el personaje que interpreta Rutger Hauer Etienne Navarre :-)), sin embargo corrió una suerte diferente a “Anno domini” https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... que fue de menos a más. La segunda parte en la que se cuenta la captura, el destino de los ladrones, y fugas, que casi parecen sacadas de la Gran Evasión me reconciliaron con el libro. Por no hablar de que el tono del mismo es muy moral. Más o menos la conclusión del mismo es muy similar a la de “Crimen y castigo” https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7... si bien no cae en el existencialismo de un Bresson, o Funimori Nakamura https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4... Quizás lo más interesante sea el apéndice contando como contrataron los bandidos a Piers Paul Read por medio de un sudafricano llamado Gary Van Dick, como casi llegan a las manos (es lo que tiene trabajar con la clase criminal. Creo, que soy demasiado fariseo :-)) sobre si Skorzeny o los alemanes participaron. También me gusto, que Read como en “Alive” analizará las creencias de los delincuentes. Yo creo, que la moraleja de la historia es que pese a la hazaña el crimen siempre paga, como le dije a David. Disfrutela usuario de Goodreads. Mis próximas críticas serán los libros de Tannia Lopes Ortiz https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... y el de la señora Marta Luján

[booklady]

Want to read this thanks to the review by my dear friend, Fonch, whose amazing review has me very interested! Thanks Fonch! Have read two others by this author, Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors and The Death of a Pope: A Novel, both very edge-of-your-seat books.

[Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had read a bit about this before but this book has so much more info and stories. Really interesting because it pulls in so many characters from the British underworld though it seems they were not gangsters just allowed to operate. It's a murky world and it's hard to imagine Britain being relatively poor, 5 pound notes were rare enough for the police to investigate one of the gang. There is a big caveat to the book that is explained at the end though I'm inclined to agree with the author, it's just too out there and a good reason that the gang tried to put it over. Really feel sad for them afterward too, especially Roy who could have probably made so much money just doing what he loved.

[James Tidd · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the early hours of Thursday 8th August 1963, fifteen masked men stopped a night train from Glasgow to London, robbing it of its cargo of £2.6million in unmarked bank notes.

It was later dubbed the 'Crime of the Century', and the thieves were pursued by Scotland Yard until half of the gang was behind bars. Justice Edmund Davies handed out sentences that caused barristers to gasp with shock. Some of the sentences of thirty years were longer than what would have been given for far more serious sentences. Then, two sensationally escaped and fled abroad, Ronnie Biggs to Australia, then Brazil, which had no extradition laws with Britain.

Many years later, the gang shared their story with the author, the bestselling author of the book Alive.

[Paul Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book, written with the co operation of many members of the gang. It is even more interesting as it includes a big lie that they were able to sell to the author!

[Richard Francis Rimmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A interesting read

One of those books that takes you on a journey, lots of mixed emotions. In think the author offers a balanced view

[Matt D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on a true story that reads like fiction. Great writing.

[Mr Allan Goldie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book I have read in recent months on The Great Train Robbery that I knew about as a young boy when it happened. It helped me build on my knowledge of how it took place and of the aftermath. The criminals and investigators are mostly dead now.....but I always remember this train robbery which was a massive crime in its day. This is a very good book to read.

[Tim Corke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Documentary on the human impact of the robbery from not only the police and the robbers, but also the families associated with them. The perception of a 'good life' that would be earned from the robbery is intelligently presented and shows what the 'good life' actually does mean when being on the run.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished the book, but not due to fantastic writing. Read too much like a list. But still, some great highlights and if you like robbery stories, this is a good one.

[Lucy Gray]

read this years ago - very good coverage of robbery.

[Laura 1 51 · Rating 5 out of 5]

My fav young read