The Penguin Book of Gaslight Crime: Con Artists, Burglars, Rogues, and Scoundrels from the Timeof Sherlock Holmes (Penguin Classics) [Paperback]

Michael Sims (Editor, Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 31, 2009 | Series: Penguin Classics

An exclusive collection-the first- ever gathering of rogues from the gaslight era

collected here for the first time: the best crime fiction from the gaslight era. All the legendary thieves are present-Arsène Lupin and A. J. Raffles, Colonel Clay and Simon Carne, Romney Pringle, Get Rich Quick Wallingford, and the Infallible Godahl-burgling London and Paris, conning New York and Ostend, laughing all the way to the bank. Also featured are stories by distinguished writers from outside the mystery and detective genres, including Sinclair Lewis, Arnold Bennett, H. G. Wells, and William Hope Hodgson.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Noted for such science books as Darwin's Orchestra and Adam's Navel, Sims has compiled a thoroughly enjoyable anthology of what he calls caper stories from the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Notable authors include Raffles's creator E.W. Hornung (Nine Points of the Law), as well as names not usually associated with the crime genre like Sinclair Lewis (The Willow Walk) and Arnold Bennett (A Comedy on the Gold Coast). All 12 tales are classics—suspenseful, humorous and charming. One can only hope for a sequel that will include a couple of curious omissions, namely Maurice Leblanc, of Arsène Lupin fame, and R. Austin Freeman, creator of art forger Danby Croker. (Apr.)
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Review

"Thieves respect property. They merely wish the property to become their property that they may the more perfectly respect it."
-G. K. Chesterton

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Classics (March 31, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0143105663
• ISBN-13: 978-0143105664
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #821,718 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The treasurehouse, January 8, 2011

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DG or GD - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Penguin Book of Gaslight Crime: Con Artists, Burglars, Rogues, and Scoundrels from the Timeof Sherlock Holmes (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

Short, fun, and the best of the best. Loved it and keep it handy to pick up at the brief, lingering time

3 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Way Over Priced - Even more than the dead tree version, June 16, 2010

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Tek2000 (Phoenix, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Penguin Book of Gaslight Crime: Con Artists, Burglars, Rogues, and Scoundrels from the Timeof Sherlock Holmes (Penguin Classics) (Kindle Edition)

I'm willing to pay extra for public domain works that have been properly formatted and proofed with good hyperlink navigation, non-generic cover, and a separate table of contents. Especially when they've been carefully selected for an omnibus like this one. But Penguin is asking more than the cost of the physical copies! I might pay as much as $2.99, but never $12.99! If they keep this up, they may have to change their name from penguin to dodo. I won't buy anything from them.