the four hundred

by Stephen Sheppard

Date not stated

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction

360 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Jason Waltz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very elegant tale told with polish and a fine sense of balance. Ends oddly after all the effort gone before it, leaving some speculation of sorts. Tells well the tale that greediness and impatience thwart all the best laid plans. Grand designs, grand descriptions, grand events, populated by cleverly crafted characters. Far better than a typical 'pool read.'

[Amanda J · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was painfully slow and I kept powering through to find the spot where I’d finally understand the point. It never scratched the itch, even once the plot came together. I like the concept, the execution didn’t do it for me.

[Bob Box · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read in 1980. Novel about the 1873 Bank of England forgery.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It would make a great movie. A caper story with a true basis.

[Henri Moreaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Four Hundred is a captivating historical crime novel let down by it's poor & obscure title.

"The Four Hundred" is a term coined by Ward McAllister in the 18th century referring to the social elite of New York City, as a non-American the title was a mystery as it seemed unrelated to a book about a great Victorian England crime. With this context in mind, it makes a lot more sense.

Nonetheless, once you get past the title (which actually saw this book languish on my shelf unread for 12 years) you find fictionalised story of the 1873 Bank of England Forgery. This forgery lead to a loss of over 100,000 pounds against the Bank of England and was only limited to this due to the tiniest of oversights which then unravelled the entire scheme.

The entire book moves forwards with determination that draws you into its historic world. First the plotting, then to the set up, then carrying out the crime, wrapping up, the error, the bailing out of England as fugitives then coming to the end is a climatic police chase, which being set in the 19th century, is on foot through terrace houses as the character in question frantically tries to reach a railway station to freedom.

Overall, a great novel based on real events, a novel which might lead you to wanting to know more about one of the greatest crimes in Victorian England.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

A difficult book to read. A good story but very hard to follow with four main characters and many aliases. Not sure, but may have been based on a true story but no real confirmation that it was. Sort of glad I read it but there were times when I could have tossed it in the fire. Don't think I will look for any other Sheppard books!

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

Three confederates in the United States in the 1870s plan to steal a large sum of money from the Bank of England using a confusing scheme using cash notes and relying on the time delay that occurs because of the slowness of transport. Their first scheme fails because of a very obvious oversight.

[Ray Perigard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting, well thought out caper

[Anna Wallman · Rating 4 out of 5]

captivating.