Alice Diamond and the Forty Elephants
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Alice Diamond and the Forty Elephants
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Narrated by:
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Adna Sablyich
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By:
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Brian McDonald
About this listen
The Forty Elephants were unique in the annals of British crime. Known also as the Forty Thieves, they were the country's only all-female crime syndicate, a gang of tough but glamorous young women who plundered the fashion stores and jewel shops of the West End, took their lovers from the among London's most notorious gangsters, and terrorised their rivals, male and female alike.
Their roots lay with the Elephant Gang, a band of highwaymen who once haunted the Elephant and Castle coaching inn south of the Thames and whose reputation descended through generations of cutthroats. In the dying years of Queen Victoria's reign, their women forged a name of their own.
But it was in the early years of the 20th century that Alice Diamond led the Elephants to their greatest infamy. Born the oldest of eight children in Lambeth Workhouse Infirmary, Diamond was the daughter of a jailbird and by her teens was said to be the cleverest shoplifter in London. Newspapers described her gang as 'notorious for their good looks, fine stature, and smart clothing' as well as for stealing the most expensive silks, gems, and furs. One detective described how they would descend 'like a gang of locusts' in taxis and chauffeur-driven limousines, cleaning out a store inside one hour. They also used the motor-car and train to travel the country, targeting shops and warehouses, wearing specially made skirts and knickers to hide their plunder and spending their ill-gotten gains on a life of mad excess.
Crime historian Brian McDonald has uncovered a wealth of material to write the first ever full-length account of these remarkable women and their scandalous exploits, now available for the first time as an audiobook read by Adna Sablyich.
©2015 Brian McDonald (P)2018 Sharp Eared Owl AudiobooksListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about Alice Diamond and the Forty Elephants
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 07-07-23
Interesting Story Unbearable Narration
This is a very interesting story which will appeal to anyone interested in womens’ history, London’s history or crime history. However, the narration is almost unlistenable.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- IndyCurl
- 07-03-19
FANTASTIC
It's a fascinating book as it is, but it's taken to a new level as an audiobook. The narrator brings history to life and walks you through the complicated threads and characters effortlessly. Fab listen.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Martin
- 22-09-22
great book
my old dad was born in Queens Buildings Borough, & went on the be an Elephant boy.. e could as a proper punch up e could.. e was very tough, funny, kind, very game, a real gentleman when need be, & would not tolerate bullies..
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Nogbad the bad
- 18-10-19
Interesting
A very interesting story but ruined by the worst narration I have ever heard I had to turn it off
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Mrs J Waring
- 28-11-23
Disappointing
The title & précis of this book sounded fascinating. It may actually be fascinating, but there are two issues. Firstly, the material does not seem to have an organising principle nor any clear structure. The narrative darts from one event or character to another, lots of vignettes but no connections. This makes it very hard to understand what point, if any, the author was hoping to illustrate by his choices of material. It’s as though months & months of research have just been hurled onto the pages with no editing at all. It’s incoherent. Secondly, and this is purely a subjective reaction, I found the narrator’s voice impossible to listen to. Sadly I had to abandon Alice & her Elephants which fails to live up to the enticing promise of its title.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 04-04-24
A foreign accent?
This book was not only a jumble of dates and names but everything totally mashed up by a narrator with an Eastern European accent. It was a job in itself to remain interested when every fifth word was strangled. I gave up in the end and congratulated myself on hanging in for so long. In future I’m not downloading anything that doesn’t have a sample.
Very disappointed.
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