The Napoleon of Crime: The Life and Times of Adam Worth, Master Thief | 
pick#NoPlaceLikeHolmes @Cuilin (apologies for co-opting your hashtag 🙇♂️)
Well, it's been about 35 years since I read this book, but it has stuck in my memory as it's about the inspiration for one of literature's greatest villains: Adam Worth, the original Napoleon of Crime upon whom Doyle based Professor Moriarty.
Worth is in the top roundel, his suitably inscribed headstone in the middle, and Macintyre's book at base. ⬇️
Bookwomble The hogtied gentleman is Jack "Junka" Phillips, Worth's musclebound butler (!), bodyguard and heist accomplice, seriously not wanting his mugshot taken by the Pinkertons! 3mo
Bookwomble At the time I read this book, I was working at Tesco head office in Hertfordshire, their training centre being in a nearby manor house they'd purchased, Ponsbourne Park, where I spent a number of riveting days over the years. I was, therefore, quite pleasantly surprised to read that it was from this house that Worth stole a Gainsborough painting. Training days were never quite the same after that! 😆 (edited) 3mo
Cuilin Oh thank you for this post. # completely appropriate. Who knew working at Tesco head office would lead to such an exciting story. I‘d be telling that at every dinner party, pub chat, coffee morning etc 😆 3mo
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GingerAntics Ooooooooh I need to read this book now! What a cool fact about the Tesco head office! I cannot wait dig into this gem! 3mo
Bookwomble @Cuilin I looked to see if there was any info at the hotel re the noteworthy theft but there wasn't. Maybe the hotel clientele of mainly wedding parties and visiting business people wouldn't have appreciated it🤷♂️ I dealt with insurance claims & litigation for Tesco, including one re this hotel when a groom cuckolded on his wedding day punched his best man through a dining room window, followed by their respective wives having a punch up 😄 (edited) 3mo
Bookwomble @GingerAntics My autism needs to clarify that the actual head office was based at Cheshunt in my day, in a Brutalist concrete edifice resembling a KGB black ops detention centre. Ponsbourne Park was a few miles up the road, a former stately home part run as a hotel, part converted to host management training courses and seminars. Thank you for your patience and indulgence! ♾️😄 3mo
GingerAntics @Bookwomble my autism greatly appreciates that clarification! I am still in love with this story of how you came to this book! 3mo
dabbe Incredible information! Thank you! And you can co-opt #NoPlaceLikeHolmes anytime. You're a de facto member of our group! 🤩🤩🤩 3mo
Bookwomble @GingerAntics My autism says "You're welcome" ? 3mo
Bookwomble @dabbe Aww, thank you! 🥰 3mo
