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The Devil's Acre
 
 
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The Devil's Acre [Paperback]

Matthew Plampin
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
RRP: £7.99
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Please note that The Devil's Acre is the paperback edition of The Gun-Maker's Gift.


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Product details

  • Paperback: 432 pages
  • Publisher: Harper; First Thus edition (24 Jun 2010)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0007273975
  • ISBN-13: 978-0007273973
  • Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.7 x 2.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 128,929 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Matthew Plampin
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Product Description

Review

Praise for THE STREET PHILOSOPHER:

‘A galloping good story’ The Times

‘Lust, avarice, envy, revenge all play their part in this brilliantly told, well-paced story, which also begs the question, so relevant today, of just how close to action journalists and recorders of war should be allowed’ Daily Mail

‘Plampin’s historical research is impressive, as is his command of detail….his true gift of descriptive power’
Independent on Sunday

Product Description

A novel of intrigue, violence and conflicted loyalties from the author of The Street Philosopher.

What price to take hold of the devil’s right hand?

Spring, 1853. After a triumphant display at the Great Exhibition in London, the legendary American entrepreneur and inventor Colonel Samuel Colt expands his gun-making business into England. He acquires a riverside warehouse in Pimlico and sets about converting it into a pistol works capable of mass producing his patented revolvers on an unprecedented scale – aware that the prospect of war with Russia means huge profits.

The young, ambitious Edward Lowry is hired by Colt to act as his London secretary. Although initially impressed by the Colonel’s dynamic approach to his trade, Edward comes to suspect that the American’s intentions in the Metropolis are not all they appear.

Meanwhile, the secretary becomes romantically involved with Caroline Knox, a headstrong woman from the machine floor – who he discovers is caught up in a plot to steal revolvers from the factory’s stores. Among the workforce Colt has gathered from the seething mass of London’s poor are a gang of desperate Irish immigrants, embittered refugees from the potato famine, who intend to use these stolen six-shooters for a political assassination in the name of revenge. As pistols start to go missing, divided loyalties and hidden agendas make the gun-maker’s factory the setting for a tense story of intrigue, betrayal and murder.


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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
What a superb book, I can't remember the last time an author quite captures the atmosphere of Victorian England as well. The story of Colonel Samuel Colt opening a factory in Pimlico in London and his endeavours to establish the Colt revolver as the weapon of choice for the British Army is simply incredible. The Crimean War is also in the background less than in "The Street Philosopher" but overall a super book. More of the same please!
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Enthralling story 2 May 2010
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having read Matthew Plampin's first novel, I eagerly awaited this one & have not been disappointed.The synopsis of the story has been stated in earlier reviews,but I wanted to add that I feel there is a real depth to the characters & one cares what happens to them.The larger than life Colonel Sam Colt could be pictured clearly.The fact that there was a Colt factory in London was a revelation to me & the research into the life & times as lived by the characters is faultless.I like the fact that he imparts a great deal of knowledge without patronising the reader,& has given this reader a taste for exploring more historical novels.Bring on the next one Matthew Plampin, lets have more plot,murders & a bit of political intrigue.
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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Another great read 15 Mar 2010
By eah
Format:Hardcover
In his second novel Matthew Plampin delivers another gripping story packed with interesting characters. The historical detail is once again there in exactly the right measures to allow the reader to imagine the scene in 1853 but does not take away from the intriguing story of romance, secret plots and even murder. The characters are believable and well described with the story evolving at a good pace right to the last page. A very enjoyable book!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great way to learn some history
This story follows Samuel Colt who comes to London from US to set up a factory in the early 1850s. You will find out about his attempts to sell his newly invented revolver to the... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Janie U
This is THE way to absorb history
The inspiration for this historical novel is the Colt weapons factory, which actually did exist on the banks of the Thames in London in the 1850s. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Alison McVey
Enjoyable
I thought this was well written with a good pace and like the way the historical characters inter-played with the fictional ones. All in all, a good read
Published 16 months ago by Shaun
Brilliant
I have just read this book for the second time and it is even better re visited!
Published 19 months ago by John Pets
An eye opener
I found this novel a real eye opener since I knew very little about Colonel Colt, especially the fact that he even set up a works in London. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Mike Davey
Devil's acre
This was bought after reading the synopsys,I have started to read it twice,not a book to 'get into'easily,no 'hook' in the plot,it is a chore to read if I were to be truefull,shame... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Mr. P. Shoreland
A good read
I found this an enjoyable read, especially as I live fairly close to where much of the action takes place. Read more
Published 20 months ago by David Bradshaw
Not really got into this book
Bought this due to being on book club reading list, not really my sort of thing, found it difficult to get into.
Published 20 months ago by S. M. Martin
The Devil's Acre
Saw the review on the Channel 4 Book Club programme and thought it must be good for my partner who hardly ever reads novels, he cant put it down....praise indeed!
Published 20 months ago by Kim
A really enjoyable read!
I've just finished reading The Devil's Acre and absolutely loved it! For me, the novel had a real sense of pace in terms of story and character development, and I found it a... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Interested Reader
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