The Great Train Robber: My Autobiography
The Inside Story of Britain's Most Notorious Heist
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The Great Train Robber: My Autobiography
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Narrated by:
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Nick Reynolds
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By:
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Chris Pickard
About this listen
What is it that fascinates so many people about Ronnie Biggs and makes him a household name sixty years on from the crime that made his name? Is it the man or the myth that makes Ron a latter-day Robin Hood, and the odd man out who is best remembered from a gang of sixteen who held up a mail train in August 1963?
This book covers Ron's entire life including the Great Train Robbery, his conviction and subsequent escape from HMP Wandsworth. Ron tells how he managed to outrun and outthink the posse of law enforcement officers and the media that chased him around the world as one of its most wanted men. From his time in Australia, to his discovery and arrest in Brazil in 1974, it is all included here. It covers the two attempts to kidnap him, and his son Mike's rise to stardom.
For the first time Ron tells exactly what has happened to him since the early 1990s to today, including his strokes, his attempted suicide, the death of his partner and friends, the extradition attempts, the Rio carnival tribute, his decision to come back to the UK, and his much publicised return in 2001 after 13,068 days on the run. It also covers his death in 2013 and the legacy he leaves behind.
This is not only Ronald Biggs' autobiography; it is also the most complete biography of one of the most famous names in British life of the last 50 years. A brand-new 10,000-word timeline covers not only the life and times of Ronald Biggs, but includes the most detailed timeline and facts ever published about the events surrounding the Great Train Robbery itself.
This book will stand the test of time as the most complete telling of the life and times of the man who is Ronald Arthur Biggs, and his part in the Great Train Robbery.
©2023 Chris Pickard (P)2023 Bonnier Books UKListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about The Great Train Robber: My Autobiography
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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
- Eric Thorley
- 06-08-24
The detail
I could let my imagination take me into the night of the most prolific heist of all time, a great read.
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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
- Amazon Customer
- 11-12-24
great
a good in depth true story with a top narrator, what else would you want
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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
- Tim
- 05-10-23
the great train robbery
fantastic story. Well told full of emotions. how vould you not warm to Ronnie.
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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
- Pam
- 10-07-23
Absolutely superb
A gripping listen - I was drawn into the book from the start and the narration was as if I was listening to Ronnie himself.
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3 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
- Amazon Customer
- 24-09-24
Fascinating listen.
A great listen. Shame I finished it so quick.
A fascinating story well narrated.
A great listen if you like True Crime.
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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
- MR DAVID I SUTTON
- 02-04-24
Thoroughly enjoyed!
Listened to this and the Bruce Reynolds autobiographies back to back and found them really interesting. Working alone as a tradesman you need something to get through it! Thinking about the long sentences most served and with the entrepreneur skills I wondered if the robbery needed to be completed in the first place? Then again there's the thrill and a massive chunk of money that I'm sure not much can replace.
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1 person 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
- Steven P.
- 31-01-24
Great storytelling.
Like many, I was familiar with the story of Ronnie Biggs story up to and including his escape but I knew very little about his 30+ years on the run. A thoroughly engaging story and Bruce Reynolds son Nick does his dad’s old pal Ronnie proud with his narration.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- M. D. Wilson
- 15-01-25
vary interesting and detailed
nothing , I enjoyed it all . I would definitely recommend. very good read indeed
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dikidido
- 24-03-25
What a Wife
What stands out for me is the story of an incomparable, loyal, long- suffering woman and wife. I suspect she was a wonderful woman as well. Ronald Biggs was avery lucky man.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Birdie
- 21-03-25
Interesting
It was an interesting story. I remember the great train robbery but never really thought much about the gang members . Don’t get me wrong, I knew Ronnie Bigg’s name and I remember seeing some of the photographs in the national papers about his life in Rio. His cat and mouse game with the authorities, his relationships, his long suffering wife and his exploits make this a fascinating story. He really was a kind of old school criminal, unlike the criminals of today. For that, you have to have respect for him.
I didn’t realise his son was a famous musician as a child. I listened to their theme song and it’s quite catchy. His relationships with the rich and famous were fascinating. Despite not making a huge amount out of the great train robbery, he didn’t do too badly financially the back of his notoriety. In addition, he had pretty good friends who seemed to be happy to bail him out whenever necessary.
I think the thing that I feel most mostly about this is that the detail is significant and I wonder how much of this came from his memory. He talks about people writing versions of his story with lots of poetic license, but I don’t think any of our memories are that effective and accurate so who knows….
The political pressures on sentencing the great train robbers leaves a lot of questions unanswered. Scapegoated springs to mind.
Finally, the narration was appropriate but a little monotone.
I didn’t give it a higher rating because I did find it went on a bit, especially at the end. However, it’s worth a listen.
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