Delighted to read another positive, five-star review of The Man who Broke the Bank on Amazon EB writes: “When I was a child, one of the songs my father sang…
Also available to purchase at Waterstones and as an audiobook on Audible.
The incredible true story of Charles Deville Wells, gambler and fraudster extraordinaire.
Now available in paperback. Includes newly discovered material and an extra chapter.
Essential reading for lovers of Victorian true-crime stories. The book takes readers on a roller-coaster ride through Britain, France and Monaco in the company of one of the greatest swindlers of the era as he pulls off one breath-taking coup after another. His amazing win at Monte Carlo is just one of many highlights in this true story, which reaches a climax when Wells is pursued across Europe in one of the biggest man-hunts of all time.
Also available to purchase at Waterstones and as an audiobook on Audible.
In 1891, during two visits to the Casino at Monte Carlo, Charles Deville Wells broke the bank several times and won £60,000 (equivalent to £6 million today). The present owners of the Casino admit that his success has never been satisfactorily explained. In ‘The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo’, author Robin Quinn sets out the possibilities .
To ‘break the bank’ means to clean out the cash reserve of the gambling table in question. Each table was stocked with 100,000 francs in cash at the start of each day. If a player ‘broke the bank’, that table was temporarily closed and was covered with a black cloth.
Soon after he broke the bank, Charles Deville Wells bought an old cargo ship, the Tycho Brahe, and converted her into a luxury yacht, re-naming her Palais Royal. At 291 feet in length, the vessel was one of the largest pleasure craft in the world. Even today, she would be in the top-50 of yachts in terms of size.
After Charles Wells broke the bank in 1891, his exploits inspired composer Fred Gilbert to write a song entitled – naturally – The Man Who broke the Bank at Monte Carlo. This became the hit song of a generation and remained popular for well over half a century. The singer most closely associated with it, Charles Coborn, made at least five separate records featuring the tune, and once said he had performed it on stage a quarter of a million times.
Delighted to read another positive, five-star review of The Man who Broke the Bank on Amazon EB writes: “When I was a child, one of the songs my father sang…
The tiny principality of Monaco is the second-smallest sovereign state in the world, and could easily fit into London’s Hyde Park with room to spare. Yet it has become…
Many thanks to “Amazon Customer”, who has reviewed The Man who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo and awarded the book five stars ∗∗∗∗∗ The review reads as follows: This…
While I was writing The Man who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo I found it difficult at first to picture the layout of the Casino when Charles Wells went…
I was delighted to read an article about Charles Deville Wells – based on my book – in yesterday’s Sunday Express. If you missed it, you can read all about…
It was great to see coverage of The Man who Broke the Bank in Friday’s Daily Mail. My thanks to journalist David Leafe for his article.
I found it a little difficult to keep track of Charles Wells’ activities, as so much happened between his arrival in Britain from France in about 1883, and the period…
Monday, 3 August, was a bank holiday — one of the country’s few days off work, a rare day of rest for the majority of people. Britain woke from its weekend…
Today Charles Deville Wells’ first visit to Monte Carlo was almost over. Having observed his astonishing achievements for several days, the local correspondent for Reuter’s News Agency telegraphed this report…
‘The Man who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo – Charles Deville Wells, gambler and fraudster extraordinaire’ is now available from the following online booksellers: WH Smith £12.99 (hardback) £7.19…