On this day in 1891, early reports of Charles Wells and his success at the Monte Carlo Casino were trickling in. This brief bulletin in The Times was typical: GAMBLING…
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.
On this day in 1891, early reports of Charles Wells and his success at the Monte Carlo Casino were trickling in. This brief bulletin in The Times was typical: GAMBLING…
A very short news-agency telegram from Monaco reached some evening newspapers in Britain before they went to press on this day 125 years ago. LUCK AT MONTE CARLO [REUTERS TELEGRAM]…
Here’s an excellent offer that I spotted on the WH Smith website. The hardback edition of The Man who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo is on sale at the…
On this day 125 years ago, a commentary in the Nottingham Evening Post reflects Victorian views on gambling, an activity which many people regarded as a grave sin, on…
Having won the equivalent of hundreds of thousands of pounds on the previous day, Charles Deville Wells was now ready for a repeat performance. Although news of his exploits had…
CHARLES DEVILLE WELLS ARRIVES IN MONTE CARLO When Charles Wells placed an advertisement in The Times for a £75 loan (see yesterday’s post), he was presumably hoping that 80 people…
On this day, 125 years ago, Charles Deville Wells was poised to achieve the colossal wins at Monte Carlo which would make him famous. But he suddenly found himself in…
TRAFFIC CHAOS IN LONDON? WHAT’S NEW? Most of us fondly imagine that in the days before the motor car our streets were quiet, safe places where everyday life proceeded at…
On this day an advertisement in the Illustrated London News described Monte Carlo in the most complimentary terms as, one of the most quiet, charming, and interesting of spots on…
A report this day in the Kent & Sussex Courier states that the town of Tonbridge had just celebrated its Cricket Week with a smoking concert attended by 300 people…