{"product_id":"the-minerva-club-9781788422697","title":"The Minerva Club","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Minerva Club might look like any other London gentlemen's club but behind its respectable and discreet fa ade, some of the most ambitious schemes for heists, money-making and evasion of the law are being worked out. It's an exclusive club for criminals. Entry qualification: members must have served a prison sentence of two years minimum. Though the club's criminal ventures don't always go as planned...\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom trying to break into an old prison cell and stealing a stash of jewels hidden during a previous incarceration, love getting in the way during a hideout from the police, a cleverly planned break-in being interrupted by an unexpected guest, to figuring out where to steal a last-minute wedding cake - the club's amiable criminals somehow always achieve their goal in the most surprising ways. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis collection of five short stories follows the Minerva Club's (mis)adventures and evokes the very best of humorous classic crime fiction.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePraise for Victor Canning: \u003cp\u003e'His gift of story-telling is obviously innate. \u003cstrong\u003eRarely does one come on so satisfying\u003c\/strong\u003e an amalgam of plot, characterisation and good writing.' \u003cem\u003ePunch\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'Quite delightful ... with an atmosphere of quiet contentment and humour that \u003cstrong\u003ecannot fail to charm\u003c\/strong\u003e.' \u003cem\u003eDaily Telegraph\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'A swift-moving novel, \u003cstrong\u003ejoyous, happy and incurably optimistic\u003c\/strong\u003e.' \u003cem\u003eEvening Standard\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'There is \u003cstrong\u003esuch a gentle humour\u003c\/strong\u003e in the book.' \u003cem\u003eDaily Sketch\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'What counts for most in the story ... is his \u003cstrong\u003emounting pleasure in vagabondage and the English scene\u003c\/strong\u003e.' \u003cem\u003eThe Times\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'A paean to the beauties of the English countryside and \u003cstrong\u003ethe lovable oddities of the English character\u003c\/strong\u003e.' \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Duckworth Books Ltd\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 07\/17\/2020\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781788422697\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 112\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.26lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 7.80h x 5.08w x 0.27d","brand":"Victor Canning","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40040169767093,"sku":"9781788422697","price":11.04,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_fa71e78e-3bc6-4e66-a4bd-97ee6fb587a9.jpg?v=1621341147","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/the-minerva-club-9781788422697","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}