Montmorency: Thief, Liar, Gentleman?

by Eleanor Updale

Book Overview

1875: When an ambitious young doctor rescues a scruffy thief on the point of death, he inadvertently creates Montmorency - whose life is split between the new London sewers and Victorian high society.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0439580358
• ISBN13: 9780439580359
• Release Date: April 2004
• Publisher: Orchard (NY)
• Length: 232 Pages
• Weight: 0.98 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.7" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Not a typical children's book

Montmorency is a difficult book to explain as it's not a typical young reader book. Taking place in the late 1800's, Montmorency is the psuedynom of a jailed thief recovering from injuries obtained during his bungled last job. As he heals from radical -- and groundbreaking -- surgeries, he formulates a plan to become a master thief. After his release, he puts his careful plan into place. During the day, he is Montmorency, a gentlemen with a penchant for fashion and opera. At night, he's Scarper, a thief who scurries through the sewers of London, robbing the very wealthy. His plan is thorough and complete. However, the more he enjoys his role as Montmorency, the less he enjoys his part as Scarper. Finally, he's given an out: a way to leave Scarper behind and still make a living in the role of Montmorency with a chance for societal respect. This is not necessarily a linear story: it's more of a character study. We agonize with Montmorency as he again and again goes over his plans. We suffer with him during his last days in prison and his re-working of the plan. Finally, we cheer him as he slowly drags himself out of the life of Scarper and into the life of a gentlemen. The vocabulary and the themes are better suited for more mature readers and the book serves as an excellent bridge into teen reading. Once you've read Montmorency, you'll want to read the rest in the series (four so far...).

Montmorency

Montmorency is an exciting book that makes you want to keep reading. When the book starts, Montmorency is running across rooftops and running away from the terror that he has feared for so long; he is afraid that he will now know what it is like in there. One year later waiting in prison, barely able to move, Montmorency meets a new cellmate. His name is Freakshow. Montmorency learns a lot from his newfound friend; most will be quite useful. A few days later Montmorency is free from prison and uses the tools that he learned from Freakshow in thievery. Montmorency loves thievery and the excitement behind stealing other people's belongings. But Montmorency wants to change his life to avoid going to prison again. Because he wants to change his life so that he doesn't get caught, but still loves to steal, he finds knew ways to avoid being seen when stealing. Montmorency is again drawn to stealing because of the hidden passages, the sewer system under the city, that he has found and the excitement stays with him. Even though Montmorency used the hidden passage as a way to not be seen, he had trouble in them as well. Montmorency had to watch his back when thieving because there could have been other people around, but he also needed to be careful during storms. Along the way of stealing, Montmorency gets to know people that could help him get away from the thievery way of life. Now it's up to you to see where Montmorency's life will lead him. My opinion of this book is that it is a great book for people who like mystery and suspense when reading. I loved this book because of that exact reason. I liked how the author created the characters and brought them to life. Another reason why I liked this book was because that as I read the characters and situations came to life, and I felt as if I was there. I recommend this book for people starting from the fourth grade and above. Because people younger than fourth grade may not understand what it says and may not be able to read it. There are some parts that may be confusing even for those in the fourth grade. Read this exciting book; if you don't you will be missing a chance of a lifetime.

My Kind of Guy

Montmorency is a thrilling novel filled with twists and turns about a very versatile criminal. Montmorency is set in the Victorian age in London, England, and was written by Eleanor Updale. Montmorency is the name given to this elusive criminal by the police after he fell through a skylight of a factory and was mashed up by a machine while trying to evade the police. During his time in prison, he became a new experimental toy for an up and coming doctor named Dr. Farcett. Farcett takes care of Montmorency and his work led Montmorency to a full recovery. While in prison Montmorency develops a new plan for his life as a thief, and devises new and exciting ways to get in and out of places leaving Scotland Yard scratching its head in dismay. I recommend this book for anyone above the age of 13, and I hope that you will enjoy this thrilling novel. Scotty

Stunning...

Eleanor Updale's first book is an amazing piece of literature. The book is intruiging, thought provoking, and throughly entertaining in an odd, Gothic sort of sense. The novel tells of Montmorency, who had once been an accomplished theif (one of the best in London) in 1875. Yet now, he was in prison, his body covered in horrible scars from his near-death expirence during a theft that got him thrown in jail. Entitled Prisoner 493, the man is taken out many times from jail to be used as a possesion, a project, by an unassuming doctor, who took M's mutilated body and "brought him back to life." Prisoner 493 is GIVEN the name Montmorency, as that was the name inscribed on the bag of tools the man was stealing on his "last" job. Through these scientific assembilies, Montmorency has learned this share of ideas from many presenters at these get-togethers. His favorite piece of information: the image of the near, underground sewer system in London, ingrained into his memory. When Montmorency is released from jail, he has already planned a scheme: he will use the new sewer system to sneak around London, striking quickly and seemingly disappearing. But, Montmorency strives to live a gentle, sophisticated life. The man comes up with a brilliant plan: He will live a double life, one of theivery, one of spledor. By day: Montmorency, a rich, society man that parades around London in his alluring clothes, attends operas, and resident at the upscale hotel, the Marimion. By night: Scarper, a theiving man who lurks in the sewers and take living at the gruby hotel, Convent Garden. Yet, soon enough, Montmorency finds just how hard it is to live a double life... Updale really knows how to keep a story rolling, and she does so beautifully. Her characters are full, three-dimensional people who you care for and wait with bated breath as you wait the outcome of event they become involved in. Montmorency would seem like a cold, desperate criminal, but he comes off as something totally different. The man is caring, compasionate, funny, and concerned. With a wonderfully done narrative, the book is a little Victorian-themed gem that I advise you read RIGHT AWAY! Don't miss this piece of great, mordern yound adult fiction ALSO: Updale has recently released a sequel to Montmorency: Theif, Liar, Gentleman? (the ending of this book will leave you concernced with a yearning heart...and leave the mind wanting more). While I have not read it yet, I cannot wait for the return of one of my favorite new anti-heroes.

Absolutely captivating!

I reluctantly picked up this book from the library, as its weird plot made me unsure of whether Ms. Updale could pull it off. But, as my rating tells you, she did! The plot is this: A petty thief falls through a roof when running from the police. Lucky for him, a doctor who is in bad need of some nation-wide acclaim decided to attempt to 'fix' the thief's broken body, almost like sewing this man together again. Needless to say, it works. The thief is named 'Montmorency' and thrown into jail, with frequent visits to the doctor's for further repair. The doctor then shows him off at science conventions and things like that. Montmorency gets tired of being shown off like this, and wants to have a new lifestyle. He finds his answer in the newly made London sewer systems. These are what he uses to navigate his way around England, preforming brilliant burglaries of various shops. But Montmorency needs an accomplice, and he later decides on who the lucky man is to be - himself! He takes on a double identity- Montmorency, the wealthy gentleman, and Scarper, his dirty servant-all while preforming these thefts. Can he keep his secret and live two lives? This is a captivating, wonderful book. Its plot is quirky without being too quirky. Montmorency is a brilliant, fun character. I simply couldn't put this book down; it held my attention and didn't let go. I strongly recommend this book to everyone. Go pick it up!