In the twilight of the 19th century, as the Old West collides with the opulence of the Gilded Age, one man embarks on a journey that would redefine his life. The Gambler's Game is a captivating historical fiction saga that follows the extraordinary life of a mid-western baseball player turned high-stakes gambler. His audacious spirit leads him from the dust-chocked plains to the refined ambiance of English garden parties and the allure of Belle Epoque Monte Carlo.
This romantic tale will transport you to a time when anything was possible, where dreams were chased, and risks were taken. With every turn of the roulette wheel, you'll feel the adrenaline rush through your veins as Bill makes daring bets, all while trying to win over the elusive Miss Erskine-Shaw.
This is a story of self-discovery in a rapidly changing world. The Gambler's Game lures readers into a realm where the echoes of gunshots meet the clinking of champagne glasses, and the magnificent network of railways and steamships takes the reader on grand adventures.
Bill ultimately finds himself torn between his love of gambling and a woman who might make him give it all up. Based on a true story.
In the twilight of the 19th century, as the Old West collides with the opulence of the Gilded Age, one man embarks on a journey that would redefine his life. The Gambler's Game is a captivating historical fiction saga that follows the extraordinary life of a mid-western baseball player turned high-stakes gambler. His audacious spirit leads him from the dust-chocked plains to the refined ambiance of English garden parties and the allure of Belle Epoque Monte Carlo.
This romantic tale will transport you to a time when anything was possible, where dreams were chased, and risks were taken. With every turn of the roulette wheel, you'll feel the adrenaline rush through your veins as Bill makes daring bets, all while trying to win over the elusive Miss Erskine-Shaw.
This is a story of self-discovery in a rapidly changing world. The Gambler's Game lures readers into a realm where the echoes of gunshots meet the clinking of champagne glasses, and the magnificent network of railways and steamships takes the reader on grand adventures.
Bill ultimately finds himself torn between his love of gambling and a woman who might make him give it all up. Based on a true story.
Two commissionaires, clad in their impeccably tailored red coats, stand guard at the entrance to the Casino de Monte Carlo. As he climbs the steps toward them, they greet him by name out of acknowledgment and respect.
All the waiters, croupiers, and dealers at the Salle de Jeux know Mr. William Darnborough well, as he has taken this walk many times over the last four years. Their eyes are filled with secrets and whispered rumors, and they follow his every move. He strides through the great labyrinthine room, exuding an unsettling combination of serenity and unwavering determination, a predator navigating his hunting ground with considered purpose.
He is dressed impeccably in a hand-stitched black dinner suit with a rose-gold cravat, and his Italian leather brogue shoes click on the marble floor as he crosses the atrium.
He enters the Salle Garnier, with its high, glass-domed ceilings and ornate chandeliers, and he nods an acknowledgment to The Comte and Comtesse Sant Elia, Joseph Agid, and Viscount Kilmorey. In the Salle Touzet, he sees four croupiers at the roulette table, two on either side of the wheel and two at either end of the double-sided table. The man in charge, the Chef de Partie, sits on a tall chair behind the wheel and respectfully acknowledges Mr. Darnborough. He has heard acquaintances call him Bill, but he does not greet him by name, as this is not permitted.
Bill stands at the middle of the table. Always the middle, as this gives him the best opportunity to place his chips exactly where he wants them in as short a time as possible.
The dealer spins the wheel and fires the ivory ball in the oppo‐ site direction, announcing, “Faites vos jeux, messieurs. Place your bets, gentlemen.”
One of the other players hurriedly piles more chips onto the section of the table dedicated to the first dozen numbers, a desperate attempt to defy the mounting pressure. Another fellow gambler casts furtive gazes in Bill’s direction, his eyes darting back and forth as if searching for a sign, a hint of the impending move. Even though his mind is racing, Bill remains stony-faced and taps his fingers rhythmically on the table.
As the ball slows, the croupier looks up and around the table. “Les jeux sant faits. The bets have been placed.” Bill springs into action as if a jolt of electricity has surged through his body. With an astonishing display of agility, he employs both hands to unleash a torrent of chips from his reserve. Each chip finds its place with calculated precision, meticulously distributed across the third dozen. The towers of chips resemble a model of the Manhattan skyline and represent ten thousand glittering dollars that will be won or lost in this moment.
As the ball hurtles toward its destination, time slows to a crawl. The dealer prevents any last-minute additional bets as he waves his white-gloved hand over the table and insists, “Rien ne va plus. No more bets.”
“Now it is in God’s hands,” says one of the other players, his voice carrying a sense of resignation mingled with reverence. Whispers of suspense ripple through the crowd that has gathered to watch the ball complete its cruel dance, their voices charged with a mixture of hope and trepidation.
Bill, at thirty-five, exudes an air of quiet refinement. His chiseled features, accentuated by a clean-shaven face and impeccably combed-back, dark hair, lend an aura of sophistication. Behind this suave façade, lies a story etched in the lines around his eyes, a tale of clandestine affairs, shadowy encounters, and hidden secrets. Once innocent and hopeful, his eyes now bear the scars of a life lived on the edge as he watches the ball drop.
As a young man, Bill Danborough just wants to play baseball, a sport in its infancy, in the United States, in the late 1800s. He's trying to impress his girlfriend, Emma, with his athletic prowess, but she's not budging, after she discovers success in baseball equals traveling all over the country, chasing his dream. He joins a team and is traded back and forth until he finds another love, and it's not a woman: it's gambling, via a roulette wheel.
Bill doesn't get along well with his mother or stepfather. He blames his mother for his father's death and doesn't do well communicating with her.
He decides to stop chasing his baseball dream and begins working for Hiram, in a gambling/restaurant operation. He learns much about managing restaurants and casinos from Hiram. He falls in love with Hiram's daughter, marries her, then realizes it was a big mistake. Hiram passes away and leaves the entire operation to Bill, who makes some ambitious--maybe too ambitious--decisions for the restaurant. He walks away from it all--the restaurant and the marriage; they ultimately divorce, without. having children.
Bill begins a successful journey as a professional gambler, traveling around the world to various gambling places, including Monte Carlo, where he begins amassing a fortune in winnings. People come from far and near to watch his "system" work; Bill sits at the roulette wheel and stays calm as he plays. He makes notes in a small notebook, so people infer that he has a "system." His personal goal is to break the bank at the casino--that is, force the casino to shut down and bring in more money because he's cleaned them out.
He starts to socialize with high society and royalty in Monte Carlo. He has no royal pedigree himself, but he is, after all, rich. Will that be enough when he meets the woman who sweeps him off his feet, Miss Frances Erskine-Shaw.
This historical novel is extremely well-written, well-researched, and interesting. It's a voyage from middle America during a time when the country was young and developing, to Europe, and then to the high society lives of people in Monte Carlo, the elite with pedigrees and famous names such as Rothschild and Vanderbilt. The author includes a wide spectrum view of automobiles, as Bill begins to learn about the different kind of cars are designed and developed, as the automobile industry begins.
I had difficulty putting this book down. I found something new to like on each page. The author's descriptions paint a picture to bring the characters alive on the page. I was impressed with the way he approached this historical novel and would welcome the opportunity to read any future novels he may offer. I recommend this book highly and hope that other people will read and enjoy this as much as I did.