The Gaming Table: Its Votaries and Victims. Volume 2 (of 2)

The book offers a lively portrait of the gambling world as it unfolded across England and France, tracing the shadowy figures who made a living from dice and cards. From the early days of the “chevaliers d’industrie” – the polished con artists who lured the unsuspecting into endless tables – to the bustling clubs where gentlemen and ladies gambled together, the narrative blends meticulous research with vivid storytelling. Readers meet the masterful profiteers who built empires of faro tables, the elaborate soirées they hosted, and the legal maneuvers they employed to stay one step ahead of the law.

Beyond the personalities, the work surveys the whole spectrum of the pastime: the mathematics of chance, the rituals of duels sparked by losses, the darker episodes of suicide and execution, and even off‑beat diversions such as cock‑fighting and card‑based fortune‑telling for women. The author's experience as a barrister adds a sharp, analytical edge, turning what could be a simple chronicle into a thoughtful look at why society has long been both fascinated and frightened by the gaming table.