Drunks, whores, and idle apprentices : criminal biographies of the eighteenth century

Criminal biographies enjoyed enormous popularity in the Eighteenth Century: today they offer us some fascinating perspectives on the period. Drunks, Whores and Idle Apprentices is the first book to reproduce a number of these biographies in full. Not only do these biographies make fascinating reading, they also raise the problem of how to read them as historical documents. The author argues that instead of trying to uncover simple themes, the most revealing thing about them is the tensions around which they were constructed. Criminal Biographies Enjoyed Enormous Popularity In The Eighteenth Century: Today They Offer Us Some Fascinating Perspectives On The Period. Drunks, Whores And Idle Apprentices Is The First Book Of Its Kind To Reproduce A Number Of These Biographies In One Volume. Included Are The Biographies Of Street Robbers, Pickpockets, Burglars, Horse Thieves And Confidence Tricksters. There Are The Lives Of James Dalton, Who Was Transported To North America, John Sheppard, Something Of A Popular Folk Hero Who Twice Escaped From The Condemned Cell At Newgate Prison, John Poulter, Who Led A Gang Which Operated Across The South Of England, Charles Speckman, A Petty Thief Who Was Also Transported To North America, And Mary Young, Who Allegedly Headed Her Own Gang Of London Pickpockets. Each Biography Is Prefaced With Background Historical Information, And Thoroughly Noted. Not Only Do These Biographies Make Fascinating Reading, They Also Raise The Problem Of How To Read Them As Historical Documents. The Author Argues That Instead Of Trying To Uncover Simple Themes And Consistencies, The Most Revealing Thing About These Biographies Is The Tensions, Never Satisfactorily Resolved, Around Which They Were Constructed.--jacket. The Biographical Literature Of Crime And Its Popularity -- Readers -- Writers And The Problems Of Authenticity And Accuracy -- The Criminal Biography As Literature -- The Criminal Biography As History -- Issues And Tensions In Criminal Biographies -- Changes In The Literature -- I. The History Of ... John Sheppard (1724) -- Ii. The Life And Actions Of James Dalton (1730) -- Iii. The Ordinary Of Newgate's Account: Mary Young (1741) -- Iv. The Discoveries Of John Poulter (1753-4) -- V. The Life, Travels, Exploits, Frauds And Robberies Of Charles Speckman (1763). Philip Rawlings. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Criminal biographies enjoyed enormous popularity in the Eighteenth Century: today they offer us some fascinating perspectives on the period. __Drunks, Whores and Idle Apprentices__ is the first book to reproduce a number of these biographies in full.Not only do these biographies make fascinating reading, they also raise the problem of how to read them as historical documents. The author argues that instead of trying to uncover simple themes, the most revealing thing about them is the tensions around which they were constructed. A fascinating collection of eighteenth century biographies of street robbers, pickpockets, burglers, horse thieves and confidence tricksters. Background historical information and footnotes are provided.