Criminal London - A Pictorial History from Medieval Times to 1939

Hardback, 224 pages, 412 colour and b&w illustrations, published 2002.

London has always had more than its fair share of criminals. Medieval records contain many references to murders, fights, forgery and vagrancy and, as the capital, it was the obvious centre for conspiracies, riots and revolts. Southwark, with its brothels and bear-baiting pits, was notorious for crime and lawlessness. In the 18th century some six thousand shops were selling cheap gin and thousands of neglected children turned to crime to survive; while the next century saw a metropolis with 6,000 brothels and 80,000 prostitutes.

The author of this fascinating book provides a well-researched and splendidly illustrated account of criminals and crime over the centuries - and of those who spent their lives pursuing them: the pollice, thief-takers, magistrates and judges. From the triple tree of Tyburn to the prisons, stocks and hulks of London, he reveals the law in action to combat and to contain crime. He deals with the criminal courts, from the Royal Courts to the Police Courts, and with the evolution of the criminal justice system. Mark Herber's text is sometimes spine-chilling, sometimes sad, but always compelling. His book will appeal to a wide range of readers, from historians and lawyers to policemen, prison officers and ... criminals ... not to mention the ordinary resident of the crime-conscious metropolis

'...extremely well researched book... enthralling, exciting, and, at times, even a frightening book... One thing this book will certainly do is make you sit up and take notice... superb illustrations and extremely lively text that never lets up the pace...' London Independent

'a beautifully produced book' Local History News

''a detailed, well-researched volume... the sort of book you can pick up and dip into at any time.' Family History Monthly