Capital Crimes: Seven Centuries of London Life and Murder

by Max Decharne

Overview

Over seven centuries London has changed dramatically - from walled medieval settlement to bustling modern metropolis. But throughout its history there has been one inescapable constant: murder. It winds through the heart of the capital as surely as the River Thames.

Capital Crimes tells the story of crime and punishment in the city, ­from the killing of infamous 'questmonger' Roger Legett during the Peasants' Revolt of 1381 through to the hanging of Styllou Christofi in 1954. Along the way we encounter such shocking characters as railway murderer Franz Muller, the ‘baby farmers’ of Finchley and the notorious political assassin John Bellingham. Some are well known, some obscure; the lives and fates of all, however, have much to tell us, providing a glimpse into the workings of London’s mysterious underworld and reminding us that dark deeds are not so far removed from everyday life as we would perhaps like to believe.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781409023630
Publisher:	Random House
Publication date:	09/20/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	432
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

Max Décharné is a writer and musician. He is the author of seven previous books, including King’s Road, Hardboiled Hollywood, Straight from the Fridge, Dad and A Rocket in my Pocket. He has been a regular contributor to Mojo magazine since 1998, and also writes for a variety of other publications. In his music career, he has released eleven albums and numerous singles since 1991. He lives in London.

Table of Contents

Introduction ix

Acknowledgements xiii

1 Revolting Peasants: 1381 1

2 Murder in the Cathedral: 1514 17

3 Filthie Lustes of Wicked Whoredome: 1573 33

4 Murder Under the Guise of Friendship: 1613 49

5 Cheerfully to the Stake: 1675 67

6 Dying for a Drink 1695 83

7 Rioting and Drunkenness, Chambering and Wantonness: 1716 97

8 John Davis, Highwayman: 1731 115

9 Murder at Tyburn: 1751 129

10 A Momentary Phrensy Overcame Me: 1779 147

11 Down by the Jetty: 1798 167

12 'An Act of Blood, Horrid Almost Beyond Example': 1812 185

13 East Side, West Side, All Around the Town: 1836 203

14 You Can't Outrun Death: 1864 221

15 Shoreditch in Scarlet: 1887 243

16 The East Finchley Baby Farmers: 1902 263

17 Deptford - Prints of Thieves: 1905 285

18 Meat is Murder: 1917 309

19 Death at the Palace: 1934 331

20 Styllou Christofi, the Other Ruth Ellis: 1954 351

Bibliography 369

Index 385

Editorial Reviews

"An insightful and multi-layered depiction of crime in London"

EBOOK COMMENTARY