There are some historians and historical criminologists whose work leaves you cold, and others whose work gives you a little bit of professional jealousy, in terms of wishing you were working on their area of research, because it sounds so interesting. In the latter group, the likes of Amy Bell,…
This summer, I visited one of my regular and local haunts – Oxford Castle and Prison – with my friend and crime historian colleague Angela Buckley. Now, I am fascinated by crime mugshots from the Victorian and early 20th century eras, as they bring to life the offenders of the…
I thought I’d draw together a few links to news stories or other articles I’ve seen over the past month that relate to the history of crime, in the spirit of sharing others’ work, and also helping readers to find out more about their own criminal hist I hope you…
Although we often think of the 19th and early 20th century press as prone to exaggeration and hyperbole in their coverage of crime – and some papers, such as the Illustrated Police News, certainly live up to that reputation with their graphic stories and images – others can be seen…
I recently reviewed one book relating to Truman Capote’s writing of In Cold Blood – and now, fast on its heels is another book which touches on it. This one, however, is a very different beast. Casey Cep’s Furious Hours opens with a horror story – but one that, in…
I’m just back from a holiday where the temperature hasn’t dropped below 30 degrees Celsius the whole time, so I identified with this 1930 image of a policeman that I found in the British Newspaper Archive today! Tweet
The title of this new book makes clear that its author is not going to sit on the fence. In detailing the cases of six women who were found guilty of murder in the 19th century, he intends to show that they were ‘misjudged’ – by the press, by their…
Clothes have always been valued, and coveted. In previous centuries, our ancestors may only have owned a few pieces of clothing: everyday clothes, and an outfit for Sunday, perhaps; these hand-made, pre-production line items being individual and irreplaceable, either emotionally or financially. The 18th century saw the onset of modern…
Writing a memoir of your career, can be a bit hit and miss. There’s a fine line between fascinating account of your working life and a dry, dull or egotistical work, and I’ve read more of the latter types than the former. Luckily, this week’s review is of a book…
Upstairs, in the small but perfectly formed Margate Museum – situated in the Old Town, and formerly the town hall-and-police-station – is the former magistrates’ court. Rather appropriately, here you can find a display featuring some infamous cases from the town’s past: two murder cases here stand out, examples of…