Product Description

Ronnie Kray was one half of London's most notorious gangster duo. He and his brother Reggie ruled the East End of the 1950s, and the duo's crimes and vendettas, showdowns and rivalries, have become the stuff of legend. Here, natural raconteur and childhood friend, Laurie O'Leary, recalls his wild times in the Kray gang and describes the colourful characters who made up the Krays' ever-changing circle of friends and enemies. He also reveals the private side of this complex and troubled man - how he reacted to being certified insane after a nervous breakdown in 1958, and how he coped with being a homosexual in a hard man's world.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #122154 in Books
• Published on: 2002-02-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

About the Author
Born in London's East End, Laurie has known the Kray family all his life, and worked for the twins until the 1960s. He remained close friends with Ronnie, visiting him in prison until the day he died.

Customer Reviews

The only book you ever need to read about Ronnie
Everyone has their views on the Kray Twins...not forgetting Charlie.
I went through a spell of buying what one may say "Gangster Books".
No one could really say they were not violent men. But the way life
has treated me, l like to look at 2 sides to every story. This book
just does that. Yes Laurie was best friends with Ronnie, but never
had anything to do with any of Ronnie & Reggie's dealings.
In this book you read about the real Ronnie, not the one sided
books who are just out to paint the black side of the Kray family.
Even having read Nipper Read's account of the Kray's, just so l
could get a level view of the family.If you want to read how wicked
Ronnie was, doing all types of miss-dealings and inflicting
violence everyday on anyone who got in his way go and read
"Profession of Violence": Rise and Fall of the Kray Twins
by John Pearson. (I have).

Laurie's book is written with an intimate knowledge of Ronnie,
and how, near the end of his life, how poorly he really was.
No doubt if you didn't give Ronnie respect, well he wouldn't
give you any.
Yes Ronnie did shoot gangland rival George Cornell with
a 9mm Mauser. Aside the fact George Cornwell was a far more
dubious character than Ronnie ever was, this was NEVER
brought to light' I suppose from a legal point, l'd better
shut up as well!!.
The book to me was a delight to read, and it shows Ronnie
flaws, his tempers, and anger, and how he even fell out
with Laurie. But with out this book, l believe l wouldn't
known half the truths about Ronnie Kray that are put about.
I'm not saying he was a saint, what l am saying, is look at
the other side of the coin, and you will be pleasantly
surprised, or disappointed, dependent on your view.

This review isn't about glorifying Ronnie, it's about the
side of Ronnie no one knew. With so many books out about
The Krays, all claiming to have known them, l find it a sad.
From a child Laurie grew up with Ronnie, and was his best
friend till his passing. Laurie didn't jump on the bandwagon,
HE WAS THE BAND. Ronnie was not the most intellectual person,
and by asking Laurie to write this Biography he was able to
get over more subtle points that Ronnie never would have
been able to. As a side issue, l wrote to Laurie a few
years ago, telling him how much l enjoyed the book, and
he offered to put me up in his house for the night, and
show me around Kray town as it was called, as a Thank you
for my letter.
Very Sadly Laurie passed away on 27th April 2005.
Sorry l have taken this long to write this review Laurie!!!!

If you only buy one 'Krays' book - make this the one.
With the recent flood of books about the Kray brothers hitting the bookshelves, it is difficult to get excited about any impending release - with one exception. Laurie O'Leary has an advantage over most Kray biographers in that he has been a family friend for almost 60 years. His account of the life of Ron Kray is told entirely from first hand experience and is not a collection of snippets from earlier releases as seems to be the norm. The final chapter - a collection of personal letters from both Twins is particularly poignant. This is as important a release as was Pearson's Profession of Violence' in 1972. A must for those who want to know the real Ronnie Kray.

Unable To Put Down!
This bio of the Kray Twins is one of the VERY best I've read; Laurie O'Leary is a truly interesting person- the book is full of great stories and insights into the mind of Ronnie Kray! This book also sets straight a lot of so called "facts" about the Twins one may have read in other Kray bios. This is one terrific read!!!