Product Description

Historian Joseph O'Neill has recreated the sights, sounds and smells of a lost milieu in all its fascinating detail. Here are true stories of the legendary detective Jerome Caminada, the super-criminal Charlie Peace, street gangs like the Bengal Tigers and myriad characters like One-Armed Dick, the infamous fence, set in the gin palaces, dance halls and cheap brothels that were as much a part of Manchester as the giant cotton mills. O'Neill is a longstanding contributor to historical publications and to True Detective, True Murder and Master Detective.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26632 in Books
• Published on: 2008-03-20
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS
'A rollicking tale packed with characters and incident.'

IRISH POST
'Fascinating.'

FAMILY HISTORY MONTHLY
'It's a thought-provoking history and sociology punctuated by passages that would grace a well-written thriller. Highly recommended.'

Customer Reviews

Crime in Manchester
Great book, this one, on the Victorian Underworld of Manchester. Couldn't put it down, yet it would be easy to dip in and out of if you wish. I like the way the book is divided up into sections. Crime, Squalor, Criminals, Conmen, Pubs, Killers, Police, etc.

Quite a lot of names are mentioned. There was no index which bothered me at first as I couldn't look up if my Police Superintendent ancestor was mentioned (he wasn't unfortunately). But it is such a good book and effortless to read that I couldn't put it down anyway and got through it in a couple of days.

Very entertaining in parts, particularly the Conmen and how they worked the streets of Manchester! Some good social history on the squalor and deprivation of the city and how it led to crime in Victorian times.

Seems like crime was just as big a part of the city as it is today; just different!

Good read. Gripping little book!

Crime City
Having left my native Manchester some 30 years ago, I was intrigued to come across Joseph O'Neill's "Crime City", a book about Manchester's Victorian underworld.

After some deliberation I decided to buy the book. I was not disappointed.

The author transports you back to the streets of Manchester during the 1800's. He recreates the atmosphere in graphic detail and explores every crime, con and scam imaginable which were prevalent during this period.

It is clear that the book has been painstakingly researched and O'Neill skilfully examines the issues raised by crime from the villain to the policeman's point of view.

I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in history, crime and punishment and for those wishing to learn about the underworld of the Victorian era.

Crime City
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Easy to read, informative and entertaining. Couldn't put it down. Would happily recommend it.