Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #116966 in Books
• Published on: 2001-06-22
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Synopsis
When we think of the Kray Legend, we think of Sixties London, an underground culture that has all but vanished. Reg Kray was the torchbearer of that era in British history. But despite ongoing press interest in the world of the Krays, few have an understanding of Reg the man - a man who spent half of his life in prison and who died of cancer in October 2000. Sidgwick & Jackson published Reg and Ron's joint memoir, "Our Story", in 1988, and Ron Kray's autobiography, "My Story", in 1993. This is Reggie's story, a diary of the life he lived, with reflections on the past and the new role he found for himself 'on the inside'. It is a story of courage and remorse, revelation and friendship. For the first time he speaks of his marriage to Roberta, of his relationship with his brothers Ron, who died five years ago, and Charlie, who died April 2000, putting certain misconceptions straight. Updated with a new chapter by Roberta Kray, this is a valuable document for future generations and a fascinating insight into prison life.

Customer Reviews

Excellent and sad
I brought this book when i was home in oxford england for the plane ride Back to the USA.
I could not put it down.
Ive always had an intereast in the twins and being an Ex pat Brit you find things much more intreasting when you can relate being from the same background.
American organized crime is written about very much in fact their is thousands of books to read about the mafia.

This book is about Reg and his time locked up for 30 years not so much about the twins heyday in the 60s.
Reg talks about the highs and lows of his time inside and about the cruel way the authorities play with your mind.
The prisons in general seem not to be intreasted in rehab but only interested in breaking men and their spirits.
I really dont see why reg had to endure 30 years and was only let out when the home office was 120% sure that he was terminal ill and was sure to die else im sure reggie would never have gotten out.
If reg would have lived to he was 90 years old im sure he would have still been locked away until the day he died.

Reg kray was most definately a political prisoner no question.
If he killed 1 gangster or 10 people we all know there are child killers out there who do far more and are realeased.
There have been nazi war ciminals that were allowed to come to England and the U.S and live a normal life and they were responsible for killing thousands.
Im not saying that the twins didnt cause misery to a lot of people and killed more than they were offically put away for but i am saying that they were victims of their own sucess.
They were put away that long never to see the light of day for a reason and thats because of what they new and who they knew about members of the elite classes.
The kray twins were victims of there own popularity like reg and ron say in their book in 87 our story ( we are dinosaurs now the underworld of today would eat us alive).
It is plain to all that the kray twins were made an example by the powers that be and that was you are not allowed and wont be allowed to get to powerfull.
Reg talks about friendships and trials of his life behind bars where he tries to pass on his experiences.
Well reg finaly gets his wish to die as a free man and spends his last hours with his wife and friends and then the last of the kray family is reunited with the brothers and mother and father he dearly loves.
He is finaly layed to rest with ronnie and they are finaly together again.

A small insight into a complex man
Reg Kray was clearly a man who was capable of so much more than theviolence and gangland activities for which he and his brother werenotorious, and A Way of Life shows this superbly.
Reg comments articulately and thoughtfully on many things during thecourse of the book from the drudgery and violence of prison life tolasting friendships, loyalty, family, treachery and politics. However, theoverriding impression was of a man genuinely taken aback that his releasefrom prison was repeatedly denied, while serial rapists, paedophiles andother far more dangerous specimens were parolled, often to reoffend almostinstantly. As Reg had to be on death's door with cancer before hisrelease, and his ongoing incarceration was clearly more politicallymotivated than out of concern for public safety, it is not difficult tosee his point.
Despite the knockbacks and the difficulties, Reg was incrediblyphilosophical about things, and any suspicion that he was a mindless thugwill evaporate after reading a few pages of this book. To be honest, RegKray's storytelling abilities speak for themselves in this book, andcombined with a wicked sense of humour, and the value he placed onfriendship and companionship, ends up as the kind of guy you wish youcould go down the local for a few beers with.
A hard man who led a hard life, but never seemed to lose touch withreality, and this book probably gives a bigger insight into him thananything else. A fantastic book and highly recommended.

very good
I HAVE READ ALOT OF BOOKS ON THE KRAY AND IT HAS TO BE SAID THAT THIS IS THE BEST ONE ANY OF THE KRAYS HAS WRITTEN.THE REASON I SAY THIS IS BECAUSE IN THIS BOOK I BELIEVE HE HOLDS NOTHING BACK ON THE WAY HE HAS LIVED LIFE AND THE WAY HE WAS LIVING IT AT THIS TIME. THE PRISON STORIES ARE BRILLIANT AND IT IS CERTAINLY A MUST READ TO KRAY FANS.