Description

Book Synopsis
_British Gangs_ covers the first fifty years of the twentieth century, a time of upheaval and war during which the public came to fear groups of young men. Much of this fear was whipped up by an expanding newspaper industry trying to increase sales with alarming and salacious stories. The book finds that the gangs were not as big a menace as the public were led to believe, but their activities are no less thrilling or important in the present day. This is a gripping account of one aspect of working class life. It covers the better-known gangsters of the time such as the McDonalds, Sabinis and Cortesis, Alf Solomon and Billy Kimber, but also, as a result of days spent in newspaper archives, uncovers many stories as they were reported at the time. Car and bus chases, gun battles, shoplifting, violent activity at sporting events, simple street con artists and more are all included in this trove of gang stories, most of which have been forgotten. The book covers many lesser-known incid

British Gangs

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    A Hardback by Paul Dettmann

    £21.25

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    RRP £25.00 – you save £3.75 (15%)

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Wed 26 Aug 2026.

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      Book details

      Publisher Pen & Sword Books Ltd
      Published 1/16/2024
      ISBN-13 9781399073875
      978-1399073875
      ISBN-10 1399073877
      Also in:
      Biography True crime

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      _British Gangs_ covers the first fifty years of the twentieth century, a time of upheaval and war during which the public came to fear groups of young men. Much of this fear was whipped up by an expanding newspaper industry trying to increase sales with alarming and salacious stories. The book finds that the gangs were not as big a menace as the public were led to believe, but their activities are no less thrilling or important in the present day. This is a gripping account of one aspect of working class life. It covers the better-known gangsters of the time such as the McDonalds, Sabinis and Cortesis, Alf Solomon and Billy Kimber, but also, as a result of days spent in newspaper archives, uncovers many stories as they were reported at the time. Car and bus chases, gun battles, shoplifting, violent activity at sporting events, simple street con artists and more are all included in this trove of gang stories, most of which have been forgotten. The book covers many lesser-known incid

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