British gangs : from 1900 to 1950

Dettmann, Paul2024

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Summary

'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. 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. Prison time also features, as an important part of a criminal's life that is not often included in books on gangsters. This is an important contribution to the recorded history of British gangs.