A view of English history from the gutter, transporting the reader from the 1100s to the early 1900s. A Pauper's Guide takes a popular approach to history in the same vein as existing popular history titles focusing on the sights, sounds and smells of history, like Ian Mortimer's Time Traveller's Guides and Terry Deary's Horrible History series.
*2 February 1101: Ranulf Flambard, the first person to be locked in the Tower of London, chose this day to make his escape. With infamous names - Crippen, Seddon, Haigh, Ellis - alongside lesser-known examples from the British pantheon of crime, it will fascinate, chill and surprise readers everywhere.
Delving into Islington's dark past, this book chronicles its evolution from a charming village to a site of urban decay, and eventually, its revival post-World War II. It highlights notorious figures like highwayman Dick Turpin and murderer Dr. Crippen, alongside lesser-known but equally shocking crimes, such as the Islington baby-farming scandal and the tragic murder of a mother and her children. The narrative reveals a hidden history of crime that contrasts sharply with Islington's modern image, captivating those intrigued by London's criminal legacy.
In 1888 Jack the Ripper made the headlines with a series of horrific murders that remain unsolved to this day. This book examines all the known murders in London in 1888 to build a picture of society. Just how dangerous was London in 1888?