Showing results for "Scoundrels" in Biographies & Memoirs

A Recommended Read from: The Los Angeles Times * Town and Country * The Seattle Times * Publishers Weekly * Lit Hub * Crime Reads * Alma From the author of The Real Lolita and editor of Unspeakable Acts, the astonishing story of a murderer who conned the people around him—including...

On the last, cold Sunday of February 1859, Daniel Sickles shot his wife's lover in Washington's Lafayette Square, just across from the White House. This is the story of that killing and its repercussions. Thomas Keneally brilliantly recreates an extraordinary period, when women were punished for violating codes of society that did not bind men. And the caddish, good-looking Dan Sickles personifies the extremes of the era.

Dive into the captivating and ironic world of British criminals in Book of Scoundrels. This fascinating exploration focuses on pre-Victorian pickpockets, highwaymen, and thieves, introducing you to notorious figures such as Moll Cutpurse, the Queen of Thieves, Jonathan Wild, the Thief-taker General, and the daring Captain Hind. The journey begins with a thought-provoking essay on the artistic merits of thievery, followed by a series of engaging short biographies that bring these colorful characters to life. Summary by Greg Lewin.

Early Oklahoma was a haven for violent outlaws and a death trap for deputy U.S. marshals. The infamous Doolin gang's OK Hotel gunfight left five dead. Killers like Bible-quoting choir leader Deacon Jim Miller wreaked havoc. Gunslinger femme fatale Belle Starr specialized in horse theft. Wannabe outlaws like Al Jennings traded train robbing for politics and Hollywood films. And Elmer McCurdy's determination and inept skill earned him a carnival slot and the nickname "the Bandit Who Wouldn't Give Up."