Capital Crimes: Seven Centuries of London Life and Murder

by Max Décharné

The story of crime and punishment in London is told via accounts of murders from medieval times to the abolition of hanging—a unique history of the city and its underbelly  An essential read for all devotees of London and of crime, this book features vivid recreations of a series of murders, stretching from the killing of Roger Legett, a notorious "questmonger," during the Peasants' Revolt in 1381, through to the hanging of Styllou Christofi in 1954. Some of the murderers, such as the political assassin John Bellingham, are still remembered. Others, including the 18th-century highwayman John Davis, are largely forgotten. But all their lives and fates have much to tell readers—about London's changing underworld, about the slow evolution of policing in the city, and about the sometimes strange workings of the law. Above all, they provide a fascinating sideways view of London over the centuries, from the crime-ridden alleyways of the Georgian capital to the supposedly respectable suburbs of Finchley, where the notorious "baby-farmers" Amelia Sach and Annie Walters operated at the beginning of the 20th century.

Genres: True Crime, History, Nonfiction, London, Crime

402 pages, Hardcover

First published September 20, 2012

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decharne's highlights of murders in London is well chosen, and covers a wide variety of classes. Bonus points for not including Jack the Ripper. Each chapter chronicles a crime and even looks at how views to the victims and accused changed.

[Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

If, like me, you have a keen interest in historical crime accounts and the development of crime investigation techniques, it is well worth seeking out 'Capital Crimes' by Max Decharne - a fascinating insight into the history of crime over seven centuries in London. Carefully blending a mixture of known and lesser known criminal cases from 1381-1954, Decharne charts the growth of the metropolis and the crime within it with meticulous attention to original documents. Obviously there are well known references to figures such as John Davis, the infamous highwayman, the assassination of Spencer Perceval, and the murder of Thomas Briggs, but peppered throughout are less familiar, but equally as gripping tales of crimes perpetrated over the seven centuries of London life and the punishments meted out to these villains. Decharne is particularly effective at identifying those cases which ran in parallel time periods to the more well known, which gives the whole book a more original touch.

What I particularly liked about this book was the way that Decharne skilfully melded in the sociological aspects of the strata of London society, whilst simultaneously charting the major developments in everyday life such as politics, transport, and so on as London exploded in size and in population. The crimes themselves are set within the context of these developments throughout the book so adding different layers to what could be a dry topic. The birth of the modern police force as we know it is documented here, along with the developments in forensic investigation and how the barbaric punishments of the past have been eschewed as the legal system came to the fore with its own decrees on the punishment fitting the crime. There are references to famous figures in the development of crime fiction in the guise of Arthur Conan Doyle and Charles Dickens and a study of the influence of crime in the world of theatre and the arts generally. Decharne also adds some moments of light relief, drawing on some clever contemporary references which adds to the richness of the overall text, with some bringing a knowing smile to the modern reader.

Overall, I found this an insightful and multi-layered depiction of crime in London in a similar vein to Judith Flanders' 'The Invention of Murder' or Kate Colquhoun's 'Mr Briggs' Hat' with the historical depth of Peter Ackroyd. If you like the more salacious accounts of true crime this probably isn't for you but if you're looking for a great blend of crime, history, psycho-geography and sociology it's equally perfect for reading from cover to cover or just dipping into random time periods as the mood takes you...

[Mandy Easley · Rating 3 out of 5]

After trying to read this book for 2 months, I've finally decided to throw in the towel. The historical accuracy is fantastic; you can tell there has been a great amount of research put into the subject. However, it felt very circular in its descriptions and many of the stories recounted in the first half of the book were just recounted with minimal effort on attaching it to the central theme of the book. Maybe if I completed the book those themes would emerge, but it was very difficult to stay engaged with the text. Would not recommend to anyone, unless he or she is suffering from insomnia.

[Hybrid21889 · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the book had interesting facts in it, it didn't capture my attention. I was excited about the prospect of reading amount crimes and murders during this period but I didn't find the stories interesting and I felt like the stories were written a little flat.

[Reis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book surprisingly amusing. An excellent read!

[Clelixedda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I very much enjoy true crime stories, so I did find this book to be a rather enjoyable read. Twenty true crime short stories, all murder cases, all set in London, through seven centuries - starting in Tudor times and ending in the 20th century. Every chapter gives a bit of historical context for the specific murder case, so the reader learns about the history of London and the development of the British judicial system as a “byproduct”.

[Thesincouch]

Might return to it one day, I was just not feeling it.

[Stephen J. Golds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended! The history of London in relation to high profile murders of the times.

[Huguette Larochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow , story of crime in London and the punishment's .

[Martin Willoughby · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like real life whodunnits and murders, then this is the book for you.

[S.C. Skillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-written and absorbing account of several murder cases from the time of the Peasants' Revolt, through to Ruth Ellis, the last woman hanged in the twentieth century. For all those interested in human psychology and in particular the psychology of homicide, as well as social history, this is a valuable resource. From incomprehensible wickedness through to mystifying naivety and apparent lack of motive, you will find this an engrossing study of the human condition. Also worthwhile to consider how our attitude to capital punishment has changed over the centuries; and useful for reflection, that even when public hangings were banned, there was no shortage of people who would have flocked to view the spectacle. Nowadays we have murder mysteries, shocking films, TV crime drama - in the past our appetite for these was satisfied by the live spectacle of our fellow human beings dying in front of us. Highly recommended read.

[Deanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book which covers 700 years of crimes in the city of London. Starting with the peasants revolt, a time where the Normans were still in charge and if you murdered an English subject you could get away with it, provided you were Norman.
The book covers cases that aren't as well known as others, but are used to illustrate points of law which were the norm at the time. Other cases are a result of common practices, baby farming for instance.
For those who lov history this is an interesting book, it's even better if you like things a bit darker.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Max Decharne writes with confidence. He has taken just a few of the many criminal cases perpetrated over the last few centuries and has retold them. Some murders I already knew about but his writing skill still made it a very interesting read.

[Kylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting book of Seven centuries of murder and punishment in London.