A Sink of Atrocity: Crime of 19th Century Dundee

by Malcolm Archibald

Dundee in the nineteenth century was a very dangerous place. Ever since the Circuit judge Lord Cockburn branded the city 'A Sink of Atrocity' in his Memoirs, the image of old Dundee has been one of poverty and crime - but what was it really like to live in the streets and closes of Dundee at that time? In A Sink of Atrocity, Malcolm Archibald reveals the real nineteenth century Dundee and the ordinary and extraordinary crimes that took place. As well as the usual domestic violence, fighting and robberies, Dundee was also beset with a catalogue of different crimes during the century. There were the Bodysnatchers and Resurrection men who caused much panic in the 1820s and an epidemic of thieving in the 1860s. There were gang crimes, infamous murders and an astonishing outbreak of crimes committed by women, as well as the highly unusual theft of a whale at sea. Poverty and drink played their part and up against this tidal wave of crime stood men like Patrick Mackay, one of Dundee's Messengers-at-Arms, who was responsible for apprehending criminals before the advent of the police. It was not an easy job but those who were caught faced the full force of the law, from fines to jail and from transportation to hanging, as the authorities fought to bring law and order to Dundee.

Genres: History

272 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2012

About the author

My primary interest is historical, either fiction or non fiction, but I can enjoy most anything from Jane Austin to Kipling to J K Rowling. I have been very quiet on this site, but I think I might be a bit more active now.
I also enjoy the stimulation of meeting people and finding out about them.

Reviews

[Derek McRonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting as a reference, quite a few anecdotes lacked detail

[Duntay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't say anything bad about a book in which I get thanked in the acknowledgements..

it could use a map or two, though...

[James Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

In agreement with one of the other reviewers, many of the stories here lack depth and provide just a snippet of insight into the nature of crimes committed in the 1800s. This is a pity as the longer items are engaging and insightful. The topic is of general interest and for anyone with a knowledge of the geography of Dundee this provides an entertaining read. However, despite my knowledge of the city, I often found myself looking to old city maps and other sources to determine the location of some of the events. Given the bibliography, I doubt that this took very long to research and some events seem as it they are little more than modified versions of Wikipedia articles.The title gives the impression that Dundee was a very dodgy place indeed in the 1800s and this is something the author plays to. However, as one stage he does confess that actually the extent and nature of the crimes found were of a lesser number and less violent than in the larger industrial cities. In summary, this is an easy to read book covering an interesting topic. The longer items are reasonably well presented but the book is let down by the many very brief, shallow stories.

[David Smart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good historical content, however most of the stories lack depth and the writing style is not to my liking. The author manages to convey the grim reality of living in poor areas and the daily grind of the inhabitants.

[Helen Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a surprising book. I was not a fan of crime non fiction but I do like history. My fiance read this and said it was a bit different so I read it as well. It was a bit different. It did not just cover the murders that most true crime books seem to, but also the smaller crimes that affect real people more often. I liked the bright style as well; easy to read. Yes: it was a good book that I could dip into.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting non-fiction of the crimes of Dundee. Lots of information that's told like a story, not like a lecturer. You'll be suprised of some of the things you'll learn.

[Joelle Gilbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look at crime in Dundee in the 19th Century. Though it is just a light look at crime. I would have liked something a bit more in depth.

[Lycoris Sheppard · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a good read but can be tedious at times.