Gone Shopping: The Story of Shirley Pitts - Queen of Thieves

by Lorraine Gamman

Shirley Pitts, the eldest of six children was born upside down on 24 november 1934. Her "career" began by thieving bread off doorsteps and coal from coalcarts. Her father's bungled attempts at blackmarketering and her dipsomaniac mother's inadequacies made Shirley resolve not only to be a first-class thief but also the best mother her six children could wish for.Before she died Shirley told her story to Lorraine - the story of a generous, brave and beautiful woman with a huge sense of fun and a love of life.

Genres: True Crime, Biography, Nonfiction, Crime, History

205 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 31, 2012

Reviews

[Kokeshi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was excellent-especially the critical essay at the end that tied everything together beautifully and gave me quite a bit to think about. 5 stars

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Shirley Pitts account of her life, partly because I’m from south London and although being younger, I recognise the places, language and ‘job’ as being a way of life for many uneducated, underprivileged families in the days when the scams were that easy.
I imagine that Shirley tells her story as many survivors do, through humour, and not really touching on truly how difficult and emotionally challenging that living her life was. Which makes the book an easy read and very enjoyable. But I think that the truth is a lot tougher and not so light hearted. So before you close the book and think that a life of crime was easy, extravagant and carefree, consider that maybe Shirley had to distance herself to survive or just wished to not recall the true personal cost.

[Sujata Biswas · Rating 1 out of 5]

A 7 year child, who is not going to school, not only remembers the names and details of her father's associates but also the exact amount of money and jewels he stole 50 years back. This is when she recalls the exact details after so many decades. When people do not recall what they have eaten for breakfast two days back, our "heroine" remembers the colors of the furs her mother wore to the minutiae. She also recalls her conversation with her brother. I mean, there has to be a limit to absurdity. This is unacceptable. https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

[karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written account

Shirley Pitts led a life of crime and was notoriously good at shoplifting and also indulged in other illegal scams throughout her life. Brought up in South London I don't think Shirley knew anyone who wasn't involved in some sort of illegal activity. I suppose making a living as a shoplifter wasn't frowned upon as she was from a criminal subculture. A very readable book with lots of dry humour and it's share of sadness too .

[Richard George · Rating 4 out of 5]

a biography written like an autobiography... and then an acdemic discourse in the epilogue! Loved it

[Kaz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book Club Choice

[Clivemichael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captivating narrative, somewhat morally challenging and disturbing . Well written with essay critiques following exploring some of those disconcerting issues.

[Sharon Nunan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great story but poor spelling mistakes.