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The Profession of Violence: The Rise and Fall of the Kray Twins
The classic, bestselling account of the infamous Kray twins, now a major film, LEGEND, starring Tom Hardy.Reggie and Ronald Kray ruled London's gangland during the 1960s with a ruthlessness and viciousness that shocks even now. Building an empire of organised crime such as nobody has done before or since, the brothers swindled, intimidated, terrorised, extorted and brutally murdered. John Pearson explores the strange relationship that bound the twins together, and charts their gruesome career to their downfall and imprisonment for life in 1969.Now expanded to include further extraordinary revelations, including the unusual alliance between the Kray twins and Lord Boothby – the Tory peer who won £40,000 in a libel settlement when he denied allegation of his association with the Krays – The Profession of Violence is a truly classic work.John Pearson is also the author of All the Money in the World (previously titled Painfully Rich), now a major motion picture directed by Ridley Scott film and starring Michelle Williams, Mark Wahlberg and Christopher Plummer (nominated for the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor).
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1972
226 people are currently reading
2505 people want to read
About the author
John George Pearson
30 books24 followersJohn Pearson was a writer best associated with James Bond creator Ian Fleming. He was Fleming's assistant at the London Sunday Times and would go on to write the first biography of Ian Fleming, 1966's The Life of Ian Fleming. Pearson also wrote "true-crime" biographies, such as The Profession of Violence: an East End gang story about the rise and fall of the Kray twins.
Pearson would also become the third official James Bond author of the adult-Bond series, writing in 1973 James Bond: The Authorized Biography of 007, a first-person biography of the fictional agent James Bond. Although the canonical nature of this book has been debated by Bond fans since it was published, it was officially authorized by Glidrose Publications, the official publisher of the James Bond chronicles. Glidrose reportedly considered commissioning Pearson to write a new series of Bond novels in the 1970s, but nothing came of this.
Pearson was commissioned by Donald Campbell to chronicle his successful attempt on the Land Speed Record in 1964 in Bluebird CN7, resulting in the book Bluebird and the Dead Lake.
Pearson wrote the non-fiction book, The Gamblers, an account about the group of gamblers who made up, what was known as the Clermont Set, which included John Aspinall, James Goldsmith and Lord Lucan. The film rights to the book were purchased by Warner Bros. in 2006. He also wrote Façades, the first full-scale biography of the literary Sitwell siblings, Edith, Osbert and Sacheverell, published in 1978.
Pearson also wrote five novels:
Gone To Timbuctoo (1962) - winner of the Author's Club First Novel Award
James Bond: The Authorised Biography of 007 (1973)
The Bellamy Saga (1976)
Biggles: The Authorized Biography (1978)
The Kindness of Dr. Avicenna (1982).
Pearson passed away on November 13, 2021. He was ninety one at the time of his death.
Pearson would also become the third official James Bond author of the adult-Bond series, writing in 1973 James Bond: The Authorized Biography of 007, a first-person biography of the fictional agent James Bond. Although the canonical nature of this book has been debated by Bond fans since it was published, it was officially authorized by Glidrose Publications, the official publisher of the James Bond chronicles. Glidrose reportedly considered commissioning Pearson to write a new series of Bond novels in the 1970s, but nothing came of this.
Pearson was commissioned by Donald Campbell to chronicle his successful attempt on the Land Speed Record in 1964 in Bluebird CN7, resulting in the book Bluebird and the Dead Lake.
Pearson wrote the non-fiction book, The Gamblers, an account about the group of gamblers who made up, what was known as the Clermont Set, which included John Aspinall, James Goldsmith and Lord Lucan. The film rights to the book were purchased by Warner Bros. in 2006. He also wrote Façades, the first full-scale biography of the literary Sitwell siblings, Edith, Osbert and Sacheverell, published in 1978.
Pearson also wrote five novels:
Gone To Timbuctoo (1962) - winner of the Author's Club First Novel Award
James Bond: The Authorised Biography of 007 (1973)
The Bellamy Saga (1976)
Biggles: The Authorized Biography (1978)
The Kindness of Dr. Avicenna (1982).
Pearson passed away on November 13, 2021. He was ninety one at the time of his death.
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August 7, 2018
”Although they were obviously identical twins, Reggie was very different--thinner, quicker, with a certain shifty charm. He made most of the conversation--which to tell the truth was slightly heavy going--speaking in a rapid, almost inaudible monotone. I noticed his right hand was bandaged. (He had cut his thumb rather badly murdering Jack ‘the Hat’ McVitie a few weeks earlier.)
‘How did you hurt yourself, Mr. Kray?’ I inquired brightly.
‘Gardenin’,’ he answered.”
John Pearson, the writer of this book, knows he is fortunate to be alive. He was asked to write this book about Ronnie and Reggie Kray just before the twins were convicted with life sentences. The initial conversation was stilted because the Krays were just beginning to realize that the hold they had over their friends, associates, and business contacts was in the process of fraying apart. They didn’t know who to trust and the role of the biographer, in their minds, was to enhance their images. It wasn't to ask questions about the very things that were going to land both of them in jail for the rest of their lives.
”They had a few weeks before the preliminary hearings to clinch their case and persuade the major witnesses to talk. They knew exactly who they were, but had to be able to assure them that this time the twins were finished. Otherwise, as one old cockney put it, ‘if people talk to the police and the twins get off again, they’ll have to send the plague cars into Bethnal Green and shout, ‘Bring out your dead!’”
Given the level of paranoia The Twins were experiencing during the lead up to their arrests, Pearson knows that he came very close to being one of the bodies being slung up on the plague cart. After all to write this book he had to get source material from the people surrounding The Twins, the very people who had now decided to turn Queen’s evidence.
Tricky!
The Krays, especially Reggie, were talented boxers. Reggie could have been a contender.
One of the first questions I had about The Twins was how did they come to power so quickly? And why did the police allow them to get so much control? Well, The Krays were born in East End and when they reached their teens they started boxing. This was a great outlet for their boundless energy. It was a way to hurt other people without getting in trouble. When they were drafted for the military they didn’t like it. There were too many rules and too little free time to do what they wanted to do. They went to great lengths to force the military to dishonorably discharge. This effectively ended their boxing careers as well.
They decided why work? There were plenty of people working. They just needed to find a way to squeeze a few pounds out of everyone and they would have more than enough to live well. It wasn’t difficult getting control of the East End. The old gangster in charge was soft. He avoided violence and by doing so got along well with the coppers. Everyone understood the rules so everyone could coexist peacefully. The Krays weren't interested in peace. They were interested in power.
The police, including Scotland Yard, were totally taken off guard by the rise of The Krays. Crime was always a presence in London, but it never really got out of hand. Sure, criminal elements were breaking the law, but people were not getting hurt at least not physically.
One advantage The Krays had was the fact that they were identical twins. When they were accused of crimes, in the early days before Ronnie’s features started thickening, they confounded eye witnesses by simply asking them which one of us did it. Of course no one could tell them apart so the police had no means by which to charge one or the other with a crime. As The Krays gained power they didn’t have to worry about witnesses anymore because everyone had learned that mum is the word in regards to anything involving The Krays.
Ronnie is so confident in the power of their reputations that he walked into a crowded pub called The Blind Beggar and shot a man in the head in front of a room full of people. When the police arrived, no one had seen anything. I couldn’t help but think of a room full of Sergeant Schultz’s from Hogan’s Heroes.
I see NOTHING! I know NOTHING!
The Twins are identical, but their personalities are very different Reggie is more intelligent and blossoms as a club owner when Ronnie is sent away for a short stretch in the pen. He is also a hetersexual despite the constant badgering from Ronnie. ”What you thinking of, goin’ with a bloody woman? You’re gettin’ soft. Don’t you know that women smell and give you diseases?’
I’ve actually always thought women smelled pretty good. :-)
Ronnie is a homosexual. ”There was no hint of effeminacy about him. ‘I’m not a poof, I’m homosexual,’ he would say, and was genuinely put out by the antics of effeminate males. ‘Pansies,’ he used to say, with the same cockney contempt with which he would pronounce the word ‘women’.”
Don’t feel like you're missing out ladies.
He was a paranoid schizophrenic. In fact as they assembled their gang of criminals Ronnie insisted that everyone call him Colonel. He wasn’t quite to the point of thinking of himself as Napoleon. Many paranoid schizophrenic assume the personas of someone like Napoleon, Teddy Roosevelt, or Winston Churchill because the lives of these people are the only lives big enough to explain their own grand vision of themselves.
Interesting to see a man who in the 1960s could be so comfortable with being out of the closet with his criminal associates and the world at large.
The Krays invested into the nightclub business in the West End which gave them opportunities to rub shoulders with the rich and famous. In fact during the trial, the one that eventually sent them both to jail for the rest of their lives, Ronnie said, ’If I wasn’t here, I’d probably be drinking with Judy Garland now.’ He wasn’t being flippant though he did get a laugh out of the courtroom. Garland was frequently in the company of The Krays along with people like George Raft, Frank Sinatra, Lord “Perverted Peer” Boothby just to name a few.
”(Ronnie Kray) began getting what he seemed to want--the pretense of friendship, the appearance of respect, even of social success, these were people who could introduce him to the smart life if he wanted it. They took him to their homes, their London clubs, dined him in the House of Lords, introduced him to celebrities. It was surprising how cheap the rich world was, and it gave Ronnie a new role--the playboy gangster in a sophisticated world.”
The brothers were branching out into property fraud, extortion, protection syndicates, armed robbery, blackmail, arms dealing, and money-laundering. Oh, and when you crossed them or even just insulted them they might decide to kill you. Ronnie dreamed about killing people in the same way I might dream about a vacation in the South of France. He had an ambivalence about the moral implications of killing someone. Their criminal files have references to more than a couple “presumed dead” associates because the bodies have never been found. They are still unsure of exactly how The Krays disposed of their victims, but some speculated about a crooked undertaker who for the right price could make sure two bodies fit in a casket instead of one.
Pearson also talks about the bond between twins and the fact that even as Reggie would attempt to move their business into more legitimate avenues that Ronnie would always pull him back into the violence. The bond between them was too strong for either to venture very far from the wants and desires of the other one.
Their rise to power is spectacular. They were at times capable of being brilliant, certainly the old adage of ‘two brains is better than one’ grows exponentially when considering the special bond between identical twins. They were a strong and powerful force that made men bigger, stronger, and smarter reluctant to tangle with them. Eventually they do slip up and do end up in prison for the rest of their lives. They will continue to live on in the stories that are told about them, in the books that are written about them, and in the movies that portray their lives. For a short, but memorable time a pair of criminal twins held London West and East in the palm of their hands.
The 2015 movie starring Tom Hardy and Tom Hardy has been released. I for one intend to see it.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at: https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
‘How did you hurt yourself, Mr. Kray?’ I inquired brightly.
‘Gardenin’,’ he answered.”
John Pearson, the writer of this book, knows he is fortunate to be alive. He was asked to write this book about Ronnie and Reggie Kray just before the twins were convicted with life sentences. The initial conversation was stilted because the Krays were just beginning to realize that the hold they had over their friends, associates, and business contacts was in the process of fraying apart. They didn’t know who to trust and the role of the biographer, in their minds, was to enhance their images. It wasn't to ask questions about the very things that were going to land both of them in jail for the rest of their lives.
”They had a few weeks before the preliminary hearings to clinch their case and persuade the major witnesses to talk. They knew exactly who they were, but had to be able to assure them that this time the twins were finished. Otherwise, as one old cockney put it, ‘if people talk to the police and the twins get off again, they’ll have to send the plague cars into Bethnal Green and shout, ‘Bring out your dead!’”
Given the level of paranoia The Twins were experiencing during the lead up to their arrests, Pearson knows that he came very close to being one of the bodies being slung up on the plague cart. After all to write this book he had to get source material from the people surrounding The Twins, the very people who had now decided to turn Queen’s evidence.
Tricky!
The Krays, especially Reggie, were talented boxers. Reggie could have been a contender.
One of the first questions I had about The Twins was how did they come to power so quickly? And why did the police allow them to get so much control? Well, The Krays were born in East End and when they reached their teens they started boxing. This was a great outlet for their boundless energy. It was a way to hurt other people without getting in trouble. When they were drafted for the military they didn’t like it. There were too many rules and too little free time to do what they wanted to do. They went to great lengths to force the military to dishonorably discharge. This effectively ended their boxing careers as well.
They decided why work? There were plenty of people working. They just needed to find a way to squeeze a few pounds out of everyone and they would have more than enough to live well. It wasn’t difficult getting control of the East End. The old gangster in charge was soft. He avoided violence and by doing so got along well with the coppers. Everyone understood the rules so everyone could coexist peacefully. The Krays weren't interested in peace. They were interested in power.
The police, including Scotland Yard, were totally taken off guard by the rise of The Krays. Crime was always a presence in London, but it never really got out of hand. Sure, criminal elements were breaking the law, but people were not getting hurt at least not physically.
One advantage The Krays had was the fact that they were identical twins. When they were accused of crimes, in the early days before Ronnie’s features started thickening, they confounded eye witnesses by simply asking them which one of us did it. Of course no one could tell them apart so the police had no means by which to charge one or the other with a crime. As The Krays gained power they didn’t have to worry about witnesses anymore because everyone had learned that mum is the word in regards to anything involving The Krays.
Ronnie is so confident in the power of their reputations that he walked into a crowded pub called The Blind Beggar and shot a man in the head in front of a room full of people. When the police arrived, no one had seen anything. I couldn’t help but think of a room full of Sergeant Schultz’s from Hogan’s Heroes.
I see NOTHING! I know NOTHING!
The Twins are identical, but their personalities are very different Reggie is more intelligent and blossoms as a club owner when Ronnie is sent away for a short stretch in the pen. He is also a hetersexual despite the constant badgering from Ronnie. ”What you thinking of, goin’ with a bloody woman? You’re gettin’ soft. Don’t you know that women smell and give you diseases?’
I’ve actually always thought women smelled pretty good. :-)
Ronnie is a homosexual. ”There was no hint of effeminacy about him. ‘I’m not a poof, I’m homosexual,’ he would say, and was genuinely put out by the antics of effeminate males. ‘Pansies,’ he used to say, with the same cockney contempt with which he would pronounce the word ‘women’.”
Don’t feel like you're missing out ladies.
He was a paranoid schizophrenic. In fact as they assembled their gang of criminals Ronnie insisted that everyone call him Colonel. He wasn’t quite to the point of thinking of himself as Napoleon. Many paranoid schizophrenic assume the personas of someone like Napoleon, Teddy Roosevelt, or Winston Churchill because the lives of these people are the only lives big enough to explain their own grand vision of themselves.
Interesting to see a man who in the 1960s could be so comfortable with being out of the closet with his criminal associates and the world at large.
The Krays invested into the nightclub business in the West End which gave them opportunities to rub shoulders with the rich and famous. In fact during the trial, the one that eventually sent them both to jail for the rest of their lives, Ronnie said, ’If I wasn’t here, I’d probably be drinking with Judy Garland now.’ He wasn’t being flippant though he did get a laugh out of the courtroom. Garland was frequently in the company of The Krays along with people like George Raft, Frank Sinatra, Lord “Perverted Peer” Boothby just to name a few.
”(Ronnie Kray) began getting what he seemed to want--the pretense of friendship, the appearance of respect, even of social success, these were people who could introduce him to the smart life if he wanted it. They took him to their homes, their London clubs, dined him in the House of Lords, introduced him to celebrities. It was surprising how cheap the rich world was, and it gave Ronnie a new role--the playboy gangster in a sophisticated world.”
The brothers were branching out into property fraud, extortion, protection syndicates, armed robbery, blackmail, arms dealing, and money-laundering. Oh, and when you crossed them or even just insulted them they might decide to kill you. Ronnie dreamed about killing people in the same way I might dream about a vacation in the South of France. He had an ambivalence about the moral implications of killing someone. Their criminal files have references to more than a couple “presumed dead” associates because the bodies have never been found. They are still unsure of exactly how The Krays disposed of their victims, but some speculated about a crooked undertaker who for the right price could make sure two bodies fit in a casket instead of one.
Pearson also talks about the bond between twins and the fact that even as Reggie would attempt to move their business into more legitimate avenues that Ronnie would always pull him back into the violence. The bond between them was too strong for either to venture very far from the wants and desires of the other one.
Their rise to power is spectacular. They were at times capable of being brilliant, certainly the old adage of ‘two brains is better than one’ grows exponentially when considering the special bond between identical twins. They were a strong and powerful force that made men bigger, stronger, and smarter reluctant to tangle with them. Eventually they do slip up and do end up in prison for the rest of their lives. They will continue to live on in the stories that are told about them, in the books that are written about them, and in the movies that portray their lives. For a short, but memorable time a pair of criminal twins held London West and East in the palm of their hands.
The 2015 movie starring Tom Hardy and Tom Hardy has been released. I for one intend to see it.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at: https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
June 5, 2023
John Pearson former journalist and well known writer/biographer was invited to write the Krays' memoirs in 1969, and went on to collaborate with the twins over a number of years before getting this book finally published in 1972. This has got to be the definitive Krays' biography not only because of the sources but also the nature of Ronnie Kray who was never apologetic for his behaviour and crimes thus had nothing to hide and indeed provided information on the establishment that originally prevented the original script of this book being published. See The Peer and the Gangster: A Very British Cover-up.
I really enjoyed this because it didn't give any pretence that they were anything but self serving, cruel and unbalanced (especially Ronnie), that they only really cared about their own interests and status, and that their key drivers were notoriety, respect and fame. The reason that I more or less never read true-crime is because I feel it nods to a killer's guile, intelligence, charm etc. when in reality (I was a DJ and music promoter when younger and met a fair number of organised crimr members) they are mostly anything but.
What's really missing in anything I've ever read about the Krays, and is only briefly mentioned in this book, is the nature of their relationship as twins and how it could be argued (although Reggie would never have allowed it) that it was Ronnie's psychopathy that drove them to what they did, and their twin link that drove Reggie when failing to appease Ronnie, to get swept up in it all? This is such a hard and unforgiven book that gets to the heart-less-ness of the Krays. 8 out of 12, Four Star read.
2023 read
I really enjoyed this because it didn't give any pretence that they were anything but self serving, cruel and unbalanced (especially Ronnie), that they only really cared about their own interests and status, and that their key drivers were notoriety, respect and fame. The reason that I more or less never read true-crime is because I feel it nods to a killer's guile, intelligence, charm etc. when in reality (I was a DJ and music promoter when younger and met a fair number of organised crimr members) they are mostly anything but.
What's really missing in anything I've ever read about the Krays, and is only briefly mentioned in this book, is the nature of their relationship as twins and how it could be argued (although Reggie would never have allowed it) that it was Ronnie's psychopathy that drove them to what they did, and their twin link that drove Reggie when failing to appease Ronnie, to get swept up in it all? This is such a hard and unforgiven book that gets to the heart-less-ness of the Krays. 8 out of 12, Four Star read.
2023 read
August 2, 2024
The Kray twins were definitely kray kray.
One was a narcissist and the other was a raging sociopath but together they were lethal.
One was a narcissist and the other was a raging sociopath but together they were lethal.
November 12, 2015
Rereading this book many years later I can't help but feel that Reggie Kray might have been quite a successful business man without the need to resort to crime in order to achieve what he felt was important in life, wealth and power. However he was the second half of a demented twin, and Ronnie's life was always going to end in sadness and violence. Reggie choose to support his brother and together they built an empire of crime which was doomed to disaster as the antics of the Krays became more violent and bizarre. Added to this mix we have the highly intelligent Inspector "Nipper" Read determined to see the bad guys brought to justice and peace restored to the streets of London.
August 17, 2015
Being an identical twin myself, I got so much out of this book.
I found myself strangely attracted to reading this book as soon as I could get my hands on it. I saw the trailer for the new movie about the Kray twins and was immediately intrigued.
After searching online for a copy of this book, I found out it was out of print. I found a hardcover 1972 edition used for $18 and bought it straight away.
Growing up, they both got diphtheria and measles. Naturally, being twins, they both got the infections. Ronnie almost died and when they both lived Ronnie became much slower then Reggie.
Reggie had charm, and found it easier than Ronnie to get on with people.
Being twins, they were always together. Even though they might have fought a lot (which twins do more then you'd think), they never let anyone get between them. If one person picked on Ronnie, it was both Ronnie and Reggie who came at him. Same for the other way around. They grew up protecting one another. They ended up becoming professional boxers at seventeen.
The twins were always there for one another and even throughout their lives when one or the other left, it wouldn't be long before he came back. Like I said, they always had each others backs. They were in business together as they grew into their late twenties. Ronnie was more violent then Reggie, but once Ronnie killed or harmed someone, he left the mess for Reggie to clean up.
One of my favourite stories to have read was when Ronnie was at Long Grove. Ronnie had been in jail for a while and he had a breakdown. He had been certified as insane. He was schizophrenic and paranoid which is why he always enjoyed fights and violence. Anyway, he had been put into Long Grove, a mental facility, and when he got better, he asked to be released. Even though he was better, the doctors worried he'd get worse so they denied his request. The next day Reggie came for a visit with lots of friends. Reggie was wearing a fawn coat and when it was time for tea, Ronnie left wearing the fawn coat and no one stopped him. The nurse came to Reggie.
"Where's your brother?"
"Which brother?"
"Your brother Reggie who went to get the tea."
"Reggie didn't go."
That has to be my favourite story about the Kray's because it was able to be done simply because they were identical twins. One of the reasons for their great success was the fact that they were identical twins. They looked very similar, especially growing up.
Reggie Kray
Ronnie Kray
I actually found myself feeling sorry for both twins multiple times. I know that everyone says they were villains, but being a twin myself I couldn't imagine being without my twin. Ronnie was the younger of the two; he always got his way because it was natural for Reggie to protect Ronnie.
As usual, Reggie finally gave in.
Being younger then my twin, it is usually the way it goes. In the story there are multiple occasions where Charlie makes plans with Reggie, but once Ronnie got involved, Reggie had changed his mind to accommodate Ronnie.
In "The Profession of Violence", we see Reggie marries a girl named Frances Shea. I found her death most interesting. She had attempted suicide multiple times (as Ronnie had done once himself) and one final time she did it. She had swallowed many of her prescribed pills (she had recently been in a psychiatric unit) and died in her sleep. In the book, it says it is suicide, but after looking more online, it is revealed that Reggie knew what really happened. Ronnie had gone to Frances and forced her to take the pills because he was jealous of how much time she got to spend with "his Reg". Ron told Reggie two days after he'd done it, and Reggie didn't tell anyone until many years later.
When the twins were put away, the book talks a lot of the bond that identical twins share. Reggie could have got off easy if he'd admitted what Ron had done, but he didn't. It is true about the bond that twins share; they can't turn on one another. It really makes me sad to read that they were sent to different facilities. At the end of the book it says after two years, they were re-united, but in their lifetime sentence, Ronnie was eventually sent to another psychiatric ward. He sent letters and talked on the phone with Reggie everyday. Reggie was still in jail. He became very violent and harsh towards other criminals and workers. He had to be put into solitary. In one of Ronnie's final letters, he asks if he can just be put with Reggie until his final days he would stop violence and out-bursts. Before he can be moved to be with his twin brother, he died of a heart attack. Five years after his death, Reggie died of cancer.
I can't really say for sure how much of a bond these twins had but, like I said in the beginning of my review, I'm an identical twin and there is no deeper loyalty than to your identical twin.
I can't really say for other people, but I haven't been this excited for a movie in a really long time. It will hopefully be as exciting and heart-breaking as the book.
I found myself strangely attracted to reading this book as soon as I could get my hands on it. I saw the trailer for the new movie about the Kray twins and was immediately intrigued.
After searching online for a copy of this book, I found out it was out of print. I found a hardcover 1972 edition used for $18 and bought it straight away.
Growing up, they both got diphtheria and measles. Naturally, being twins, they both got the infections. Ronnie almost died and when they both lived Ronnie became much slower then Reggie.
Reggie had charm, and found it easier than Ronnie to get on with people.
Being twins, they were always together. Even though they might have fought a lot (which twins do more then you'd think), they never let anyone get between them. If one person picked on Ronnie, it was both Ronnie and Reggie who came at him. Same for the other way around. They grew up protecting one another. They ended up becoming professional boxers at seventeen.
The twins were always there for one another and even throughout their lives when one or the other left, it wouldn't be long before he came back. Like I said, they always had each others backs. They were in business together as they grew into their late twenties. Ronnie was more violent then Reggie, but once Ronnie killed or harmed someone, he left the mess for Reggie to clean up.
One of my favourite stories to have read was when Ronnie was at Long Grove. Ronnie had been in jail for a while and he had a breakdown. He had been certified as insane. He was schizophrenic and paranoid which is why he always enjoyed fights and violence. Anyway, he had been put into Long Grove, a mental facility, and when he got better, he asked to be released. Even though he was better, the doctors worried he'd get worse so they denied his request. The next day Reggie came for a visit with lots of friends. Reggie was wearing a fawn coat and when it was time for tea, Ronnie left wearing the fawn coat and no one stopped him. The nurse came to Reggie.
"Where's your brother?"
"Which brother?"
"Your brother Reggie who went to get the tea."
"Reggie didn't go."
That has to be my favourite story about the Kray's because it was able to be done simply because they were identical twins. One of the reasons for their great success was the fact that they were identical twins. They looked very similar, especially growing up.
Reggie Kray
Ronnie Kray
I actually found myself feeling sorry for both twins multiple times. I know that everyone says they were villains, but being a twin myself I couldn't imagine being without my twin. Ronnie was the younger of the two; he always got his way because it was natural for Reggie to protect Ronnie.
As usual, Reggie finally gave in.
Being younger then my twin, it is usually the way it goes. In the story there are multiple occasions where Charlie makes plans with Reggie, but once Ronnie got involved, Reggie had changed his mind to accommodate Ronnie.
In "The Profession of Violence", we see Reggie marries a girl named Frances Shea. I found her death most interesting. She had attempted suicide multiple times (as Ronnie had done once himself) and one final time she did it. She had swallowed many of her prescribed pills (she had recently been in a psychiatric unit) and died in her sleep. In the book, it says it is suicide, but after looking more online, it is revealed that Reggie knew what really happened. Ronnie had gone to Frances and forced her to take the pills because he was jealous of how much time she got to spend with "his Reg". Ron told Reggie two days after he'd done it, and Reggie didn't tell anyone until many years later.
When the twins were put away, the book talks a lot of the bond that identical twins share. Reggie could have got off easy if he'd admitted what Ron had done, but he didn't. It is true about the bond that twins share; they can't turn on one another. It really makes me sad to read that they were sent to different facilities. At the end of the book it says after two years, they were re-united, but in their lifetime sentence, Ronnie was eventually sent to another psychiatric ward. He sent letters and talked on the phone with Reggie everyday. Reggie was still in jail. He became very violent and harsh towards other criminals and workers. He had to be put into solitary. In one of Ronnie's final letters, he asks if he can just be put with Reggie until his final days he would stop violence and out-bursts. Before he can be moved to be with his twin brother, he died of a heart attack. Five years after his death, Reggie died of cancer.
I can't really say for sure how much of a bond these twins had but, like I said in the beginning of my review, I'm an identical twin and there is no deeper loyalty than to your identical twin.
I can't really say for other people, but I haven't been this excited for a movie in a really long time. It will hopefully be as exciting and heart-breaking as the book.
January 21, 2011
November 1989 while on a trip to London, doing some research for my novel "Silence" I picked up a book at the London Dungeon called "London, The Sinister Side" and there was a section devoted to "The Kray Twins" I became fascinated by their story. I quickly got on the phone and called fellow author and screenwriter Scott Cherney and said, I just learned about these guys called "The Kray Twins" I think this will make a great film!"
he said you're too late, Peter Medak is shooting the film right now as we speak! But you're on the right track!
So when the film came out I just became more attracted to their story. I managed to find an original 1972 hardcover edition of John Pearson's book and devoured it! It's so well written I didn't want the book to end.
So I reach the end of the book and decide I have got to know more, I do my research and write a letter to Ronny Kray in Broadmore, He forwards my letter to Reggie who wrote me a wonderful personal letter. We begin a long exchange of letters and he puts me in touch with family members to talk about writing a new book on he and his brother Ron. The book was to be called "Half of One". Sadly both brothers became increasingly ill with cancer, once Ron passed away, Reggie lost his drive to go forward with the book, but continued to send me letters. I was very lucky indeed to see a side of the Krays away from tabloid lies and rumors. I'm not saying the boys were saints but I was lucky to learn about them from the lads themselves.
I highly recommend John Pearson's book he really does their story so much more justice than the film which places many of the events out of context.
he said you're too late, Peter Medak is shooting the film right now as we speak! But you're on the right track!
So when the film came out I just became more attracted to their story. I managed to find an original 1972 hardcover edition of John Pearson's book and devoured it! It's so well written I didn't want the book to end.
So I reach the end of the book and decide I have got to know more, I do my research and write a letter to Ronny Kray in Broadmore, He forwards my letter to Reggie who wrote me a wonderful personal letter. We begin a long exchange of letters and he puts me in touch with family members to talk about writing a new book on he and his brother Ron. The book was to be called "Half of One". Sadly both brothers became increasingly ill with cancer, once Ron passed away, Reggie lost his drive to go forward with the book, but continued to send me letters. I was very lucky indeed to see a side of the Krays away from tabloid lies and rumors. I'm not saying the boys were saints but I was lucky to learn about them from the lads themselves.
I highly recommend John Pearson's book he really does their story so much more justice than the film which places many of the events out of context.
April 17, 2020
A fascinating look into the organised crime world that was the East End in the 1960's. A History of Violence takes a look at Ronnie and Reggie Kray who terrorised and murdered their way to build their criminal empire and wage war against the Richardson's, their competitors.
Reggie was the face of the business, a club owner who mingled with the rich and famous, seemingly charming and eventually married. Ronnie on the other hand was 'scary' suffering from mental health issues all his life even his own sister in law and those who knew him were scared and wary of him.
The book details their childhood, run ins with the law, private life through to their dramatic downfall leading to the life sentences before received.
Having seen Tom Hardy's film Legend I think the film although entertaining in its own right is too shiny in comparison to the book which shows just how real and dark living in London at that time was. I have seen comments from women who love the character of Reggie all because of Tom Hardy when in actual fact he was a mean nasty individual who bullied all including his own wife.
A good read about two of Britain's most infamous criminals 4/5
Reggie was the face of the business, a club owner who mingled with the rich and famous, seemingly charming and eventually married. Ronnie on the other hand was 'scary' suffering from mental health issues all his life even his own sister in law and those who knew him were scared and wary of him.
The book details their childhood, run ins with the law, private life through to their dramatic downfall leading to the life sentences before received.
Having seen Tom Hardy's film Legend I think the film although entertaining in its own right is too shiny in comparison to the book which shows just how real and dark living in London at that time was. I have seen comments from women who love the character of Reggie all because of Tom Hardy when in actual fact he was a mean nasty individual who bullied all including his own wife.
A good read about two of Britain's most infamous criminals 4/5
March 23, 2019
Fascinating biography of twin brothers from modest beginnings; rising to the ranks of Britain's most famous organized criminals.
July 15, 2020
The Profession of Violence: The Rise And Fall of the Kray Twins (1995) by John Pearson is an interesting biography/true crime book about the infamous Kray Twins.
This is very well researched book and was clearly an extremely brave write by the author who was taking his life literally in his hands writing it. The book has a lot of information in it including the family background of the twins, their childhood, their romantic connections, their days in boxing, their showbiz circles, their descent into crime, their horrendous crimes and their eventual capture.
It goes without saying that they were very disturbing people but there was even further disturbing details about them that I found out in this book. It’s a heavy read obviously.
The author details the structures and attitudes involved in the criminal underworld extensively and gives great overviews of the times, the locations and the criminal underworld in general. It is a book that was well thought out and written excellently. Very factual read.
This is very well researched book and was clearly an extremely brave write by the author who was taking his life literally in his hands writing it. The book has a lot of information in it including the family background of the twins, their childhood, their romantic connections, their days in boxing, their showbiz circles, their descent into crime, their horrendous crimes and their eventual capture.
It goes without saying that they were very disturbing people but there was even further disturbing details about them that I found out in this book. It’s a heavy read obviously.
The author details the structures and attitudes involved in the criminal underworld extensively and gives great overviews of the times, the locations and the criminal underworld in general. It is a book that was well thought out and written excellently. Very factual read.
January 25, 2016
I found this book interesting but as it's told from a third party perspective it's a bit stale... didn't quite capture me and at times I found it a bit of a slow read. Although the twins are interesting themselves I didn't find the book very captivating... wasn't as in depth as I thought it would be. Almost like a newspaper story, didn't quite have a capturing story just the facts laid out... I thought I'd enjoy the book more than I did. Meh.
April 3, 2016
Having watched Legend and found its premise fascinating, but its execution lacking, I was interested in reading more about the history of the Kray twins. Pearson's book is a very barefaced account - the Krays are interesting more for their rise than their fall, and after the initial excitement it's very much repetitive back-and-forth. It's not really Pearson's fault that the Kray history operates this way but still a little disappointing.
November 18, 2015
I openly admit to reading this so I'd have some background on the upcoming Tom Hardy movie "Legend". The trailer makes it look Hollywood-slick in London, but I wanted to get a feel for the Kray twins as I'm an American and had never heard of them.
This was an interesting look at twins and asked some interesting questions.
This was an interesting look at twins and asked some interesting questions.
February 9, 2016
I would recommend this book to anyone who has even the slightest curiosity about the real story behind the Kray twins.
This book is fantastic.
This book is fantastic.
January 30, 2021
Another Superb Title!
I really appreciate the straight forward linear manor with which John pearson writes his books. What I also thoroughly enjoy is how carefully he decides on his subjects, preferring quality over quantity in his list of titles. I believe this enables him to put real effort into his subject matter and create great levels of depth, knowledge and perhaps a strong sense of integrity his writing.
This is the third of his books I have read to date. It is it an impressively written work following the rise and fall of the Kray twins, what really works for me is the level of detail and understanding of the subject.
In many ways they were very different from each although they shared many similarities. The strange co dependent dynamic between the two was fascinating for me to read about and I believe it is largely down to this that they forged the legend they became. Like one person with two faces constantly pulling and pushing each other to higher levels of strength, power and noteriety.
There was also quite significant moments particularly in childhood that formed the basis for their relationship, various family influences and strong influence from the old east end they were brought up in also played a strong role in their formulative years. Amazing to think how strong and formidable they became kind of like pre disposition, the right/wrong place at the right time. A real piece of history their legend is, fascinating, deadly, dangerous characters thoughtfully documented in this book.
I really appreciate the straight forward linear manor with which John pearson writes his books. What I also thoroughly enjoy is how carefully he decides on his subjects, preferring quality over quantity in his list of titles. I believe this enables him to put real effort into his subject matter and create great levels of depth, knowledge and perhaps a strong sense of integrity his writing.
This is the third of his books I have read to date. It is it an impressively written work following the rise and fall of the Kray twins, what really works for me is the level of detail and understanding of the subject.
In many ways they were very different from each although they shared many similarities. The strange co dependent dynamic between the two was fascinating for me to read about and I believe it is largely down to this that they forged the legend they became. Like one person with two faces constantly pulling and pushing each other to higher levels of strength, power and noteriety.
There was also quite significant moments particularly in childhood that formed the basis for their relationship, various family influences and strong influence from the old east end they were brought up in also played a strong role in their formulative years. Amazing to think how strong and formidable they became kind of like pre disposition, the right/wrong place at the right time. A real piece of history their legend is, fascinating, deadly, dangerous characters thoughtfully documented in this book.
July 2, 2023
Surprisingly, the most shocking crime described by Pearson is in the postscript, when he tells how he and his wife lost everything after he tried to publish the truth about the Boothby scandal.
August 21, 2024
I was prompted to read this after seeing the trailer for Universal and Studio Canal's upcoming film Legend based upon this book and the true story of the rise and fall of London's most infamous and successful gangsters, Ronald and Reginald Kray, starring Tom Hardy as both the twins. (Note: I feel like the filmmakers definitely missed a beat not calling the movie 'Kray Kray', but whatever haha)
The book itself was a fascinating read and insight into the lifestyle that these two lived. As a reader, you're torn between feeling disgusted at how easy it was for them to get away with all sorts crimes by twisting the law, but also a sense of admiration for how cunning they were.
Written by someone who knew the twins, it's factual and surprisingly unbiased. Pearson leaves it up to you decide what your true opinion on the twins is. The line between liking and disliking them definitely blurs on a few occasions. The author truly gets inside the mind of Reggie and Ronnie. Showing both the vicious and the glamorous, more showbiz side to the crimes they committed. Did you know Barbara Windsor was pals with the twins back in the day? Yup, that's right, Walford's very own Peggy Mitchell!
Profession of Violence is a dark and informative thriller which will have you gripped. It's utterly captivating with a lot of bloodshed. At times it can be humorous with the rare witty quip from Pearson or the twins themselves. The book is perhaps at its most emotional when it address Reggie's first wife Frances Shea and the admittedly toxic relationship they had. The Sun had written about Frances and her suicide not too long ago and my heart absolutely aches for her. Their relationship had been doomed from the start.
It was astonishing reading how two working class boys from the East End rose through the ranks to become two of the most powerful men in Britain. They effectively ruled London. They practically ran circles around the authority and were involved in armed robberies, arson, violent assaults - which often included torture and resulted in murder - from a young age.
It's easy to see why the Krays were seen as heroes by some. In many ways they made smart decisions which gained them their reputation. Although, I don't want to sugar coat it, they were villains. While Reggie may have been softer and more sympathetic than his brutal and bloodthirsty twin, Ron, who thrived on the thrill of the kill, they did butcher and blackmail their way to the top.
Despite this, I do have to applaud them. While their antics could occasionally be reckless, they succeeded in making history and there's something about their story that I find engrossing. I would definitely suggest picking this one up if you're interesting in seeing the film adaptation. Or if you're simply intrigued by gangsters and their lifestyle, then the Krays are definitely the ones to read about.
"Although they were obviously identical twins, Reggie was very different--thinner, quicker, with a certain shifty charm. He made most of the conversation--which to tell the truth was slightly heavy going--speaking in a rapid, almost inaudible monotone. I noticed his right hand was bandaged. (He had cut his thumb rather badly murdering Jack ‘the Hat’ McVitie a few weeks earlier.) ‘How did you hurt yourself, Mr. Kray?’ I inquired brightly. ‘Gardenin’,’ he answered.” - John Pearson, Profession of Violence: Rise and Fall of the Kray Twins
The book itself was a fascinating read and insight into the lifestyle that these two lived. As a reader, you're torn between feeling disgusted at how easy it was for them to get away with all sorts crimes by twisting the law, but also a sense of admiration for how cunning they were.
Written by someone who knew the twins, it's factual and surprisingly unbiased. Pearson leaves it up to you decide what your true opinion on the twins is. The line between liking and disliking them definitely blurs on a few occasions. The author truly gets inside the mind of Reggie and Ronnie. Showing both the vicious and the glamorous, more showbiz side to the crimes they committed. Did you know Barbara Windsor was pals with the twins back in the day? Yup, that's right, Walford's very own Peggy Mitchell!
Profession of Violence is a dark and informative thriller which will have you gripped. It's utterly captivating with a lot of bloodshed. At times it can be humorous with the rare witty quip from Pearson or the twins themselves. The book is perhaps at its most emotional when it address Reggie's first wife Frances Shea and the admittedly toxic relationship they had. The Sun had written about Frances and her suicide not too long ago and my heart absolutely aches for her. Their relationship had been doomed from the start.
It was astonishing reading how two working class boys from the East End rose through the ranks to become two of the most powerful men in Britain. They effectively ruled London. They practically ran circles around the authority and were involved in armed robberies, arson, violent assaults - which often included torture and resulted in murder - from a young age.
It's easy to see why the Krays were seen as heroes by some. In many ways they made smart decisions which gained them their reputation. Although, I don't want to sugar coat it, they were villains. While Reggie may have been softer and more sympathetic than his brutal and bloodthirsty twin, Ron, who thrived on the thrill of the kill, they did butcher and blackmail their way to the top.
Despite this, I do have to applaud them. While their antics could occasionally be reckless, they succeeded in making history and there's something about their story that I find engrossing. I would definitely suggest picking this one up if you're interesting in seeing the film adaptation. Or if you're simply intrigued by gangsters and their lifestyle, then the Krays are definitely the ones to read about.
"Although they were obviously identical twins, Reggie was very different--thinner, quicker, with a certain shifty charm. He made most of the conversation--which to tell the truth was slightly heavy going--speaking in a rapid, almost inaudible monotone. I noticed his right hand was bandaged. (He had cut his thumb rather badly murdering Jack ‘the Hat’ McVitie a few weeks earlier.) ‘How did you hurt yourself, Mr. Kray?’ I inquired brightly. ‘Gardenin’,’ he answered.” - John Pearson, Profession of Violence: Rise and Fall of the Kray Twins
May 14, 2016
This book is a biography. It tells the life story of the Kray Twins (hereafter know as Twins). It is also true crime because the Twins were criminals.
In the Introduction, John Pearson writes about meeting the Twins. They wanted him to write the true story of the Kray Twins.
Before Pearson was done doing his research it was obvious that the book the Twins wanted written, with their version of the truth, was not possible. Things actually got dangerous for Pearson before the Twins were arrested. Then the wall came down. People, friends and acquaintances of the Twins, who previously told what they were supposed to say, now began to open up with the truth, the real truth.
The result is a compelling account of two men who "ruled London" in the 60's. And how famous were the Kray Twins? I live in NYC, it's now 2016, every bartender (from the across the pond) that saw me reading this book knew who they were. In fact, I had to rush to finish it before one of them filled my head with 'stories' about the Krays.
Part biography and part true crime, this book satisfies on both points. It is well researched, factual and interesting. I recommend this book.
Reggie and Ronnie Kray ruled London's 1960s gangland with a ruthlessness and viciousness that shocks, even today.
In the Introduction, John Pearson writes about meeting the Twins. They wanted him to write the true story of the Kray Twins.
'So much rubbish gets written about our sort of people that me an' Ron both think it's time the truth was told for once.'
Before Pearson was done doing his research it was obvious that the book the Twins wanted written, with their version of the truth, was not possible. Things actually got dangerous for Pearson before the Twins were arrested. Then the wall came down. People, friends and acquaintances of the Twins, who previously told what they were supposed to say, now began to open up with the truth, the real truth.
The result is a compelling account of two men who "ruled London" in the 60's. And how famous were the Kray Twins? I live in NYC, it's now 2016, every bartender (from the across the pond) that saw me reading this book knew who they were. In fact, I had to rush to finish it before one of them filled my head with 'stories' about the Krays.
Part biography and part true crime, this book satisfies on both points. It is well researched, factual and interesting. I recommend this book.
June 11, 2015
I had to read this non-fiction history of the violent and unstable twin career criminals to cleanse my mind of the fantasy that is Little Legs Muscleman Of Soho. The author covers the rise of the twins from boxing and delinquency to protection rackets, nightclub proprietorship, and a pinnacle of international stock certificate scams in league with elements of the American mafia. The book is recent enough to discuss the middle-aged brothers' acclimation to prison life.
August 20, 2012
Really enjoyed this, was very interesting to look into East End history and gangsters. It's a topic that is particularly fascinating to me as my Nan's side of the family are richardsons from the area, the rival gang of the Kray brothers. I am curious as to whether we were related to them or our close proximity to them in the area during the period was coincidence. Will definitely investigate this further :)
February 18, 2016
I absolutely loved this book. I became interested in learning more about the Krays following the release of Legend and this book did not disappoint. Although feared by many during their reign, the twins are incredibly fascinating and it is quite incredible the things they got away with over quite a long span of time before their arrest.
A must read for fans of crime, British crime or just someone who has a fascination with these famous brothers.
A must read for fans of crime, British crime or just someone who has a fascination with these famous brothers.
October 29, 2015
I have always been interested in the Krays. I was born and raised in Bermondsey and knew of the Krays and the Richardson gang, as I was in my early teens. There were one or two places that I wasn't allowed to hang around back then.
Having recently seen the latest movie on the Kray Twins, I decided to purchase the book. The book was all as good as the movie! Recommended.
Having recently seen the latest movie on the Kray Twins, I decided to purchase the book. The book was all as good as the movie! Recommended.
July 13, 2015
This book describes the rise and fall of two London gangsters.
I'm not sure how much of the detail in this book was true, but it was fascinating (in a macabre way) and disturbing how ruthless / viscous individuals can prosper through fear.
I'm not sure how much of the detail in this book was true, but it was fascinating (in a macabre way) and disturbing how ruthless / viscous individuals can prosper through fear.
May 3, 2025
Being a Dutchman, I didn’t grow up with the myth of the Kray twins. I first looked them up when Ray Davies of The Kinks name-checked them in his Storyteller show - and then I watched Legend, the movie.
It was great to read the full and true story, well told by a journalist who knew them first hand. The twins hired Pearson to write their biography, so he may have been ‘embedded’ at first, but since the twins went to jail for life in 1969, he was free of pressure soon enough.
The book is factual. Well written. There’s plenty of glamour, because Reg en Ron were all about glamour and fame, but they are not glamourised or made into heroes by the author.
I found it very interesting to read about the Krays’ empire, which about blackmail and enforced ‘protection’ much more than it was about murder.
It was great to read the full and true story, well told by a journalist who knew them first hand. The twins hired Pearson to write their biography, so he may have been ‘embedded’ at first, but since the twins went to jail for life in 1969, he was free of pressure soon enough.
The book is factual. Well written. There’s plenty of glamour, because Reg en Ron were all about glamour and fame, but they are not glamourised or made into heroes by the author.
I found it very interesting to read about the Krays’ empire, which about blackmail and enforced ‘protection’ much more than it was about murder.
December 19, 2023
The title encapsulates it all. The book is telling us how it comes that some people would not take on ordinary jobs but choose very early on to tread on quite a different path in order to make a living.
Though it is more complicated than that as it is also about yielding to violence for the sheer fun of it and for the pleasurable power physical coercion gives you -if you're not on the receiving end, that is!- in a world where knuckle dusters and revolvers always come in handy to set the record straight. One step leading fast to another, soon comes the realisation that not only do muscular strength and boldness give you the upper hand in a scuffle, unbidden, if put to good use, they help you carve off an expanding realm of all manner of unlawful activities. And you can enjoy the easy money that goes with it, among the many perks of the job.
J. G. Pearson touches on the psychological side of this particular case of two twins embarking on a bumpy lifestyle of large -scale territorial thuggery. Which of the two is to be calling the shots in this brotherly criminal joint venture?
In this regard the book is quite interesting. Still it leaves us none the wiser when it comes to pitch the broader story of the period when all this was made possible in East End London in the late 1950s until 1968 when the Kray twins were eventually put behind bars. In other words, a little more contextualisation would have made the difference.
Though it is more complicated than that as it is also about yielding to violence for the sheer fun of it and for the pleasurable power physical coercion gives you -if you're not on the receiving end, that is!- in a world where knuckle dusters and revolvers always come in handy to set the record straight. One step leading fast to another, soon comes the realisation that not only do muscular strength and boldness give you the upper hand in a scuffle, unbidden, if put to good use, they help you carve off an expanding realm of all manner of unlawful activities. And you can enjoy the easy money that goes with it, among the many perks of the job.
J. G. Pearson touches on the psychological side of this particular case of two twins embarking on a bumpy lifestyle of large -scale territorial thuggery. Which of the two is to be calling the shots in this brotherly criminal joint venture?
In this regard the book is quite interesting. Still it leaves us none the wiser when it comes to pitch the broader story of the period when all this was made possible in East End London in the late 1950s until 1968 when the Kray twins were eventually put behind bars. In other words, a little more contextualisation would have made the difference.
August 18, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this biography of sorts. It is factually written, with a side of opinion by Pearson, allowing one to separate the events vs the public reaction and opinion of their actions whilst still appreciating both.
I finished this in a day, after deciding I was finally going to pick it up and read it beyond the first ten pages detailing their childhood, and was glad to have done so. It was an easy read but not due to a lack of linguistic capability, but rather due to the way it was structured. I thoroughly recommend this to anybody who is interested in Britain's past of organised crime.
A very good charity shop find, and I almost wish now I had purchased it from the original seller so that some of the cost would have been given to benefit the author.
I finished this in a day, after deciding I was finally going to pick it up and read it beyond the first ten pages detailing their childhood, and was glad to have done so. It was an easy read but not due to a lack of linguistic capability, but rather due to the way it was structured. I thoroughly recommend this to anybody who is interested in Britain's past of organised crime.
A very good charity shop find, and I almost wish now I had purchased it from the original seller so that some of the cost would have been given to benefit the author.
June 4, 2023
MMMHHH AMAZING AAAAHHHH
August 13, 2024
Loved it . Highly recommend .
June 7, 2016
This is one of many books about the infamous Kray Twins and their exploits in 1960's London. There is another book out there by the same author that updates this one after the twins demise and that may be the better read of the two. One of the flaws in this book is that it doesn't bring everything up to date despite the fact that this book was reprinted electronically in 2013. It ends with a postscript after the trial but that was a written in 1995 when the twins were still alive and eligible for parole. That never happened and they both died as prisoners though Reggie was released on compassionate grounds after it was clear that his race was over. This is a minor point but one that should be pointed out to anybody that might want to learn the full story of the Kray Twins and their gangland empire.
That's not to say that this is not an excellent book. John Pearson met with the Krays before their incarceration and heard their side of the story and his journalistic mind took all the information in and still managed to draw his own conclusions on the brothers. He explains their rise to power well but the meat of the book is the brothers themselves and this is were the writer really excels. He paints very distinct difference between the two both when dealing with Ronnie's madness and Reggie's sharp business sense and devotion to his sick brother while leaving no details out.
The nuts and bolts of their criminal empire are explained in detail both in what they did and how they did it. And the minor players are all perfectly written. While reading this book I never doubted the motives anyone or while they found themselves on the wrong side of the twins wrath or in their good book. The Kray twins 'were a right pair of villains' as their cockney mates would say and this book certainly agrees with that. And despite the gruesome violence that was their life their charisma and glamor shine throughout this read and the East End of London and the gangsters that populated it all come to life. The capture of the twins is also wonderfully written and provides a ending that will have you turning every page despite knowing the outcome.
All in all this was a good book about two very bad men but it is a book that should be passed over in favor of the other more recently updated version by the same author because that would give the closure that the reader deserves.
That's not to say that this is not an excellent book. John Pearson met with the Krays before their incarceration and heard their side of the story and his journalistic mind took all the information in and still managed to draw his own conclusions on the brothers. He explains their rise to power well but the meat of the book is the brothers themselves and this is were the writer really excels. He paints very distinct difference between the two both when dealing with Ronnie's madness and Reggie's sharp business sense and devotion to his sick brother while leaving no details out.
The nuts and bolts of their criminal empire are explained in detail both in what they did and how they did it. And the minor players are all perfectly written. While reading this book I never doubted the motives anyone or while they found themselves on the wrong side of the twins wrath or in their good book. The Kray twins 'were a right pair of villains' as their cockney mates would say and this book certainly agrees with that. And despite the gruesome violence that was their life their charisma and glamor shine throughout this read and the East End of London and the gangsters that populated it all come to life. The capture of the twins is also wonderfully written and provides a ending that will have you turning every page despite knowing the outcome.
All in all this was a good book about two very bad men but it is a book that should be passed over in favor of the other more recently updated version by the same author because that would give the closure that the reader deserves.
March 23, 2012
Sadly one of the most gripping books I've read in a very long time. In terms of a biography, the story of the Kray twins is pretty interesting, although what I found most fascinating was the relationship between them and how this affected them, and each of their lives individually. For example, Ronnie became increasingly mentally unstable and reckless in his violence, but although Reggie was more of a businessman and controlled in his decisions, there was never any question at all of him not absolutely sticking by and supporting Ronnie 100% in what he did. The author touched on this during their court case, when he explained that nowadays the psychological factor of one twin influencing the other and the question of true culpability would feature heavily. The most interesting aspect for me was that they were born identical twins, but due to mental illness, an early prison stay and other factors affecting just one of them, after their teens they deviated significantly in other areas. However, this book was not strictly a biography, I suppose: at the very beginning and end the author attempts to sandwich it with two wafer-thin explanations for the twins' use of violence and its ends. As I say, I personally found their co-relation far more fascinating, and had little use for explanations that violence could be used to instil fear and uphold promises and threats. A couple of good facts from this book: a young Fern Britton sent a signed publicity shot to Ronnie while he was in prison, and the twins employed "Southern Television's newscaster" Fred Dineage to ghost-write their memoirs. Presumably it was Ronnie, who chased the celebrity life-style and who was certified insane, that thought of that one.
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June 26, 2016I grew up just north of the main Bethnal Green Road in Norah Street. The Kray twins grew up just south of the main Bethnal Green road in Vallence Road. Did I know them personally - no my parents were law abiding citizens, although I believe my late aunt Lil did know Vi, who was their mother.
A lot has been written about them, the Robin Hoods of the East End of London, but they stole from eveyone if there was enough money and put it in their own pockets. They were brutal criminals, Ronnie even being certified as insane. Life had no meaning, if someone said the wrong word or did the wrong thing then the Kray twins would deal with it (actually their gang members mainly). The bodies of a few victims have still not been found (the legend that they were somewhere embeded in the foundations of various motorways in the eastern part of London - who knows).They had no scruples and so there have been at least two cinema films made about them and countless books written. This book was written well, contained the facts and how it was. I put Bethnal Green behind me in 1966 when the Krays were in full operation with their gang. I may have seen them, perhaps not, but would not have even noticed it. One of their favourite meeting places was Pellicci's cafe in the Bethnal Green road, which I knew quite well, and often mum treated me to an Italian ice cream over the open window in Summer when I was a kid. The Krays would sit inside the café with their gang, they were the local mafia.
A lot has been written about them, the Robin Hoods of the East End of London, but they stole from eveyone if there was enough money and put it in their own pockets. They were brutal criminals, Ronnie even being certified as insane. Life had no meaning, if someone said the wrong word or did the wrong thing then the Kray twins would deal with it (actually their gang members mainly). The bodies of a few victims have still not been found (the legend that they were somewhere embeded in the foundations of various motorways in the eastern part of London - who knows).They had no scruples and so there have been at least two cinema films made about them and countless books written. This book was written well, contained the facts and how it was. I put Bethnal Green behind me in 1966 when the Krays were in full operation with their gang. I may have seen them, perhaps not, but would not have even noticed it. One of their favourite meeting places was Pellicci's cafe in the Bethnal Green road, which I knew quite well, and often mum treated me to an Italian ice cream over the open window in Summer when I was a kid. The Krays would sit inside the café with their gang, they were the local mafia.
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