The Peeler's Notebook

by Barry Kennerk

Dublin during the 19th century could be an unforgiving city, especially for the unwary. Established in 1836, the Metropolitan Police who patrolled its dark alleys and streets fought running battles with violent tenement mobs, Fenian rebels, street gangs and self-proclaimed kings.
The Peeler's Notebook introduces the reader to a host of forgotten Victorian dangers, from rabid dogs and disease epidemics to garrotte-wielding thieves who plied their trade in the ever-present fog. Drawing on a selection of archival sources and newpaper accounts, this book casts fresh light on one of the liveliest eras in the history of Irish policing, in the process adding a raucous, sometimes poignant mescellany of tales to the story of Dublin's past

Genres: Ireland

240 pages, Hardcover

Published July 1, 2019

Reviews

[Deirdre · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of history and anecdotes well written and interestingly told about the Dublin Metropolitian Police, it's mostly about Victorian Dublin which was a somewhat lawless place and the copy I read is littered with postits at the moment for notes for myself. It was a quick and easy read and I was impressed by an extensive bibliography and the index.
It gives a good flavour of what living in Dublin must have been like in the Victorian Era, a fair amount of lawlessness and a lot of chaos. Some great characters on both sides.

[Stephen Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book on the policing of Dublin mostly in the 19th century told through case stories but more importantly it contains details of the city through that time which for the local historian is the fizzle in the stick.

[Laura-leigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice little miscellany of newspaper reports but only a couple stick in the memory.

[Porcoschifo · Rating 4 out of 5]

small window into a different irish world. it's really enjoyable even if you're not familiar with the time period.

[David Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read if you are interested in the subject. Recommended.