Gangland Volume 2: The Underworld in Britain and Ireland

by James Morton

In Gangland, his survey of London's underworld, James Morton concentrated on the history, personalities, and powers behind the capital's criminal fraternity. In this companion volume, he turns his attention to the country as a whole, assessing the role of the criminal families, gangs, and organizations in Britain's major cities. After a concise overview of the London scene, including families such as the Krays, the Sabinis, and the Richardsons, Morton embarks on a nationwide tour of robbery, extortion, and vice. From Glasgow's hard men to the burgeoning drugs market on Manchester's Moss Side, the book discusses the people and places behind the profession of violence, documenting the histories, fads, and feuds, and offering views on the crimes themselves.

472 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1995

Reviews

[Walt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, Morton has something of a monopoly on writing about organized crime in the UK. Unlike other authors, this one explores OC in British cities other than London. However, the writing is so seemingly disorganized (much like the gangs themselves) that it is difficult to understand what Morton is telling his audience. His work on Liverpool also is at odds with popular media accounts that discussed the murder of that city's crime boss in 2008.