Overview

Was There Crime in the Second World War? At a time of national emergency, the average person could be forgiven for thinking that crime rates would go down as everyone tried to help the war effort. However, the reality was that criminals saw the war as an opportunity to exploit the emergency conditions and those with a previously unblemished reputation found themselves tempted off the straight and narrow. Criminal activity wasn't just a civilian occupation. The military services had its share of crime and the influx of foreign troops added to the problem. American and Canadian troops found themselves transported to Britain in preparation for D-Day. Lonely and far from home, some rioted and many looked for other distractions with desertion being a significant problem and one which was often funded by crime. Heavily illustrated with both contemporary and modern photographs Penny takes you back to some of the most infamous wartime crimes such as the blackout ripper, the bath chair murderer and the last person to be prosecuted in Britain for witchcraft. She also delves into the murky world of Spivs, Gangs, prostitutes and Robbers. At a time when rationing, shortages and the blitz meant feeding the family became ever more difficult it was all too easy for the increasingly blurred line of criminality to be crossed. Penny Legg shows how and why crime was committed during the Second World War and what became of those Spivs, Scoundrels, Rogues and Worse who strayed into the underworld. AUTHOR: Penny Legg is a journalist, magazine editor, public speaker and the author of over twelve books of local and military history. She is a member of the Society of Authors and the National Union of Journalists. She runs Writing Buddies, the group for writers, in Southampton. Spivs, Scoundrels, Rogues and Worse is her first title for Sabrestorm Publishing. Penny lives near Southampton in Hampshire.

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9781781220092

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Reviews

This handsomely illustrated book is set to become a standard work on a dark, intriguing and fascinating topic. Peter Lovesey, Crime writer and past chairman of the Crime Writers' Association

Author Information

Penny Legg is the author of over thirteen books. A university lecturer in creative writing, journalism and business writing, and author coach. Penny is a founding member of SO:To Speak, Southampton's festival of words and author of Crime in the Second World War: Spivs, Scoundrels, Rogues and Worse.

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