Dundee in the nineteenth century was a very dangerous place. Ever since the Circuit judge Lord Cockburn branded the city 'A Sink of Atrocity' in his Memoirs, the image of old Dundee has been one of poverty and crime - but what was it really like to live in the streets and closes of Dundee at that time? In A Sink of Atrocity, Malcolm Archibald reveals the real nineteenth century Dundee and the ordinary and extraordinary crimes that took place. As well as the usual domestic violence, fighting and robberies, Dundee was also beset with a catalogue of different crimes during the century. There were the Bodysnatchers and Resurrection men who caused much panic in the 1820s and an epidemic of thieving in the 1860s. There were gang crimes, infamous murders and an astonishing outbreak of crimes committed by women, as well as the highly unusual theft of a whale at sea. Poverty and drink played their part and up against this tidal wave of crime stood men like Patrick Mackay, one of Dundee's Messengers-at-Arms, who was responsible for apprehending criminals before the advent of the police. It was not an easy job but those who were caught faced the full force of the law, from fines to jail and from transportation to hanging, as the authorities fought to bring law and order to Dundee.
A Sink of Atrocity: Crime in 19th-Century Dundee
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Author Malcolm Archibald was the winner of the 2005 Dundee Book Prize. This latest book came about from his Masters dissertation in history and includes original and new research about the story of crime in Dundee, written in a vibrant and accessible style.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
By zumbette
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
A pick up and put down book. A bit "sameness " in parts and a few too many statistics, but, a good enough read giving insight into Dundee's dark past
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Fantastic book, unique among books on Dundee, centring on crime in the 19th century. From the days when there was no such thing as a police force and people had to band together to hire some form of defence and lawkeepers. From grave robbers to gangs of youths on the rampage, to thugs who controlled and bullied the populace, this book has something for everyone.
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Great book. Hard to believe what people went through in the 1800's. Punishment certainly fitted the crime for some but not for others.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Accessible lively history of 19th century Dundee
Having spent a lot of time in Dundee growing up, I found myself feeling nostalgic about the place, despite the rather foreboding title. Read more
Published 4 months ago by H. Gamal
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating social history
This book takes you into a gritty grimy world that was the lot of many Dundonians more than a century ago. It's fascinating and brings to life a time that was hard and unforgiving.
Published 5 months ago by Jane Yeadon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Compulsive Reading
Have read a number of Malcolm Archibald's books now but this one for me is by far the best. Malcolm's descriptive style of writing makes the reader feel that you are there... Read more
Published 6 months ago by K. Watters
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating history
The stories and detail of crime in nineteenth century Dundee, not so long ago, make fascinating reading. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Dr. Alexander Wedderburn
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Dundee Courier took me here
I saw the review of this book in the Dundee Courier. I have a passing interest in crime and crime in Dundee in particular. I really enjoyed the last one I read, The Law Killers. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Portlander
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