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The subtitle Over Thirty Years of Blood, Sweat and Tears refers to what has actually been suffered by other people, of course, at the vicious hands of Reg Kray, his unlamented siblings and their criminal associates. For almost three decades, particularly throughout the Sixties, the Krays in the East End and the other prominent heavy mob, the Richardsons in south London, dominated the underworld of the metropolis through the gangster methods of violence and intimidation. This partially apologetic autobiography, apparently written without a ghost author (not even one of the Krays' victims), seems to suggest that Reg is remorseful about his bad old ways in the bad old days. He talks about brothers Ron (died naturally 1995) and Charlie (died naturally in April this year), about his marriage to Roberta, about faces and places in the past, and the new role he has found for himself in prison. The book and its reformed character theme are probably not unconnected with Reg's application for parole which will be decided upon over the next year. He has spent half of his life in clink.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
The last testament by the one of the greatest anti-heroes of the late twentieth century.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Reg Kray was clearly a man who was capable of so much more than theviolence and gangland activities for which he and his brother werenotorious, and A Way of Life shows this superbly.
Reg comments articulately and thoughtfully on many things during thecourse of the book from the drudgery and violence of prison life tolasting friendships, loyalty, family, treachery and politics. However, theoverriding impression was of a man genuinely taken aback that his releasefrom prison was repeatedly denied, while serial rapists, paedophiles andother far more dangerous specimens were parolled, often to reoffend almostinstantly. As Reg had to be on death's door with cancer before hisrelease, and his ongoing incarceration was clearly more politicallymotivated than out of concern for public safety, it is not difficult tosee his point.
Despite the knockbacks and the difficulties, Reg was incrediblyphilosophical about things, and any suspicion that he was a mindless thugwill evaporate after reading a few pages of this book. To be honest, RegKray's storytelling abilities speak for themselves in this book, andcombined with a wicked sense of humour, and the value he placed onfriendship and companionship, ends up as the kind of guy you wish youcould go down the local for a few beers with.
A hard man who led a hard life, but never seemed to lose touch withreality, and this book probably gives a bigger insight into him thananything else. A fantastic book and highly recommended.
Reg comments articulately and thoughtfully on many things during thecourse of the book from the drudgery and violence of prison life tolasting friendships, loyalty, family, treachery and politics. However, theoverriding impression was of a man genuinely taken aback that his releasefrom prison was repeatedly denied, while serial rapists, paedophiles andother far more dangerous specimens were parolled, often to reoffend almostinstantly. As Reg had to be on death's door with cancer before hisrelease, and his ongoing incarceration was clearly more politicallymotivated than out of concern for public safety, it is not difficult tosee his point.
Despite the knockbacks and the difficulties, Reg was incrediblyphilosophical about things, and any suspicion that he was a mindless thugwill evaporate after reading a few pages of this book. To be honest, RegKray's storytelling abilities speak for themselves in this book, andcombined with a wicked sense of humour, and the value he placed onfriendship and companionship, ends up as the kind of guy you wish youcould go down the local for a few beers with.
A hard man who led a hard life, but never seemed to lose touch withreality, and this book probably gives a bigger insight into him thananything else. A fantastic book and highly recommended.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I HAVE READ ALOT OF BOOKS ON THE KRAY AND IT HAS TO BE SAID THAT THIS IS THE BEST ONE ANY OF THE KRAYS HAS WRITTEN.THE REASON I SAY THIS IS BECAUSE IN THIS BOOK I BELIEVE HE HOLDS NOTHING BACK ON THE WAY HE HAS LIVED LIFE AND THE WAY HE WAS LIVING IT AT THIS TIME. THE PRISON STORIES ARE BRILLIANT AND IT IS CERTAINLY A MUST READ TO KRAY FANS.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The fact that Reg Kray was not a professional writer, lends this book realism and an edge, that most of the many books on the Kray's failed to communicate. Regardless of whether your opinion of Reggie Kray and twin brother Ronnie, is one of sympathy for their plight, or a feeling that justice was seen to be done, one can't help but feel a certain sadness emanating from these pages. Reggie exhales the rancid air of prison life, right into this work, and the reader feels it too, as we are taken around the country, from prison to prison. We accompany a man forging friendships, severing links, documenting hardship and, at times, barely existing, in a world that is about as far from reality as it is possible to be. An astute life observer, Reggie writes it like it is - so to speak - invoking a myriad of emotions along the way, with a heavy dose of 'Rather him, than me' in the lead role. There is little space for padding and prose, as Reg crams more life-turbulence into a day, than most of us see in a year. We also get the impression that the author is somehow frozen in a bygone era, an age where women were the gentle sex, casual wear was a sharp suit, and the back door key was left under the mat. At times, memories and a few trusted allies, appear to be his only form of sustenance, while at the same time providing the reader with a veritable banquet of food for thought. Reggie often comes across as a man alone with his thoughts, but one can't help but wonder how his spirit appears to burn so brightly, after his long spells of solitary confinement, leaving the reader to wonder how we would fare in the same circumstances. From the harsh and draconian regime of late 60's category 'A' prisons, to the relative comfort of HMP Wayland in Norfolk, we can only get a glimpse between the bars, of a lifetime spent paying back a debt to society, a debt that many feel was paid many times over. Having said that, the peek into the world of Britain's most famous inmate, serves as both a compelling read and a warning to all future would-be gangsters that behind the myths, legends and superficial glamour, lies a long and very lonely road. It's worth remembering, with I might add, a degree of sorrow, that Reggie Kray was in prison for 32 years, and was a free man for only slightly more than as many days. I think it's fair to say, and was expected, that there would be no new revelations in this book, regarding the crimes the Kray twins were convicted of, but coming as it does, from the horses mouth, lends it a discernable degree of authenticity, and, if I may be so bold - honesty!...
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Honest Reg
i found the book very funny but also very sad .it made me angry to know he only lived a short while after his release . Read more
Published 10 months ago by homerman
neillie
well i loved this book couldnt put it down a great read, i was born in the early 70s only thing i knew about the krays was from the telly as i got older , so i got really intrested... Read more
Published 23 months ago by nellie
What was the point?
I started this book with an open mind wanting to find out more about Reg Kray and his time inside. I was especially intrigued by his pledge at the start to present a vision of... Read more
Published on 30 Mar 2009 by Hayles
Blah, blah, blah....
Reg Kray is clearly not a writer. He jumps from person to person with monotonous regularity and leaves you wondering where he is going next. Read more
Published on 8 Jan 2009 by Mr. M. Deith
Excellent and sad
I brought this book when i was home in oxford england for the plane ride Back to the USA.
I could not put it down. Read more
I could not put it down. Read more
Published on 1 Mar 2008 by Christopher Bishop
The true story finally revealed
Despite what has been printed by the media and press at last the real story is finally told. From the commencement of the custodial sentence this is a no holds barred account of... Read more
Published on 20 Dec 2000
The story of reg's life imprisonment.
At last the story of reg kray's struggle to keep him self sane in serving his 30 year prison term. Read how the system tried to break him, with constant moves,and mind games. Read more
Published on 14 Dec 2000 by paul.dragon@ic24.net
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