Routledge Drunks, Whores and Idle Apprentices - 18th Century Criminal Biographies

Drunks, Whores and Idle Apprentices is the first comprehensive collection to reproduce authentic criminal biographies from the Eighteenth Century in full. These fascinating historical documents offer unique perspectives on eighteenth-century society, revealing the tensions, social anxieties and cultural values embedded in period crime narratives. Rather than seeking simple moral themes, Philip Rawlings examines how these biographies were constructed and what they reveal about contemporary attitudes toward crime, poverty, drunkenness and moral behaviour. Criminal biographies were enormously popular during this era, captivating readers with tales of real offenders and social transgressions. This Routledge edition makes these primary sources accessible to scholars, historians and general readers interested in eighteenth-century social history, urban crime, and the origins of criminal biography as a literary form. Perfect for academic study or historical research into Britain's social and cultural past.