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My Story
From inside the secure wing at Broadmoor hospital, the silent Kray twin speaks out for the 1st time...
156 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 10, 1993
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366 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 1, 2018
My Story is a book by Ronald "Ronnie" Kray, who made up one-half of the notorious Kray twins alongside Reginald "Reggie" Kray. The twins effectively ruled the London underworld for most of the 1960s until their incarceration in 1969, after they were charged with the murders of Jack "The Hat" McVitie and George Cornell respectively. Both were sentenced to a minimum of 30 years. Reggie Kray spent the majority of his sentence at HMP Parkhurst on the Isle of Wight; Ronnie Kray spent the majority of his at Broadmoor Hospital for the criminally insane.
This is the autobiography of Ronnie Kray, which was written with the assistance of Fred Dinenage in 1993. Despite the twins having been imprisoned for almost twenty-five years at this point, there was still a huge amount of interest and awe in the pair, particularly due to the horror stories that were told about the lengths they had gone to in order to retain power. This was capitalised on by many who had known the Kray twins, and many who claimed to have been close to them, but actually weren't. The public had heard about the stories from everybody apart from the two who experienced it first-hand. But this was to change in 1988, when Our Story was released.
It received widespread praise and rave reviews upon release and quickly rose in the bestsellers chart. However, Ronnie Kray was unsatisfied. He felt as if the book had skimmed over their lives as gangsters, but had not delved deep enough into who Reggie and Ronnie were as people. This was the impetus for My Story, in which Ronnie opens up like never before, sharing the highs and lows of his life, as well as what life is like inside Broadmoor Hospital - a place that has made paper headlines for all the wrong reasons in the past.
Overall, the book is fascinating as it gives the reader an insight into the mind of a man who, despite the atrocities he carried out, on the surface seems quite ordinary. He shares with the reader his philosophy and general outlook on life; he touches on mental health and the gravity of it, which is plainly ignored when that individual is locked up; and also outlines what his childhood was like, expelling many of the myths that psychologists had used to formulate a distant evaluation on him.
This is the autobiography of Ronnie Kray, which was written with the assistance of Fred Dinenage in 1993. Despite the twins having been imprisoned for almost twenty-five years at this point, there was still a huge amount of interest and awe in the pair, particularly due to the horror stories that were told about the lengths they had gone to in order to retain power. This was capitalised on by many who had known the Kray twins, and many who claimed to have been close to them, but actually weren't. The public had heard about the stories from everybody apart from the two who experienced it first-hand. But this was to change in 1988, when Our Story was released.
It received widespread praise and rave reviews upon release and quickly rose in the bestsellers chart. However, Ronnie Kray was unsatisfied. He felt as if the book had skimmed over their lives as gangsters, but had not delved deep enough into who Reggie and Ronnie were as people. This was the impetus for My Story, in which Ronnie opens up like never before, sharing the highs and lows of his life, as well as what life is like inside Broadmoor Hospital - a place that has made paper headlines for all the wrong reasons in the past.
Overall, the book is fascinating as it gives the reader an insight into the mind of a man who, despite the atrocities he carried out, on the surface seems quite ordinary. He shares with the reader his philosophy and general outlook on life; he touches on mental health and the gravity of it, which is plainly ignored when that individual is locked up; and also outlines what his childhood was like, expelling many of the myths that psychologists had used to formulate a distant evaluation on him.
October 31, 2018
Before reading ‘My Story’ I read ‘Our Story’ by both of the twins, so I wasn’t sure if this wouldn’t just be Ron’s part all over again. Boy oh boy was I pleasantly surprised. Although there are some points that are obviously repeated, I was just as intrigued by Ronnie’s story as I was the first time.
Personally I think that his writing is very easy and fun to read; you can really tell how much passion he puts into his book(s).
His story is not just interesting but really makes you feel attached to him and Reggie, or at least if you go into this open minded.
10/10 would recommend, it’s worth every damn penny.
Personally I think that his writing is very easy and fun to read; you can really tell how much passion he puts into his book(s).
His story is not just interesting but really makes you feel attached to him and Reggie, or at least if you go into this open minded.
10/10 would recommend, it’s worth every damn penny.
June 18, 2017
It is about infamous Kray twins, Ronnie and Reggie Kray. This is Ronnie Kray's side of the story. Many stories and also movies were made on the life of these twins. However, this particular book is by Ronnie Kray. In this book he talks about his childhood days, his boxing interests, how he became a gangster, his friends and his enemies, his business which he calls "the firm", his wife, also there is one section dedicated to his wife, Kate, where she explains her part of the story, and a lot more.
I saw the movie called 'Legend' which is a story based on the life the Kray twins, played by Tom Hardy. And somehow, after that I happened to buy some novels and books by kilos in a book festival. And in those books I found this book, 'My Story'. I later found out that this was about the Kray twins. Then I thought of giving it a go because I liked the movie, and of course Tom Hardy did a superb job playing the twins. So, I read it and it was good and I could relate to it through the movie. So this is my Story, what's yours?
I saw the movie called 'Legend' which is a story based on the life the Kray twins, played by Tom Hardy. And somehow, after that I happened to buy some novels and books by kilos in a book festival. And in those books I found this book, 'My Story'. I later found out that this was about the Kray twins. Then I thought of giving it a go because I liked the movie, and of course Tom Hardy did a superb job playing the twins. So, I read it and it was good and I could relate to it through the movie. So this is my Story, what's yours?
March 28, 2012
This book is so short it's worth the read in any case, but it was also very insightful into what 'actually' happened with the Kray twins.
March 14, 2014
very interesting insight into ronnie kray and his illness and how so many of the stories you read about him and his brother arnt totally true
June 9, 2021
This book was first published in 1993. It was the only book written by Ron Kray, unless you count the flawed Our Story, which he co-wrote with his brother Reg and Fred Dinenage in 1988. Fred Dinenage co-wrote this book, My Story, as well.
I found the book as fascinating and interesting as Reg's first book, Born Fighter, published three years previously. It follows Ron's life from his childhood until his incarceration. Unfortunately, the book does focus more on his life in Broadmoor than it does almost anything else, which may alienate some readers, but not me. It also includes a chapter written by his wife Kate, who remained married to him until their divorce in 1994. For anyone interested in the Krays, though, the book does cover his life before his jail sentence enough to hold the reader's interest.
To sum up, this is another book about the Krays that I have always enjoyed. I regard it as another of the essential Krays books, like Born Fighter, it may be hard to find in shops or online now. If you can track down a copy, though, I think it is well worth the effort, if you are interested in the Kray twins.
Highly recommended.
I found the book as fascinating and interesting as Reg's first book, Born Fighter, published three years previously. It follows Ron's life from his childhood until his incarceration. Unfortunately, the book does focus more on his life in Broadmoor than it does almost anything else, which may alienate some readers, but not me. It also includes a chapter written by his wife Kate, who remained married to him until their divorce in 1994. For anyone interested in the Krays, though, the book does cover his life before his jail sentence enough to hold the reader's interest.
To sum up, this is another book about the Krays that I have always enjoyed. I regard it as another of the essential Krays books, like Born Fighter, it may be hard to find in shops or online now. If you can track down a copy, though, I think it is well worth the effort, if you are interested in the Kray twins.
Highly recommended.
July 9, 2020
I've had a long term fascination with the Kray twins and gangland London of the 1950s and 1960s.
Having read 'A Way of Life' by Reg Kray, I wanted to know how Ron viewed the way their lives had turned out.
Ron Kray, whilst admitting to murder and various minor crimes, still denies being as black as he's painted. He claims to know when he's mentally going off the rails and that his medication helps him. Ron also feels that Broadmoor is a better place for him than mainstream prison.
The twins ran a big part of London in the late 1950s into the 1960s, but they had their own code of honour. Sorting out problems with rival gangs like the Richardson's was fair game. However, attacking women and children was out of bounds.
The Krays were not honest, law abiding men, but Ron's book claims that they were not always as bad as the grasses and police of the day painted them.
A really good read, but be aware of the bad language.
Having read 'A Way of Life' by Reg Kray, I wanted to know how Ron viewed the way their lives had turned out.
Ron Kray, whilst admitting to murder and various minor crimes, still denies being as black as he's painted. He claims to know when he's mentally going off the rails and that his medication helps him. Ron also feels that Broadmoor is a better place for him than mainstream prison.
The twins ran a big part of London in the late 1950s into the 1960s, but they had their own code of honour. Sorting out problems with rival gangs like the Richardson's was fair game. However, attacking women and children was out of bounds.
The Krays were not honest, law abiding men, but Ron's book claims that they were not always as bad as the grasses and police of the day painted them.
A really good read, but be aware of the bad language.
August 8, 2018
Read for personal research. I found this work of immense interest as it contained a closer look at he and his brother's personal life than Reg's (predominately prison life) work did.
Having this work "My Story", Reg's 'A Way of Life", and the Twins' "Our Story", as well as "The Profession of Violence: The Rise and Fall of the Kray Twins" by John Pearson, gives one a varied and more complete view than just one work would. The film 'Legend' [DVD] was also a fun watch.
I found this book's contents helpful and inspiring - number rating relates to the book's contribution to my needs.
Overall, this work is also a good resource for the researcher and enthusiast.
Having this work "My Story", Reg's 'A Way of Life", and the Twins' "Our Story", as well as "The Profession of Violence: The Rise and Fall of the Kray Twins" by John Pearson, gives one a varied and more complete view than just one work would. The film 'Legend' [DVD] was also a fun watch.
I found this book's contents helpful and inspiring - number rating relates to the book's contribution to my needs.
Overall, this work is also a good resource for the researcher and enthusiast.
November 22, 2020
Perhaps it should be renamed as an essay on Broadmoor. I found the book to lurch from one topic to the next with a bizarre chapter by Ronnie Kray's wife. I was very interested in the subject matter but it just started to drag. Not enough depth or detail.
May 10, 2020
Reyt book
B b b b b n n b. B he d d f f f f f f f. D
B b b b b n n b. B he d d f f f f f f f. D
June 13, 2020
Great read
Honest shout by Ronnie well worth a read gives a good idea of life in the asylum give it a go
Honest shout by Ronnie well worth a read gives a good idea of life in the asylum give it a go
October 17, 2020
Few tiny spelling/grammar errors but otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed this book, very interesting!
February 3, 2022
Ron was nuts no way about it
Read
October 28, 2023I feel like I can't rate this because it's based on a real person. It was entertaining tho
December 19, 2023
A nice (if not polished) story of the Kray twins from Ronnie’s perspective
January 27, 2026
Great to hear from the good, honest side of Ronnie when he was getting the necessary treatment. He spoke very well of friendships he made over the years and some fond memories he and his brother shared with them. Also some parts I found really funny, mostly when Ronnie was being bluntly honest and his personality was shining through the book. He was also very open and forthcoming about his criminal career and didn’t try to excuse the actions he took. It was also interesting to hear about the routines/details within Broadmoor.
Would definitely recommend if you’re a fan of, or curious about the Kray twins.
Would definitely recommend if you’re a fan of, or curious about the Kray twins.
July 14, 2016
A scary look inside of a lunatic asylum.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews