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VILLAINS WE HAVE KNOWN
115 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
About the author
Reggie Kray
9 books10 followersTwin brothers Ronald "Ronnie" Kray (24 October 1933 – 17 March 1995) and Reginald "Reggie" Kray (24 October 1933 – 1 October 2000) were English gangsters who were the foremost perpetrators of organised crime in the East End of London during the 1950s and 1960s. Ronald, commonly called Ron or Ronnie, most likely suffered from paranoid schizophrenia.[4]
With their gang, "The Firm", the Krays were involved in armed robberies, arson, protection rackets, assaults, and the murders of Jack "The Hat" McVitie and George Cornell.
As West End nightclub owners, they mixed with prominent entertainers including Diana Dors, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland and with politicians. The Krays were much feared within their milieu, and in the 1960s became celebrities in their own right, even being photographed by David Bailey and interviewed on television.
They were arrested on 9 May 1968 and convicted in 1969 by the efforts of a squad of detectives led by Detective Superintendent Leonard "Nipper" Read, and were both sentenced to life imprisonment.
Ronnie remained in Broadmoor Hospital until his death on 17 March 1995, but Reggie was released from prison on compassionate grounds in August 2000, eight weeks before his death from cancer. (Wikipedia)
With their gang, "The Firm", the Krays were involved in armed robberies, arson, protection rackets, assaults, and the murders of Jack "The Hat" McVitie and George Cornell.
As West End nightclub owners, they mixed with prominent entertainers including Diana Dors, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland and with politicians. The Krays were much feared within their milieu, and in the 1960s became celebrities in their own right, even being photographed by David Bailey and interviewed on television.
They were arrested on 9 May 1968 and convicted in 1969 by the efforts of a squad of detectives led by Detective Superintendent Leonard "Nipper" Read, and were both sentenced to life imprisonment.
Ronnie remained in Broadmoor Hospital until his death on 17 March 1995, but Reggie was released from prison on compassionate grounds in August 2000, eight weeks before his death from cancer. (Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
November 12, 2012
This is possibly one of the most pointless books I have ever read. It appeals to very few people - those featured in it and the man who wrote it.
The Kray's are really interesting characters being the most notorious gangsters in London during the 1950's and 60's. This book promises to give details of those that the Krays came into contact with during their time running London. However, that's not the case at all which was really disappointing.
All this book really does is list people, where they were born, what they look like and a small titbit about their character which would only be interesting to those who may have known the people listed. In most cases Kray states that they are lovely people and so infact there is not any real villainous activity at all. Kray himself states that he won't give details of the people so as to protect them so it leaves me asking 'why bother at all?'. It all seems very self-indulgent and pointless.
More interesting would be focusing on a few key people and really giving details, or publishing your own memoirs and go into real detail but keeping people anonymous. That way there is really a point to the writting. But as it stands there is nothing. I guess people, like me, will pick up this book based on Kray's reputation along, but like me they stand to be disappointed!
The Kray's are really interesting characters being the most notorious gangsters in London during the 1950's and 60's. This book promises to give details of those that the Krays came into contact with during their time running London. However, that's not the case at all which was really disappointing.
All this book really does is list people, where they were born, what they look like and a small titbit about their character which would only be interesting to those who may have known the people listed. In most cases Kray states that they are lovely people and so infact there is not any real villainous activity at all. Kray himself states that he won't give details of the people so as to protect them so it leaves me asking 'why bother at all?'. It all seems very self-indulgent and pointless.
More interesting would be focusing on a few key people and really giving details, or publishing your own memoirs and go into real detail but keeping people anonymous. That way there is really a point to the writting. But as it stands there is nothing. I guess people, like me, will pick up this book based on Kray's reputation along, but like me they stand to be disappointed!
Displaying 1 of 1 review