Dictionary of Culprits and Criminals

This updated and enlarged reference book provides concise biographical accounts of more than 1,200 villainous persons who gained notoriety in the Western world during the last five hundred years. Intended for use by general adult readers, students, and scholars, the book presents valuable information about past and present lawbreakers and villains of all kinds?murderers, terrorists, robbers, assassins, gangsters, racketeers, spies, traitors, smugglers, forgers, impostors, pirates, gunfighters, prostitutes, pimps, cannibals, con artists, swindlers, conspirators, Western outlaws, war criminals, and many others. These offenders?male and female, young and old, rich and poor?committed transgressions that society was prepared to punish by process of law or custom at the time. Americans predominate, but many Europeans have been included.

Entries, with cross references, are arranged alphabetically. There is an appendix classifying all entries according to "law-breaking occupational categories" (e.g., assassin, burglar, forger, gambler, murderer, spy, and so forth), as well as a general index and a selected bibliography. Crisply written and thoroughly readable.