The Road to Tyburn: The Story of Jack Sheppard And the Eighteenth Century Underworld (Penguin Classic History S.) - Softcover

Hibbert, Christopher

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0141390239 ISBN 13: 9780141390239

Publisher: Penguin Classics, 2001

Synopsis

In November 1724 Jack Sheppard was hanged at Tyburn. At the age of twenty-two he had become a legend and has remained one ever since. Christopher Hibbert has uncovered a fascinating story from contemporary newspapers, pamphlets and trial reports of a great prison escaper who was also a man of intelligence, wit and charm. This book is more than a biography; it describes the underworld of eighteenth century London as a horrifying jungle of brothels, gin cellars, gaming dens and dosshouses. TheROAD TO TYBURN is a thought-provoking social history of Georgian London.

About this title

Synopsis:

Jack Sheppard, glamorous rebel, daring escapee and idol of the London mob, was one of the most legendary criminals of 18th-century England. When he finally met his end and was hanged in 1724, weeping girls and thronging crowds lined the road to the gallows at Tyburn. In uncovering Jack Sheppard's enthralling story, lively and prolific historian Christopher Hibbert has drawn on contemporary newspapers, pamphlets and trial reports. He reveals a wild, dissolute, extravagant character, who, although he drank to excess, frequented the beds of prostitutes and was the "greatest prison breaker in the annals of this country", also proved to be a man of great intelligence, wit and charm. Yet this is more than the story of one individual. It also takes us on a fascinating tour through the murky underworld of 18th-century London: a grim jungle of brothels, gin cellars, gaming dens and doss-houses. We are introduced to a rogues' gallery of drunkards, pickpockets, kidnappers and murderers as well as the most notorious characters of the time, including corrupt City Marshal Charles Hitchen and machiavellian thief-taker Jonathan Wild.

About the Author:

Christopher Hibbert is a prolific author, many of whose books are published by Penguin. Other titles to appear in the Classic Penguin series are THE MAKING OF CHARLES DICKENS and CHARLES I.

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin Classics
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0141390239
• ISBN 13: 9780141390239
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 176