From Gangland to Promised Land - Softcover

Pridmore, John; Watts, Greg

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0954732138 ISBN 13: 9780954732134

Publisher: Transform Management Ltd/Xt3, 2004

Synopsis

Brought up in the East End of London, son of a policeman, John was already dabbling in crime by his early teens, ending up in a young offenders institute and then a borstal. He’d left home at 15 and the only occupation he knew was theft. He landed a job doing security at concerts for stars such as Simply Red, Queen and Bruce Springsteen and was lured deeper into the world of drugs and crime. By his 20s he was well-acquainted with the capital’s criminal underworld. Thanks to drug dealing and racketeering he lived the classic gangster life of loads of cash, women, sports cars, designer clothes and a penthouse flat. Violence became a way of life, with his jackets tailored to hold his machete, knuckledusters and CS gas. One night he beat up a guy outside a nightclub, fleeing the scene thinking he’d killed the man. Thankfully the victim survived but John finally had to confront the reality of the life he was leading and something extraordinary happened....

About this title

From the Publisher

"Gangland to Promised Land" was officially launched at the end of November (Blind Beggar Pub in the East End - Michelle Collins among the guests), during John Pridmore's 5 week UK tour, "Meet the Man Behind the Machete". The book and tour have received extensive media coverage (eg. Times Educational Supplement , Radio 5 Live, ITV News 24 and London Tonight). John’s story is so real, compelling and honestly told, it has those who hear it gripped - over 7,000 Gangland books sold on tour alone. The new edition includes 2 extra chapters, photos from John’s youth and a sassy new cover. The book was originally published by DLT in 2002. Despite an unattractive front cover and no publicity, the book sold around 30,000 copies, mainly at talks given by John Pridmore.

From the Author

Greg Watts "The shelves of many bookshops are bulging with true crime stories. But From Gangland to Promised Land is a story with a difference. John Pridmore found himself sucked into the violent London underworld and quickly learned how much money could be made from drug deals. The extraordinary and dramatic change that took place in his life is, and will continue to be, an inspiration to many men and women today, whatever situation they find themselves in."

About this edition

• Publisher: Transform Management Ltd/Xt3
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0954732138
• ISBN 13: 9780954732134
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 264