Con Men and Cutpurses

This enthralling collection takes readers deep into the murky underworld of eighteenth-century England, bringing it to life in the racy idiomatic language of the time through memoirs, newspaper articles, satires, and ballads. The historical writings in Con Men and Cutpurses presents a diverse gallery of criminals-highwaymen, thieves, pirates, and prostitutes-who were seen by the general public as dangerous but glamorous rebels. From London mob idol Jack Sheppard to cross-dressing pirate Ann Bonny, these are the real life characters that inspired Hogarth, Fielding, and Dickens. This edition features an engaging general introduction and informative prefaces to each extract, with notes, a glossary of slang, and illustrations by William Hogarth.