Gilfoyle is an accomplished historian and author who wrote the often-cited "City of Eros: New York City, Prostitution, and the Commercialization of Sex, 1790-1920."

In "A Pickpocket's Tale" he examines the world of petty -- and not so petty -- crime in 19th century New York. The centerpiece of the book is George Appo, whose violent father, Quimbo Appo, was "the first Asian ever convicted of a capital crime in New York City" and whose mother was an Irish immigrant.

Gilfoyle uses the unpublished memoir of George Appo, as well as his own exhaustive research, to present a detailed picture of con games, graft, and crime in the 1800s -- and prison life for those that were caught. "A Pickpocket's Tale" combines impeccable historical analysis and great story-telling. I highly recommend it to those who enjoy history that explores everyday life and to anyone with an interest in the American underbelly. ( )

A fascinating look at the life of the demimonde in mid- to late-19th century New York. Gilfoyle follows the life of pickpocket George Appo—a scrappy orphan of Chinese and Irish descent—to provide an engaging social history about the urban poor. ( )

I started reading this book on a trip to North Carolina in January 2007. However, upon my return from the trip, I didn't find myself compelled to finish the book. It just didn't have enough to keep me going. ( )