P. J. Gooderson

My sister bought me this - I guess she felt I would be interested as I grew up as a Brummie and not as a violent gang person! Very interesting book for me certainly because of my heritage and understanding what was Birmingham then and also growing up when I did a few decades ago there always was a dark and violent side to the city. I was quite surprised to find the areas where my maternal great grandparents and my mother's family came in for special notoriety! I would have liked more social and political context - the book really is predominantly a list of the crimes and violence that happened. But most informative and an eye opener of what life was like in those blighted Victorian cities in England and likely elsewhere.

I'd like to visit some of those streets mentioned in the book but from what I know from prior visits their character has changed enormously - some rebuilt as the city centre and many others now Asian.… (more)