Villains, Scoundrels, and Rogues: Incredible True Tales of Mischief and Mayhem
by Paul Martin
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"Everyone loves a good villain! From the back pages of history, vivid, entertaining portraits of little-known scoundrels whose misdeeds range from the simply inept to the truly horrifying. Even if you're an avid history buff, you've probably never heard of this disreputable cast of characters: A drunken, ne'er-do-well cop who abandoned his post at Ford's Theatre, giving assassin John Wilkes Booth unchallenged access to President Lincoln; a notorious Kansas quack who made millions by show more implanting billy goat testicles in gullible male patients; and America's worst female serial killer ever. These are three of the memorable but little-known rogues profiled in this eye-opening and entertaining book. Dividing his profiles into three categories--villains, scoundrels, and rogues--author and former National Geographic editor Paul Martin serves up concise, colorful biographies of thirty of America's most outrageous characters. Whether readers choose to be horrified by the story of Ed Gein, Alfred Hitchcock's hideous inspiration for Psycho, or marvel at the clever duplicity of the con artist who originated the phony bookie operation portrayed in The Sting, there's something here for everyone. Brimming with audacious, unforgettable characters often overlooked by standard history books, this page-turner is a must for anyone with an interest in the varieties of human misbehavior"-- From the back pages of history, vivid, entertaining portraits of little-known scoundrels whose misdeeds range from the simply inept to the truly horrifying. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
This was a really fun book to read. The short chapters each focused on one person in history, and the book was divided into three sections: villians, scoundrels, and rogues. Twenty-eight individuals are portrayed in all of their sometimes gory (Ed Gein), sometimes endearing (Emerich Jeuttner) sins. Paul Martin has a great conversational tone and sets the scene quickly but engagingly. He sums up most chapters with some sort of moral, often denigrating the subjects for their diabolical ways.
Paul Martin's book introduces readers to 30 Americans of dubious character. Included in this line-up are killers, cannibals, gangsters, confidence men, traitors, spies, crooked cops, witch hunters, quack doctors, gold-diggers and the world's most inept bodyguard, John Parker; just ask President Lincoln! Martin's book is an entertaining and informative look at some people you definitely don't want to spend time with...ever!
Mike O. / Marathon County Public Library
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Villains Reading List
11 works; 2 members
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3 Works 77 Members
Paul Martin, who spent more than thirty years with the National Geographic Society as an editor and writer, is the author of five books, including Secret Heroes: Everyday Americans Who Shaped Our World. Learn more about his work at www.paulmartinbooks.com.
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, Politics and Government, History, Biography & Memoir, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 364.1092 — Society, government, & culture Social problems and social services Crime Criminal offenses
- LCC
- HV6785 .M37 — Social sciences Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology Crimes and criminal classes
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 40
- Popularity
- 733,711
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.63)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 2
- ASINs
- 1
