Buy this book at Amazon.co.uk
To Past Reviews Index
Back to Last Page
Title/Author

Gangs of Glasgow

Robert Jeffrey

Average Review Rating Average Rating 8/10 (1 Review)
Book Details

Publisher : Black and White Publishing

Published : 2008

Copyright : Robert Jeffrey 2008

ISBN-10 : PB 1-84502-133-9
ISBN-13 : PB 978-1-84502-133-7

Publisher's Write-Up

In the twenty-first century, Glasgow is still a city living down a fearsome reputation for crime. And for some citizens of the Dear Green Place, brawling is in the blood and gang warfare is a way of life. The stinking deprivation of the Gorbals and the East End, deprivation that helped spawn pre-war gangs like the Billy Boys, the Norman Conks and the Redskins, is largely gone, but in each era new gangs have risen to take their place. Battles over turf and control of the drugs trade still make regularly lurid headlines. Gangs of Glasgow takes an in-depth look at the evolution of the city's gangs from organised mobs of the Thirties to the smart-suited men of violence of the modern day.

Column Ends

space

Reader Reviews

Why not Submit a Review your own Review for this book?

Review by Jessica (200609) Rating (8/10)

Review by Jessica
Rating 8/10
Glasgow has always been the capital of gang crime. Stories of violence and drugs hang over the city even today reminding us all of the plight it suffered. However, sadly there are still crimes being committed on the Glaswegian streets.

If you lived back in Glasgow in the 1900s or even earlier, a glint from a razor blade held by a gang member would probably scare you. However, nowadays these classic weapons have been replaced by the more sophisticated but equally damaging tools of crime.

We learn that while the notorious Arthur Thompson is no longer a threat there have been some bigger and tougher gangsters out there who you simply would not want to mess with. Yet, as ever, it all dates back to history and Thompson’s rank in the gangland of assassination, beatings and deaths.

There are lots more crimes detailed inside this chilling read that were committed back in the 70s 60s and even before. We take a look at the times of Penny Mob, an early gang, who slashed and fought their way into the lives of people living in Scotland in the thirties.

I also learnt much about the Glasgow slums and how many children got involved in crime and how many didn’t! There is a very poignant photograph inside of a street scene in the sixties. Toddlers are outside playing on the cracked pavements and one little girl has a broken carpet sweeper to use as her toy. These were clearly hard times and made harder by threats of violence, abductions and gangs.

All in all I found this book quite interesting. We are told about the stinking depression which helped spawn gangs like the Billy Boys. In each new era new gangs have come and taken their place as this newly up-dated book shows. You’ll find everything you need from the very earliest gangs to hit Glasgow to the modern ones of today. A perfect treat if you love crime books.
Jessica (20th June 2009)

Back to Top of Page
Column Ends

space