*Chosen as a Book of the Year by The Times, History Today and the Sunday Telegraph*

‘Wonderfully entertaining, comprehensive and astute.’ The Times

‘Genuinely hard to put down.’ BBC History Magazine


From murder to duelling, highway robbery to mugging: the darker side of English life explored.

Spanning some seven centuries, A Fiery & Furious People traces the subtle shifts that have taken place both in the nature of violence and in people’s attitudes to itHow could football be regarded at one moment as a raucous pastime that should be banned, and the next as a respectable sport that should be encouraged? When did the serial killer first make an appearance? What gave rise to particular types of violent criminal - medieval outlaws, Victorian garrotters – and what made them dwindle and then vanish? Above all, Professor James Sharpe hones in on a single, fascinating question: has the country that has experienced so much turmoil naturally prone to violence or are we, in fact, becoming a gentler nation?



‘Wonderful . . A fascinating and rare example of a beautifully crafted scholarly work.’ Times Higher Education

‘Sweeping and ambitious . . . A humane and clear-eyed guide to a series of intractable and timely questions.’ Observer

‘Deeply researched, thoughtfully considered and vividly written . . Read it.’ History Today

‘Magisterial . . . The outlaw’s song has surely never been better rendered.’ Times Literary Supplement



Format Häftad Omfång 784 sidor Språk Engelska Förlag Cornerstone Utgivningsdatum 2018-03-08 ISBN 9780099520030