It's so unfortunate but I found myself really struggling to get through this one. I love the subject matter but I felt it was a little bogged down and not what I was expecting. The execution of the information made it hard for me to absorb.

This one is hard for me to review and I am not sure why. I liked the chapters dealing with earlier periods much better than more modern times. That will surprise no one, because history is my favorite thing and I chose this one for that aspect as much as the psychological/sociological/social aspects. Even so, it took me a bit longe to read than it should have, because I struggled to keep going through the more modern periods.

The authors begin with those Victorians who pretended to hate the sensationalism but really loved all the sordid details so much. The book then moves through the decades up to the modern drug trade and the violence that comes with it. The authors explore reactions to these crimes, laws enacted to deter them - yet how effective are they, really? They also examine the role of media in crime, the part I found most interesting. The media does an excellent job telling us who we should be afraid of, even if they are completely wrong. The authors also discuss various groups who have been labeled as those 'criminal classes' and it will suprise no one that those targeted are typially young and/or ethnic/racial minorities, because this world sucks.

One strength the book has its use of historical artefacts. I am always partial to books that use the material and show it off in some way. The authors chose well, especially with court records/testimonies, newspaper coverage of the times, etc. Another strength is that it took opportunities to compare real live criminals with their fictional counterparts. I was familiar with some, but not all.

The purpose though, is not simply to list some crimes committed in the last 150-ish years and their punishments. The authors look specifically at who these so-called 'criminal classes' are and why we fear them so much. They also look at how said punishment as evolved, and whether or not these consequences are all that effective in stopping crime.

Recommended.

Well, publisher and author….i hate saying this, i really do. I could not get into this book at all. I dont know if I thought the presentation would be from a different angle? Or maybe a different POV? But each chapter became more of a drudgery. The closer we got to modern times the less I wanted to continue until finally I just put it down to maybe finish some other day. I have two other books on my shelf that I’ve not read that present this material that I need to read soon so that I can compare and see is it the subject material or the authors that’s how upsetting this is because I was really looking forward to this book.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

In the thought-provoking work “The Criminal Classes: Who Does Society Fear and Why?”, authors Alexandra and Barry Godfrey embark on a historical journey to dissect the societal construct of the ‘criminal class’. This book is not merely a chronicle of crimes and punishments but an insightful exploration into the societal psyche that labels and fears certain groups as perpetual offenders.

The narrative begins in the shadowy Victorian alleyways, introducing us to the garrotters and the infamous Jack the Ripper, and traverses through time to the modern-day drug trade. The Godfreys meticulously detail the evolution of society’s response to crime, from public executions and floggings to long-term imprisonment, reflecting on the effectiveness of these measures in controlling crime.

What sets this book apart is its interdisciplinary approach. The authors skillfully weave in perspectives from criminology, social psychology, history, and literature to support their analysis. The use of original etchings, prints, and excerpts from various media forms, including newspapers and court records, enriches the narrative, offering a multi-faceted view of crime and its portrayal.

The book also challenges the reader to consider the role of the media in shaping public perception and fear. It delves into how a handful of crimes can be sensationalized to depict the poor or marginalized communities as inherently criminal, sparking moral panics that resonate through the ages.

One of the most compelling aspects of “The Criminal Classes” is its comparison of real-life criminals with fictional counterparts like the Artful Dodger and Pinkie from “Brighton Rock”. This juxtaposition not only entertains but also prompts reflection on how fiction often mirrors and sometimes distorts reality.

As the Godfreys conclude by pondering who the new criminal classes might be, they leave us with a lingering question: Are we, as a society, repeating the mistakes of the past by branding certain groups as the ‘other’ based on fear rather than fact?

“The Criminal Classes” is a well-researched, engaging read that is particularly recommended for students and enthusiasts of criminology, social sciences, and history. It is a book that informs and challenges us to look beyond the headlines and stereotypes to understand the complex interplay between society and those it deems criminal.

Thank you so much for this ARC. As a sociologist, or someone with the degree anyway, I naturally need to scoop books like this up. I learned a lot!
I will reccomend this to my other soc nerd friends.

The Criminal Classes is very well thought out and would be ideal for students of not just criminology, but Social Psychology, History, Literature and media studies. The reason I point to these areas, is because the book skillfully employs examples from each of these diciplines to support the points made.

The most fascinating I found, was the effect of the media of the time on behaviours of more affluent classes. A small amount of robberies would be exaggerated exponentially by the media, misrepresenting the poor as criminals, creating a hysteria of sorts (oh how this has carried on to this day!)

The use of original etchings and prints is a fascinating insight to the perception and recording of crime throughout history an a really nice touch is the comparisons drawn between the environments of today (high concentration council estates) and the rookeries of the Victorian era. The excerpts from newspapers, court records, literature and even Punch cartoons are a great illustration to a thought provoking, very well researched and presented discussion

The trends are certainly there, but how far can we trust these records in making forecasts as to what the future will bring? A fascinating book and certainly highly recommended

Thank you to Netgalley, Pen & Sword, Pen & Sword True Crime and the authors Alexandra Godfrey and Barry Godfrey for this very interesting ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

The Criminal Classes by Alexander in Barry Godfrey is a study in what created such a group in all the reasons we fear them. The book also discusses how crimes change as do the laws that tries to prevent them and how despite all the laws they still have re-offenders this book has a lot of topics it covers and as I am not one who reads summaries to books at least not the whole summary I was left on sure as to what the book was about but the one thing I was clear on is this is a very interesting book it has fictional and factual criminals and I wasn’t positive that they were comparing the two to each other or to how the public reacted to it but I did find that and how the crimes change throughout the years so interesting as well as the laws they pass to try and prevent them as I said. This is a horrible review I didn’t have a great grasp of what the book was about but it was interesting and if you love True Crime and what causes it and what causes us to fear it this is a good book for you I especially enjoyed the glossary at the end they told you but the different terms mean because a lot of the words were new to me such as the court of incisors another British judiciary terms because I’ve heard them before but didn’t know what most of them meant thanks to the authors for that great bit of insight. This book is a plethera interesting chapters topics ET see I really and thoroughly enjoyed it and want to thank Pen and sword press and net galley for my free Ark copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.