By the end of the 1800s, Britain had two major classes. There was a group of privilege and prosperity and there was another world of poverty, destitution, and hardship. No were has that more obvious than in the urban area of Birmingham, England. An urban gang (called the Peaky Blinders) operated in this region from the end of the 1800s until the start of World War I. Surprisingly, several of the Peaky Blinders members served in the war.
As the Industrial Revolution brought more people into the cities to work, there wasn't enough housing to meet their needs and people lived in squalid conditions. Juvenile delinquents and gambling dens abounded. The wealthy demanded the police curtail their actions but groups of boys and men joined 'slogging gangs' to fight back. One of the most famous of these gangs was the Peaky Blinders (the subject of a recent BBC television series). They dressed elegantly, used violence, and controlled the Small Heath section of Birmingham for over a decade.
Amazingly, females, as well as lads and men, were in slogging gangs. From slogging gangs, Birmingham lads merged into gangs of hardened criminals. A Peaky's moll (girlfriend) wore a distinctive style. Peaky's were often as violent with their molls as their enemies. As the lads aged, they joined more dangerous groups, increasing their violent ways. Police were common foes; their ranks were stretched thin.
This is a fascinating bit of British history; who knew? I didn't know about this aspect of British life until I saw the offer for this book. Interesting information about what happens when too many (unemployed or underemployed) youths live in too small a space with nothing worthwhile to do. As infrastructure and social amenities (especially football) increased in Birmingham, the hold of the gangs lessened.
As the Industrial Revolution brought more people into the cities to work, there wasn't enough housing to meet their needs and people lived in squalid conditions. Juvenile delinquents and gambling dens abounded. The wealthy demanded the police curtail their actions but groups of boys and men joined 'slogging gangs' to fight back. One of the most famous of these gangs was the Peaky Blinders (the subject of a recent BBC television series). They dressed elegantly, used violence, and controlled the Small Heath section of Birmingham for over a decade.
Amazingly, females, as well as lads and men, were in slogging gangs. From slogging gangs, Birmingham lads merged into gangs of hardened criminals. A Peaky's moll (girlfriend) wore a distinctive style. Peaky's were often as violent with their molls as their enemies. As the lads aged, they joined more dangerous groups, increasing their violent ways. Police were common foes; their ranks were stretched thin.
This is a fascinating bit of British history; who knew? I didn't know about this aspect of British life until I saw the offer for this book. Interesting information about what happens when too many (unemployed or underemployed) youths live in too small a space with nothing worthwhile to do. As infrastructure and social amenities (especially football) increased in Birmingham, the hold of the gangs lessened.
