Gangland

Book excerpt: In Gangland, his survey of London's underworld, James Morton concentrated on the history, personalities, and powers behind the capital's criminal fraternity. In this companion volume, he turns his attention to the country as a whole, assessing the role of the criminal families, gangs, and organizations in Britain's major cities. After a concise overview of the London scene, including families such as the Krays, the Sabinis, and the Richardsons, Morton embarks on a nationwide tour of robbery, extortion, and vice. From Glasgow's hard men to the burgeoning drugs market on Manchester's Moss Side, the book discusses the people and places behind the profession of violence, documenting the histories, fads, and feuds, and offering views on the crimes themselves.