Memoirs of Vidocq: Master of CrimeAK Press, 2003 - 370 pages Criminal exploits, secret agent intrigue, and clever -disguises fill the pages of Francois Eugene Vidocq's memoirs. A legendary figure in history, Vidocq is known as the first detective and an inspiration to great writers such as Honore de Balzac, Victor Hugo and Edgar Allen Poe. As a player in the criminal underworld, Vidocq is a master of disguises and an accomplished thief, eventually turning his unlawful talents toward catching criminals as the first French chief of secret police. Playing both sides of the law, Vidocq's life highlights the blurry line between law enforcement and the criminals they pursue. Vidocq has a knack for finding trouble throughout his topsy-turvy life, getting into one hot situation after another, often finding himself behind bars, only to escape the first chance he gets. This book will take you on a whirlwind tour of 1830s France, including the circus stage, pirate ships, prison cells and beautiful women's boudoirs. Vidocq's life story is unforgettable and includes some of the best crime stories and juicy tales ever written. Last year, Gerard Depardieu starred in the French film adaptation of the memoirs, -titled Vidocq. "He preferred the tumultuous life of danger to the contentment of security. His story is one long swashbuckling adventure as he breaks out of jails, pursues actresses, duels to the death, raids the hells of criminals and stalks the Paris night in a thousand disguises."--Philip John Stead, Vidocq, Picaroon of Crime |
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... tion , he beat me with a horsewhip . From that moment Balmate no longer bothered with me , and I went back to my lamps . Comus had given me up , and it was now Gamier's turn to busy himself in giving me a job . One day when he had ...
... tion of Citizen Souham . The latter commanded a battalion to which I was assigned provisionally . When my leave had expired , I rejoined at Givet ; from there the reg- iment soon entered the county of Namur . We encamped in the villages ...
... tion . I did not doubt that Christian or his confederates were the authors of the robbery denounced to the police . So I applauded the for- tuitous glance I had given so apropos into the interior of La Maison Rustique . But it was not ...
Table des matières
Aid My Old Enemies | 136 |
A Peace of Mind Soon Lost | 143 |
Good Intentions Come to Naught | 151 |
Droits d'auteur | |
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