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 |
À l'intérieur du livre
Résultats 1-3 sur 80
... once ; I thought there was something dubious in this conduct ; I listened , and I seemed to hear marching ; by the light of the moon I saw the shadows of several men on the slope ; there was no doubt ; we had been betrayed . However , I ...
... Once outside the city , I gained land . My clothes were wet through and weighed a hundred pounds . Nevertheless , I held to my course and stopped only at the village of Blangy , two leagues from Arras . It was four o'clock in the ...
... once he was outside , I fol- lowed him some way down the street and suddenly accosted him , call- ing him by a name not his own . He affirmed that I was in error ; I declared in my turn that I recognized him perfectly as an individual ...