New book delves into Victorian-era crime in the Black Country
Tracey Blundell's Crime in the Victorian Black Country looks into the criminal behaviour of the working classes between 1870 and 1890 and the attitudes of those enforcing the law.
The book uses previously unpublished material from primary sources and archive literature, showing a range of offences from petty theft to murder.
It also looks at the attitudes of those enforcing the law during that time.
The author, Tracey Blundell, is an associate lecturer with the Open University and has 20 years of experience in criminal law.
She retrained to teach further education and has a Master's degree in local history.
She is also a social historian who aims to give the working classes of history a voice.
The book paints a picture of the increase in crime as the prosperity of the region dwindled towards the end of the 19th century.
Crime in the Victorian Black Country is available now via the Pen and Sword website.
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