new book out in 2015: Tom Faggus escaping certain death on his ‘enchanted’ horse. Thomas Gray, nephew to the Exeter hangman, who stole the heart of an heiress. Richard Grenville on the run from the Roundheads and forced into a life of crime. These are just some of the dramatic true tales of Highwaymen in the West Country – many famous, many infamous, and many told here for the first time. For centuries, criminals have roamed the roads of Devon and Cornwall preying on innocent travellers. In the 18th century alone, hundreds of these highway robbers were convicted at Assizes in Exeter, Bodmin and Taunton; some were transported to Australia as convicts, many more were hanged, often three or four at a time. Their dark deeds were sometimes charming and romantic but more often bloody and murderous. The wealthy travelled the West Country’s roads at their peril. Told in an entertaining style, Laura Quigley brings together these stories into one fascinating volume. Read about: the ‘celebrity criminal’ of Launceston; Fowey’s convict maid; the ‘butcher’ of Collumpton; and the mad monk of Gidleigh - all preying on weary travellers. Highwaymen of the West Country is a collection of thrilling tales of history’s most notorious criminals. Look out for it in all good book shops x
Posted on: Fri, 30 Aug 2013 14:38:21 +0000
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