From the back pages of history, vivid, entertaining portraits of little-known scoundrels whose misdeeds range from the simply inept to the truly horrifying.

Everyone loves a good villain! From the back pages of history, vivid, entertaining portraits of little-known scoundrels whose misdeeds range from the simply inept to the truly horrifying. Even if you're an avid history buff, you've probably never heard of this disreputable cast of characters: A drunken, ne'er-do-well cop who abandoned his post at Ford's Theatre, giving assassin John Wilkes Booth unchallenged access to President Lincoln; a notorious Kansas quack who made millions by implanting billy goat testicles in gullible male patients; and America's worst female serial killer ever. These are three of the memorable but little-known rogues profiled in this eye-opening and entertaining book. Dividing his profiles into three categories--villains, scoundrels, and rogues--author and former National Geographic editor Paul Martin serves up concise, colorful biographies of thirty of America's most outrageous characters. Whether readers choose to be horrified by the story of Ed Gein, Alfred Hitchcock's hideous inspiration for Psycho, or marvel at the clever duplicity of the con artist who originated the phony bookie operation portrayed in The Sting, there's something here for everyone. Brimming with audacious, unforgettable characters often overlooked by standard history books, this page-turner is a must for anyone with an interest in the varieties of human misbehavior.

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 In 1807, merchant James DeWolf looked out his window and saw ships loading and unloading their cargos. He was one of the wealthiest and most influential people in Bristol, Rhode Island. #2 The Triangle Trade was the slave-based commerce between North America and western Africa that flourished from the early 1700s to the early 1800s. It was largely funded by New Englanders, who purchased slaves and transported them to the Caribbean islands and southeastern ports. #3 The DeWolf family, who were leading figures in the most active slave-importing family in American history, accumulated their fortune by financing the slave trade. They were among the wealthiest men in the country. #4 James DeWolf, a American hero, was a slave trader who became extremely wealthy. He went to sea as a boy, serving aboard a privately owned combat vessel during the Revolutionary War. He was captured twice by the British, and after the war, he followed his father into the slave trade.

Gathered together within the pages of this book is a roguish array of artful tricksters, fantastic fakers, rascally fraudsters and cunning conmen. They all bend the rules and usually the law. Yet however reprehensible their misdeeds, these thoroughly rotten scoundrels often display the very essence of enterprise and adventure. It would be wrong to condone their antics, of course, but it is difficult not to admire their artifice. After all, this sort of raffish crime has spawned scores of anti-heroes in books, movies and TV series. But the stories told here are all true – among the most barely-believable dodgy misdeeds of the past two centuries. Powerful motives drive this book’s extraordinary characters as they rampage on the wrong side of the law. Greed is the most usual, ambition is another, lust sometimes plays a compelling part. But many are compelled by no other cause than a perverted sense of adventure. It is these various forces that link the disparate bunch of characters in this fascinating catalogue of crime. If, as the saying goes, ‘the Devil has the best tunes’, he certainly also has some of the best stories – and here are some of the most startling case histories. Together they’re the diabolically fiendish work of History’s Most Daring Rogues and Villains.

A browsable and addictive collection of pen-portraits of 1500 extraordinary characters from British and Irish history

Explore the mysteries of Batman's Gotham City in this miniature art book. Throughout Batman's rich comic book history his home of Gotham City has been a minefield of dangerous foes and exciting adventures. Now, fans can hold the details of this sprawling metropolis in the palm of their hand with DC Comics: Field Guide to Gotham City. Featuring intriguing secrets and fascinating details, this colorful illustrated mini book exposes the underbelly of Gotham City and all the characters that dwell within. Part of Insight Editions' new collectible series of mini books, this is the perfect gift for any DC Comics fan.

This book introduces its readers to a rogues' gallery of villains, thieves, grifters, and killers, presented with insight and humor. With Whibley on the case, it's not only fascinating but delightfully wicked too. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Gathers selections from literature and history depicting both real and fictitious criminals, murderers, confidence men, hypocrites, traitors, spies, and tyrants

Peek inside the lives of DC’s infamous rogues in Dear DC Super-Villains, the sequel to Dear Justice League, in which curious kids write to notorious scoundrels, asking them about life on the dark side. How did Gorilla Grodd get so smart? Did Harley Quinn ever try a career in comedy? Why does Catwoman always lose to Batman? Each chapter highlights members of the Legion of Doom in a sympathetic way that is relatable to kids. But look closely and you may notice the baddies are up to something big! Will the Justice League show up in time to stop them? You’ll have to write in to the tip line of evil to find out!

Explore history's titans of finance, and their lasting global impact Heroes and Villains of Finance is a fascinating dive into the history of money as an institution, highlighting the fifty most significant figures that, rightly or wrongly, are responsible for the financial landscape we live in today. From philosophers and bankers to fraudsters and academics, this book provides a striking introduction to the most remarkable characters in the history of finance. Their impact reaches far beyond the financial system itself, and has helped shape the course of human history. The economic systems of today would look very differently if it weren't for these innovators, thought leaders, storytellers, and rebels, and this captivating examination takes you inside their stories to understand their thinking, their background, their perspective, and their inspiration. People both inside and outside the world of finance are perpetually curious about the larger-than-life characters who built, shaped, and continue to populate the industry. Their actions, both positive and negative, are responsible for what we understand as finance today. This book provides a glimpse into the events and motivations that contributed to the industry's evolution. Learn how the Knights Templar became the first banking institution Examine the Rothschild family's pioneering use of financial instruments in order to safeguard their wealth from distrusting European monarchs Study the origins and evolution of the Ponzi scheme Realise how Reaganomics still affects the U.S. economy today The finance industry is always in the public eye, and it's one of the few places where the actions of a few — or even a single person — can ripple throughout large populations. Heroes and Villains of Finance gives you a closer look at the biggest names that had the biggest impact, for better or worse. "This book is a marvellous introduction to a gallery of fascinating figures from the world of Big Money. The author has chosen a brilliant collection of crooks, entrepreneurs, philosophers, economists and bankers. These highly readable short lives provide an excellent education to any reader who wants to understand the personalities who shaped today's world of investment" —Luke Johnson, Chairman of Risk Capital Partners, former chairman of Pizza Express and Channel 4 Television, Financial Times columnist and author of Start It Up "Heroes and Villains of Finance provides a fascinating and insightful guide to the personalities and developments that have transformed finance and continue to do so. Anyone trying to understand where finance is now, how it got there and where it might go should read this book" —Dr Stephen Davies, Institute of Economic Affairs "An exciting, informative ride through the big ideas and even bigger personalities that have shaped the world of finance." —Sam Bowman, The Adam Smith Institute "This delightful book provides a punchy reminder that, whilst we should rightly celebrate the longevity of the vision of the heroes of finance like Adam Smith, the potential downsides of financial innovation have always been with us which we are inclined to forget" —Professor Mike Wright, Professor of Entrepreneurship at Imperial College London and ranked #1 worldwide for publications in academic entrepreneurship