{"product_id":"penny-dreadful-multipack-volume-5-sheridan-le-fanu-9781502868862","title":"Penny Dreadful Multipack Volume 5: The True Crime Edition","description":"Fans of \u003cb\u003eVictorian pulp literature\u003c\/b\u003e are in for a treat with Volume 5 of Penny Dreadful Multipacks. \u003cp\u003e The theme is \u003cb\u003eTrue Crime\u003c\/b\u003e with excerpts from the widely read \u003cb\u003eNewgate Calendar\u003c\/b\u003e, a rogue's gallery of London criminals; an anonymous novella exploring the \u003cb\u003eSpring Heeled Jack\u003c\/b\u003e phenomenon; \u003cb\u003eCarmilla\u003c\/b\u003e by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, one of the first ever vampire stories and a major influence on Bram Stoker's \u003ci\u003eDracula\u003c\/i\u003e; two \u003cb\u003eJack Harkaway\u003c\/b\u003e adventures; a memoir of Le Fanu and \u003cb\u003eTHE HOOLIGAN NIGHTS\u003c\/b\u003e, a riveting look at the world of crime in London's East End. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Included in this anthology: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eSpring-Heeled Jack - The Terror of London\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e There are many theories about the nature and identity of \u003cb\u003eSpring-heeled Jack\u003c\/b\u003e. This urban legend was very popular in the mid-1900s due to the tales of Jack's bizarre bat-like appearance and ability to make extraordinary leaps, to the point that he became the topic of several works of fiction. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Spring-heeled Jack was described by people who claimed to have seen him as having a terrifying and frightful appearance, with diabolical physiognomy, clawed hands, and eyes that \"resembled red balls of fire\". One report claimed that, beneath a black cloak, the bat-man wore a helmet and a tight-fitting white garment like an oilskin. Many stories also mention a \u003cb\u003eDevil-like\u003c\/b\u003e aspect. Others said he was tall and thin, with the appearance of a gentleman. He could breathe out blue and white flames and wore sharp metallic claws at his fingertips. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eThe Hooligan Nights by Clarence Rook\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003ci\u003eBeing the Life and Opinions of a Young and Unrepentant Criminal\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e A remarkable document that blends fiction and True Crime. The book is told through a series of interviews with its teenage protagonist, the charismatic 'Alf' - we learn about his upbringing, his criminal exploits, including burglary, pickpocketing, passing counterfeit money and bare-knuckle fights. Alf is a magnificent character, full of spirit and charm, but capable of evoking our pity. Each interview leaves the reader wanting to know more about his fate - not least, will the 'coppers' catch up with him? The book is a unique description of 'low life', written at the zenith of Queen's Victoria's reign. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eCarmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e First published in 1871 as a serial narrative in \u003cb\u003eThe Dark Blue\u003c\/b\u003e, it tells the story of a young woman's susceptibility to the attentions of a female vampire named Carmilla. \u003ci\u003eCarmilla\u003c\/i\u003e predates Bram Stoker's \u003ci\u003eDracula\u003c\/i\u003e by 26 years, and has been adapted many times for cinema. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eSelections from The Newgate Calendar\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003ci\u003eThe Newgate Calendar\u003c\/i\u003e was one of those books, along with a Bible, Foxe's \u003ci\u003eBook of Martyrs\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Pilgrim's Progress\u003c\/i\u003e, most likely to be found in any English home between 1750 and 1850. Children were encouraged to read it because it was believed to inculcate principles of right living -- by fear of punishment if not by the dull and earnest morals appended to the stories of highwaymen and other felons. Charles Dickens's \u003ci\u003eBarnaby Rudge\u003c\/i\u003e, Bulwer Lytton's \u003ci\u003eEugene Aram\u003c\/i\u003e, Henry Fielding's \u003ci\u003eJonathan Wild\u003c\/i\u003e and Gerald Griffin's \u003ci\u003eThe Collegians\u003c\/i\u003e are only a few of the many novels directly based on stories in \u003ci\u003eThe Newgate Calendar\u003c\/i\u003e. Even the illiterate would have seen stage versions of the stories, which were a staple of the popular drama of the time. Some of them - e.g. \u003cb\u003eDick Turpin, Sawney Bean, Captain Kidd\u003c\/b\u003e -- are seen even today in pantomimes. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eJack Harkaway in New York and Jack Harkaway and His Son's Escape From the Brigands of Greece\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Two more adventures from the protean action adventure hero first seen in \u003ci\u003ePenny Dreadful Multipacks Volume 2\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Also included: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eA Memoir of Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Sheridan Le Fanu, Newgate Calendar, Bracebridge Hemyng\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1502868865\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781502868862\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Createspace Independent Publishing Platform\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 10\/16\/2014\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 670\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.94lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.02h x 5.98w x 1.34d\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sheridan Le Fanu","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43935242748159,"sku":"9781502868862","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/products\/img_1e81b96b-fff2-4b3f-b471-a049edb2c4e4.jpg?v=1681418686","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/penny-dreadful-multipack-volume-5-sheridan-le-fanu-9781502868862","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}