The First Detective: The Life and Revolutionary Times of VIDOCQ: Criminal, Spy and Private Eye (Hardcover) by James Morton

from BrynDahlquis

FINALLY finished this book. I have literally been reading this for over a month. For me, that is a LONG time. Vidocq is certainly an interesting man (which is why I read a book about him), and James Morton does cover all the details. However, he kind of gives too much backstory about every other ...

from dhmontgomery

An adequate summary of the life of this larger-than-life criminal-turned-detective, who had a profound impact on both policing and culture. Morton focuses on telling salacious stories from Vidocq's life, rather than analyzing him (a little of that comes in a brief final chapter). This is padded o...

from kevinashley

This book is a description of the life - I hesitate to use the word "biography" - of Eugene-Francois Vidocq, a man born in late 18th century France who led what was clearly an extremely colourful life as a thief, spy, policeman and adventurer. Described by the author as the "world's first private...

from Vorobyey

Interesting man, alive during an eventful period. One of those people for whom it may be said that truth is stranger than fiction. I didn't get on so well with Morton's prose style, though.