Title: Social revolution/evolution - chartists, radicals, criminals ...
Review: A niche analysis of crime and radicalism in the south and southwest of England in the 18th and 19th centuries. Corrects a number of misconceptions as to sentencing and the extent of capital punishment. Aspects of Chartism and the poor laws are well covered and there are fine case studies on sheep stealing, a Cornish radical and a `crime-wave' in the town of Burwash. The coverage of the Swing riots is disappointing - the book makes many references to Swing, but I came away with no greater understanding of this subject. An interesting read for Australians (and others) to provide context to the convict transportation over that same period.
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