Criminal Conversations: An Anthology of the Work of Tony Parker

by Soothill,Keith; Soothill,Keith

• ISBN13: 9780415197403
• ISBN10: 0415197406
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 1999-03-31
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Criminal Conversationsis an anthology of the work of Tony Parker, who has been the most outstanding interviewer of criminals since the Second World War. Spanning the 1960s to the 1990s, his work offers intimate and enlightening conversations with all kinds of offenders, including sex offenders, frauds and false pretence merchants, and professional criminals. This collection of Parker's work, selected by the author shortly before his death in 1996, provides the essence of his distinctive contribution to criminology. The book is divided into six major parts dealing with a range of criminals - from petty offenders to those sentenced to death or life imprisonment for murder. The concluding section presents some of Tony Parker's prescriptions for interviewing, as well as reflections by Lyn Smith on his methodology.

Author Biography

Keith Soothill is Professor of Social Research in the Department of Applied Social Science at Lancaster University.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Keith Soothill
Acknowledgements	xiii
Introduction	1	(12)
Terence Morris
PART I Inadequates	13	(50)
In the cooler -- Kendon Prender	15	(7)
A life story -- Charlie Smith	22	(10)
Private shame -- Janie Preston	32	(20)
It's a very great problem -- Donald	52	(9)
Harriet Martineau	61	(2)
PART II Villainy: a way of life	63	(30)
I've always been a criminal -- Robert Allerton	65	(14)
A hard nut -- Archie	79	(3)
People like me -- Hank Sullivan	82	(11)
PART III Some answers to a question	93	(18)
This is the question	95	(1)
Archie	95	(2)
Ron	97	(2)
Donald	99	(1)
Clive	100	(2)
Bernie	102	(2)
Geoff	104	(1)
Norman Edwards	105	(6)
PART IV Nonces	111	(64)
A malady come upon you -- Wilfred Johnson	113	(24)
Marriage brings problems -- Harry Mills	137	(21)
A radio is a very good friend -- Norman	158	(7)
Stuck -- Stanley Hart	165	(10)
PART V Frauds and false pretence merchants	175	(34)
The F.P. merchants	177	(3)
White-slave trafficking -- Bernie	180	(8)
I've been very lucky -- Miss McDonald	188	(21)
PART VI At death's door	209	(26)
In the condemned cell -- Michael Davies	211	(9)
My Story -- Betty Drew	220	(6)
Happiness is just a word -- Gus Webster	226	(9)
PART VII Conclusion	235	(8)
Some very basic principles of interviewing	237	(2)
Tony Parker
Some notes on what questions to ask, and how	239	(2)
Tony Parker
Principles of tape-recorded interviewing	241	(2)
Tony Parker
Only listen... Some reflections on Tony Parker's methodology	243
Lyn Smith