Lives and exploits of the most noted highwaymen, robbers and murderers of all nations

This volume gathers the most vivid accounts of infamous highwaymen, thieves and murderers from across the globe, drawing on the most reliable contemporary records. Each portrait is rendered with a storyteller’s eye, turning cold facts into lively scenes of daring raids, clever disguises and the restless spirit of the road. The collection invites listeners to step back into an age when danger rode beside the wind and reputation was forged on the highway’s edge.

Among the colorful figures is Claude du Vall, a French-born footman who turned his modest upbringing into a flamboyant career of robbery in England. The narrative follows his early days in Normandy, his migration to Paris and then to London, where he quickly learned to blend charm with audacity—once even coaxing a noble couple into a spontaneous dance before demanding a “musical” payment. Du Vall’s clever wit and daring exploits set the tone for the daring lives chronicled throughout the book, offering a glimpse into the daring world of eighteenth‑century outlaws.