Serious Crime in Late Seventeenth-Century Scotland
£90.00
About this book
Studies the nature of serious criminality in Scotland, 1660-c.1700
- Most comprehensive, in-depth study available into serious criminality in Scotland before 1700
- Uses crime and criminality to offer fresh perspectives on the ordering ideas and structures of the early modern period
- Systematic and comprehensive analysis of the work of the Justiciary Court in the period 1660-1700
This book explores serious criminality in Scotland between 1660 and c.1700. Through in-depth analysis of the records of the Justiciary Court, Scotland’s central criminal jurisdiction, it reconstructs the meaning of ‘crime’ as understood by seventeenth-century Scots, before moving on to assess patterns of prosecution, the causes of crime, the performance of criminality, and wider response to illegal behaviour, all with a view to reconstructing the social meaning of crime.
The result is an unprecedentedly detailed and systematic account of criminal behaviour which adds a completely new perspective to our understanding of early modern Scotland.
Reviews
This books offers the first substantial intervention in the history of crime in seventeenth-century Scotland. It provides an important account of how Scots conceptualised, prosecuted, and punished criminal behaviour. It is a must read for historians of Scottish social, economic and criminal life.
The records of crime and prosecution presented here provide a nuanced examination of society and the state in early modern Scotland. Summing Up: Recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty.
In this groundbreaking work, Allan Kennedy uncovers the dark underbelly of late seventeenth-century Scotland, shedding light on the complex world of crime during a pivotal period in history. Drawing from a wealth of original sources and rigorous research, this book offers a thorough exploration of a topic previously overlooked in historical studies. For historians and those with an interest in crime history, this compelling study opens up new avenues for understanding both the social fabric of early modern Scotland and the forces that shaped its criminal landscape. A must-read for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of the past.
Table of contents
List of Illustrations
Abbreviations and Conventions
Acknowledgements
Introduction: Crime in Early Modern Scotland
Part I. Crime in Context
1. Conceptualising Crime
2. The Matrix of Control
3. Patterns of Prosecution and Punishment
Part II. The Experience of Crime
4. Becoming Criminal
5. Performing Crime
6. Responses and Consequences
Conclusion: The Meaning of Crime in Late-Seventeenth Century Scotland
Bibliography
Index