An interesting read

I'm reading a fascinating book called The Thieves Opera by Lucy Moore. It charts the careers of two eighteenth-century criminals called Jonathan Wild and Jack Sheppard (see pictures below)

The former was widely hated in his day, because he handed in crooks to be executed, so eventually controlling all organised crime in the capital. The latter was greatly admired by the public, largely owing to his numerous escapes from Newgate. Wild was responsible for Sheppard's apprehension. The Beggar's Opera was based on Sheppard's life, and recognised as such at the time. It was also a satirical swipe at those in power, ie the corruption, indirectly begging the question 'Who is the greater villain, the convict or the crooked judge?