Criminal conversations : an anthology of the work of Tony Parker

Criminal Conversations is an anthology of the work of Tony Parker who has been the most outstanding interviewer of criminals since the Second World War.

Described as the Mayhew of his times', his work spans the 1960s to the 1990s and he speaks intimately to all kinds of offenders inadequates, professional criminals, sex offenders, frauds and false pretence merchants.

His work is both timely and timeless. This collection of Tony Parker's work, selected by him shortly before his death in 1996, provides the very essence of his quite distinctive contribution.

After the introduction by Professor Terence Morris which locates Parker within the criminological tradition, there are six major parts to the book: Inadequates' the stage army of offenders who keep returning to prison; Villainy: a way of life on professional criminals; Some Answers to a Question what should a judge do with you?; Nonces' on sex offenders; Frauds and False Merchants'; At Deaths Door - those sentenced to death or to life imprisonment for murder.

In the final section, some of Tony Parker's prescriptions for interviewing are set out and Lyn Smith concludes with some reflections on his methodology.