This book explores both the real and the mythical Dick Turpin. It sheds clear light on the lives of Highwaymen, and law and order - surprisingly efficient at capturing and dealing with criminals - in the 18th Century. Apparently, Dick was NOT the gentleman of legend, but rather a nasty piece of work! By exploring how the work of contempories and subsequent writers has altered our image of Dick Turpin, Professor Sharpe also explores how history gets written, how myth can sometimes replace 'real' history, and how our perceptions are often shaped by fiction rather than fact. This is an immensely enjoyable, readable book, with a very serious message about history writing as well as a biography of Dick Turpin.