Josiah Flynt

Broschiertes Buch

Notes Of An Itinerant Policeman

Beschreibung

Notes of an itinerant policeman presents a first-hand exploration of criminal behavior through the eyes of someone embedded within law enforcement yet driven by inquiry rather than authority. The author s background as a railroad patrolman offers a unique vantage point across a broad geographic and social range, particularly in his early descriptions of his vast beat and its challenges. Rather than assuming the traditional stance of moral superiority, he exhibits a persistent curiosity about the lives and minds of those labeled criminal. His interest lies in understanding the forces shaping their choices, viewing their actions not in isolation but as part of a broader social context. The opening emphasizes this intention, establishing a tone of analysis rather than judgment. In observing the realities of tramps, professional thieves, and vagrants, he begins categorizing behavioral patterns, signaling the book s deeper investigation into the psychology and classifications of offenders. Throughout, the author balances detachment with humanity, showing a genuine concern for the conditions that perpetuate crime and a belief that such understanding is crucial to reforming the societal systems that respond to it.

Autor

Josiah Flynt Willard was born on January 23, 1869, in Appleton, Wisconsin, to Oliver and Mary Bannister Willard. His father worked as a newspaper editor. Early childhood challenges included frequent running away from home and time spent in reform school following involvement in theft. After escaping, he began an extended period of tramping, which would shape his later writing career. Flynt pursued higher education at the University of Berlin, studying from 1890 to 1895, and traveled widely across Europe, meeting notable figures such as Leo Tolstoy and Henrik Ibsen. Upon returning to the United States, he was invited by a railroad executive to investigate vagrants and private policemen enforcing anti-tramp rules. Drawing on his own experiences as a vagrant, Flynt authored several works exploring the lives of marginalized and criminal classes, including Tramping with tramps and Notes of an itinerant policeman. Despite his success, he struggled with long-term alcoholism and heavy smoking from a young age. Flynt died at the age of 37 from pneumonia in Chicago on January 20, 1907, and was buried at Rosehill Cemetery.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Double 9 Books
• Seitenzahl: 104
• Erscheinungstermin: 1. Juni 2025
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 216mm x 140mm x 6mm
• Gewicht: 143g
• ISBN-13: 9789371462242
• ISBN-10: 9371462248
• Artikelnr.: 75414961