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Ronnie Kray: A Man Among Men | 
 enlarge | Author: Laurie O'leary
Publisher: Headline Book Publishing
Category: Book
List Price: £16.99
Buy Used: £0.77
You Save: £16.22 (95%)
New (3) Used (26) Collectible (4) from £0.77
Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 714081
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.7
ISBN: 0747270295
EAN: 9780747270294
ASIN: 0747270295
Publication Date: March 15, 2001
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
Great to see the Krays from another angle. July 17, 2008
Philip Gatt (Isle of Man, UK)
I was a little weary when I started reading this one, thinking that the author is another of those who jumped on the 'I knew the Krays, here's my story' bandwagon.
This though seems to be a genuine book about the Kray twins, where the author shows them as he knew them (very well in fact).
Some great pictures complement this book perfectly. I really enjoyed it.
A WHOLE NEW RONNIE April 1, 2008
Christopher Bishop (Youngstown, Ohio United States)
What i like about this book is seeing a whole new take on Ronnie and his brothers and not just about the twins as gangsters but the twins as teenagers and from the side of a mate growing up with them.
Being an avid reader of all things kray you tend to reread the same old stories of the twins in the 60s and the murders of cornell and mcvittie told over and over again.
But this book tells about ronnie and a side of him that you dont read in any other book , Ronnie the mate of laurie oleary who grew up with the family.
The ronnie having a laugh with his mates and boxing early in their lifes and basicaly being like anyother teenaged eastender.
For example im from oxford and never knew that ronnie and reggie came to oxford and boxed at the oxford city ground in an open air bout .
Anyway fans of the krays will like this fresh look at the twins mainly ronnie being able to read a fresh take on a side of a person that was made to look like a monster who was still some one elses son and friend.
Not just the ronnie kray we have all read about being just a mad broadmoor patient.
Brilliant new matterial from someone who actualy new the twins not just a hanger on or a kray wannabe.
The only book you ever need to read about Ronnie October 13, 2007
Robert P. Splaine (pattaya)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Everyone has their views on the Kray Twins...not forgetting Charlie.
I went through a spell of buying what one may say "Gangster Books".
No one could really say they were not violent men. But the way life
has treated me, l like to look at 2 sides to every story. This book
just does that. Yes Laurie was best friends with Ronnie, but never
had anything to do with any of Ronnie & Reggie's dealings.
In this book you read about the real Ronnie, not the one sided
books who are just out to paint the black side of the Kray family.
Even having read Nipper Read's account of the Kray's, just so l
could get a level view of the family.If you want to read how wicked
Ronnie was, doing all types of miss-dealings and inflicting
violence everyday on anyone who got in his way go and read
"Profession of Violence": Rise and Fall of the Kray Twins
by John Pearson. (I have).
Laurie's book is written with an intimate knowledge of Ronnie,
and how, near the end of his life, how poorly he really was.
No doubt if you didn't give Ronnie respect, well he wouldn't
give you any.
Yes Ronnie did shoot gangland rival George Cornell with
a 9mm Mauser. Aside the fact George Cornwell was a far more
dubious character than Ronnie ever was, this was NEVER
brought to light' I suppose from a legal point, l'd better
shut up as well!!.
The book to me was a delight to read, and it shows Ronnie
flaws, his tempers, and anger, and how he even fell out
with Laurie. But with out this book, l believe l wouldn't
known half the truths about Ronnie Kray that are put about.
I'm not saying he was a saint, what l am saying, is look at
the other side of the coin, and you will be pleasantly
surprised, or disappointed, dependent on your view.
This review isn't about glorifying Ronnie, it's about the
side of Ronnie no one knew. With so many books out about
The Krays, all claiming to have known them, l find it a sad.
From a child Laurie grew up with Ronnie, and was his best
friend till his passing. Laurie didn't jump on the bandwagon,
HE WAS THE BAND. Ronnie was not the most intellectual person,
and by asking Laurie to write this Biography he was able to
get over more subtle points that Ronnie never would have
been able to. As a side issue, l wrote to Laurie a few
years ago, telling him how much l enjoyed the book, and
he offered to put me up in his house for the night, and
show me around Kray town as it was called, as a Thank you
for my letter.
Very Sadly Laurie passed away on 27th April 2005.
Sorry l have taken this long to write this review Laurie!!!!
Unable To Put Down! March 31, 2002
leciaenigma@hotmail.com (San Diego, California USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This bio of the Kray Twins is one of the VERY best I've read; Laurie O'Leary is a truly interesting person- the book is full of great stories and insights into the mind of Ronnie Kray! This book also sets straight a lot of so called "facts" about the Twins one may have read in other Kray bios. This is one terrific read!!!
The Krays from the inside April 9, 2001
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
At the start of this provoking story, Laurie O'Leary reminds us that sixteen books not to mention numerous articles and a feature film have been made about the Krays. What more he wonders, when Ronnie Kray asks him to write his life story, could he add to this body of work? What has chosen to do therefore is to share with us not only the story of the Kray family with whom he grew up in the East End of London but the amazing tale of his own life and experiences in London of the Swinging Sixties. From blitz babies together at Primary school in Brick Lane, to owning nightclubs and casinos in the heartland of Belgravia. Laurie and the Krays encompassed the whole social spectrum of the capital. Once he had been persuaded by the Krays to go and work for them as a club manager, Laurie's remarkable career left behind the villains and violent crime of the east End as he tells incredible stories of mixing with the highest aristocracy one night and the call girl Christine Keeler the next. Jimi Hendrix, French gangsters and Beatle Gerorge Harrison all pass in front of us as meanwhile the Krays legend was being born. Back in the East End, the Firm crushed and murdered any opposition to its activities with the twins eventually being imprisoned for life. Astonishingly for the next thirty years until Ronnie and Reggie finally died, Laurie was their frequent visitor to Broadmoor and other top security prisons by day and then going to work managing London's top nightclubs at night. As he greeted the debs and socialites, rock and roll heroes and film stars of the 60's, no clue would be forthcoming of his other life. Until now. Laurie's writing, a chronicle of Hogarthian proportions has been a lifetime in the making as the characters in this dense book leap out of the page at you. Please, please Laurie, lets have some more of your real life, witty and wonderful tales of the characters and lives on a London scene sadly departed and much missed.
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