Edwards Samuel Knihy

From ex-convict to the head of the first known private detective agency, François Eugène Vidocq was the father of modern criminology. Perfect for fans of Tom Clavin, Hallie Rubenhold and Catherine Arnold. Long before Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was creating Sherlock or Agatha Christie was inventing the adventures of Poirot, the life and cases of Vidocq were inspiring Victor Hugo, Edgar Allen Poe and Honoré de Balzac to create some of the first detectives in fiction, but as is so often the case, the truth is more fascinating than fiction. Using disguises, decoys and criminal stool pigeons, experimenting with fingerprints, inventing invisible inks, conducting blood and ballistic testing, devising methods for keeping records on all known criminals and pioneering handwriting analysis, are but a few of the real-life master sleuth's innovations. Noel B. Gerson's fascinating biography uncovers the life of the man who earned the respect of Emperor Napoleon after recovering Empress Josephine's stolen emerald necklace, attempted to reform ex-convicts and who revolutionized criminal investigations as the world's first private detective. "introduce[s] the reader to a man who was a genuine pioneer and, in addition, one of the great adventurers of the century." The New York Times "Powerful" Kirkus Reviews

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Goya of Aragon and Maria Gayetana, Duchess of AlbaStrumpet was the word for her. Goya knew he had to share her with courtiers and matadors. He reviled her, cursed her, painted her naked so all Spain would see that she was his mistress. But his love for her was greater than any hatred, more potent than royal tyranny, revolution or the mighty power of the Inquisition. Here is the passionate, full-blooded story of one of the world's supreme artistt and Spain's greatest lady.Based on the Titanus Production of The Naked Maja starring Ava Gardner and Anthony Franciosa.