Bonnie and Clyde: A Biography

Motivated by greed and sadism--or perhaps by poverty and boredom--star-crossed lovers Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow set out on a series of robberies throughout the American Southwest, many of which ended in murder. Frustrated by the suffocating poverty of the Great Depression, they were especially eager to target their oppressors--banks, store owners, and at times, the police. Their numerous crimes triggered an FBI manhunt, but their Robin-Hood ethos made them heroes in the eyes of many, establishing their place as legends of American folklore. This objective volume paints a realistic picture of often-romanticized subject matter, as it explores the motivation and impact of two of the most notorious criminals in U.S. history.

Motivated by greed and sadism--or perhaps by poverty and boredom--star-crossed lovers Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow set out on a series of robberies throught the American Southwest, many of which ended in murder. Frustrated by the suffocating poverty of the Great Depression, they were especially eager to target their oppressors--banks, store owners, and at times, the police. Their numerous crimes triggered an FBI manhunt, but their Robin-Hood ethos made them heroes in the eyes of many, establishing their place as legends of American folklore. This objective volume paints a realistic picture of often-romanticized subject matter, as it explores the motivation and impact of two of the most notorious criminals in U.S. history.

Colorful narrative chapters explore the lives of Bonnie and Clyde in vivid detail, giving insight into the fear of a country gripped by Depression-era poverty, and the public's endless fascination with those that live on the outside of the law. Ready-reference features such as a timeline and glossary round out the work's accessibility, making this an ideal resource for students of American history and popular culture.

NATE HENDLEY is a Toronto-based writer, reporter, and author. In addition to hundreds of news articles, features, profiles, and reviews, he is author of Edwin Alonzo Boyd: The Life and Crimes of Canada's Master Bank Robber (2003), Dutch Schultz: The Brazen Beer Baron of New York (2005), Al Capone: Chicago's King of Crime (2005), and Crystal Meth: North America's Number One Drug Problem (2006). He has also written a biography of John Lennon and children's books on Canadian Prime Ministers Jean Chretien and William Lyon Mackenzie King. Hendley has a web site located at www.natehendley.com.