A criminal mastermind turns detective in this notorious autobiography filled with outrageous adventures, disguises, and escapes.

This captivating memoir takes us on a journey through the life and adventures of Eugene François Vidocq, a French criminal who became the founder and first director of the crime-detection Sûreté Nationale. Vidocq's tales of his criminal exploits and his subsequent reformation are both thrilling and inspiring. This edition, translated by H.T. Riley and complete with illustrations, is a must-read for true crime enthusiasts and anyone interested in the history of law enforcement. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.