The Life and Death of Jonathan Wild, the Great

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The Life and Death of Jonathan Wild, the Great is a 1743 novel. It is a mock-heroic satire by the writer Henry Fielding, of political opportunism and ruthless morality. It dealt with the life of the infamous fence Jonathan Wild, who was hanged in 1725.

Jonathan Wild was born in 1682 and was the master criminal of early eighteenth century London. Leader of thieves and highwaymen, and fence for stolen goods, Wild learned his trade while being held in a debtor's prison and quickly established a more curious reputation as 'Thief Taker General of Great Britain and Ireland'. Indeed, Wild directed a large band of thieves and felons dealing in stolen goods: the criminals who then refused to comply with his organisation were betrayed by Wild to the police (and received forty pounds from the government into the bargain).

It is estimated that Wild informed on some 120 men during his time, all of whom went to the gallows. After fifteen years of criminal activity, Wild himself was arrested on a minor felony charge, found guilty and hanged at Tyburn in May, 1725.

[edit] Source

• Words, Words, Words, From the Beginnings to the Eighteenth Century, La Spiga languages, 2003