Rostov-the-Father. The History of the Criminal Capital of Russia. Late XVIII – Early XX Century.

The book presents the history of the emergence, formation, and maturation of the criminal phenomenon called «Rostov-the-Father» — the criminal capital of southern Russia. For the first time in domestic historiography, the history of crime is shown not from the perspective of those fighting against it, but, as they say, «from the other side of the barricades». The reasons, historical roots, and paths of creating one of the largest Russian criminal communities are analyzed. The main criminal specializations of the «capital» and their prominent representatives are presented. The path of the criminal community of southern Russia is shown, from small bandit gangs of the late XVIII century to the formation of the «thieves' law» and stable organized crime groups of the 1930s.