NCJ Number
143030
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Education Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1993) Pages: 153-176
Date Published
1993
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This study examines the figure of the con man in three popular novels that trace the con man from the street hustler to the swindler who uses modern technology: Jim Thompson's "The Grifters" (1963), Stephen Robinett's "Unfinished Business" (1990), and Lawrence Sander's "Sullivan's Sting" (1990).
Abstract
These three novels, which outline the personality and character of the con man, the ingenuity and diversity of con men methods, and some of the harm they inflict also feature local and Federal law enforcement and investigative journalists and can serve as effective teaching tools in criminal justice courses. Insights into the character, motivation, jargon, and methods of the con man illuminate him for students and encourage the reader to compare the fictional portraits with the reality exposed by scholars who describe the subjects more conventionally. Such comparisons facilitate exploration of the techniques and motivations of some extraordinary criminals. 24 references