History of a Drowning Boy
The Autobiography
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History of a Drowning Boy
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Narrated by:
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Alex Robertson
About this listen
Dennis Nilsen was jailed for life in 1983 after the murders of 12 men and the attempted murders of many more. Seven years after his conviction, Nilsen began to write his autobiography, and over a period of 18 years, he typed 6,000 pages of introspection, reflection, comment, and explanation.
History of a Drowning Boy - taken exclusively from these astonishing writings - uncovers, for the first time, the motives behind the murders, and delivers a clear understanding of how such horrific events could have happened, tracing the origins back to early childhood. In another first, it provides an insight into his 35 years inside the maximum-security prison system, including his everyday life on the wings; his interactions with the authorities and other notorious prisoners; and his artistic endeavours of music, writing, and drama. It also reveals the truth behind many of the myths surrounding Dennis Nilsen, as reported in the media.
Nilsen was determined to have his memoir published but to his frustration, the Home Office blocked publication during his lifetime. He died in 2018 entrusting the manuscript to his closest friend and it is now being published with the latter's permission.
Any autobiography presents the writer's story from just one perspective: his own, and as such, this record should be treated with some caution. An excellent foreword by criminologist Dr. Mark Pettigrew offers some context to Nilsen's words, and this important work provides an extraordinary journey through the life of a remarkable and inadequate man.
©2021 Dennis Nilsen (P)2021 Dreamscape Media, LLCListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about History of a Drowning Boy
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 04-04-23
brilliant
there's alot more to this story ! a great listen very interesting and compelling
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lee
- 30-12-21
Dennis Nilsen…in his own words
This is a good book particularly the prison chapters. Nilsen’s crimes are well documented in Brian masters book Killing for Company his time after his trial less so.
Nilsen comes across as an articulate man and clearly realises that he deserved everything he got while locked up. I now have a better understanding of how the prison system works or on many occasions doesn’t. This book though seems to come straight from the heart and in a way I felt sorry for him … although he is clearly bad, mad and extremely dangerous to know.
Well written and well read.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Lyndsey
- 18-09-21
bloody brilliant.
i for some reason am drawn to Des and I'm not sure why apart from maybe understanding him away from his crimes. this book is a must read.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Michelle
- 25-08-24
Harrowing - Brilliant
Powerful story in the man’s own words, unable to put this book down, interesting to see the world from Nielsens point of view. Sick in parts but gripping.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Ashley
- 18-09-21
Amazing
Brilliant book, will listen to several more times, especially good having listened to Masters’ equally brilliant Killing For Company
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- John
- 29-02-24
A Brilliant book! A true insight into the mind and Character of Dennis Nilsen
this book was amazing to read, it's a bit of an emotional roller coaster. Denise Nilsen didn't seem to be like other psychopaths, He wanted to be caught so the killings would stop and I believe he was genuinely sorry for killing and all the people who he hurt through his actions, also I found it was quite eye opening as to how prisons were run back then.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- techphile
- 12-10-21
Self involved mewlings,
Or if you prefer, apologia for a sociopath.
I must admit this was not an enjoyable listen. Those seeking deeper truths here or insights I think should look further afield. All I heard were the mewlings, cries, and purposeful obfuscations put forwards in a vain attempt to excuse the inexcusable.
All I got from this tome is that Mr Nielsen was a professional disputant. He was a damaged soul, as we all are, but not all of us take up murder as a hobby to satisfy our lusts.
I found nothing here to change my mind that Nielsen was a sick soul. Maybe a pair of waders should be advised for reading this screed, as walking through the sewers without them is extremely unpleasant, and as I found this work, extremely unsatisfying. I am thinking this is one book for the enthusiasts, but I wouldn't be surprised if they came away ultimately unsatisfied.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Pee Popper Diddy Pop
- 14-10-22
Dodgy Den
Gave it 2 hour or so then I’d had enough, waste of money, all he was going on about was his sexual experience’s and fantasies, too much, don’t want to here that
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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- Rob
- 03-09-23
Blah.
This is a lot of self righteous nonsense from an egomaniac who can't explain why he ruined so many lives.
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