Allan Pinkerton by University of Edinburgh professor emeritus Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones is a deeply researched account of the life and legacy of the man who defined the profession of private eye. Read on for the a Q&A with the author to learn more about Pinkerton and the process of writing this book.

Which type of source material was the most useful to you during your research on Pinkerton (interviews, scholarly articles, images, primary documents, etc.)?

The records of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency were my single most helpful source. The ProQuest company has made the bulk of these records available online, and mine is the first attempt to use them systematically. I consulted other Pinkerton records at the Library of Congress, and some were given to me by private arrangement. Also particularly useful were newspaper stories, memoirs and Congressional documents.

What do you think is the most common misconception or misunderstanding of Pinkerton?

The most common misconception about Allan Pinkerton is that he was an ardent revolutionary in Scotland, but a conservative once he arrived in the United States in his early twenties. There was more continuity than is commonly believed between his youthful outlook and his behavior once arrived in America. This applies especially to his attitude to spying.

What was your favorite part of writing this book? What was your least favorite?

My favorite part was writing about the outlaws Jesse James and the Sundance Kid. It took me back to my boyhood enthusiasms! I also enjoyed following the threads to our present-day private-security state. My least favorite part was the forensic examination of criminal cases initiated by the Pinkertons against labor unionists accused of murder and other violence.