Confessions of a Thug

by Meadows Taylor

"Confessions of a Thug" by Meadows Taylor is a novel written in 1839 based on India's Thuggee cult. The story follows Ameer Ali, a fictional anti-hero who recounts his life as a thug—one of the "deceivers" who murdered travelers for money and valuables. Set from the late 18th century to 1832, this sensational tale of crime and retribution became a 19th-century bestseller that captivated readers including Queen Victoria, and popularized the word "thug" in English.