Crime and Authority in Narrative

This chapter analyzes the evolution from Western genre narratives of self-justice to the rise of private detective stories depicting law enforcement as incompetent. It categorizes police narratives into Easterns, Westerns, Northerns, and Southerns, each illustrating different perceptions of authority and corruption. Additionally, it emphasizes the impact of storytelling on public views of policing and the societal relevance of foundational principles established by Sir Robert Peel.