Who is Tommy Shelby? A gang member and a politician, a business leader and a brawler, a war hero and a criminal, a philosopher and an assassin, a drinker and a drug-taker, a lover and a fighter, a gentleman and a gypsy, hero and anti-hero. Thomas Michael Shelby Esquire is a big bundle of contrasts and contradictions, but a number of themes run constantly and form the core of his character. The importance of family, preparation, patience and swift, decisive action combine to make Tommy the supremely powerful character he is. But what can we learn from him?Peaky Blinders, a gangster family epic, set in the lawless streets of Birmingham post the First World War, has gained fans and admirers the world over.
The iconic costumes, scenery, characters and plot lines keep millions coming back time after time. In addition, the stellar quality of the writing has produced some instantly recognisable quotes and phrases.
Here, in the Peaky Blinders: Official Wit & Wisdom, the best of these quotes have been gathered together alongside stylish photography and illustrations, giving fans of the show the perfect opportunity to relive their favourite moments.
Author Biography:
Britain in 1919 is a tumultuous mix of despair and hedonism, a nation cleaned out by the extravagances of the Great War. Thomas Shelby and his family run the most feared and powerful local gang, the Peaky Blinders. Named for their practice of sewing razor blades into the peaks of their caps, they make money from illegal betting, protection and the black market.
But Tommy’s ambitions go beyond running the streets, and season 2 sees the Shelby family expand their empire to London and different social circles while maintaining a stronghold in their Birmingham heartland. In season 3 Tommy is coerced into pulling off the heist of a lifetime. Season 4 finds the Shelby family under attack from an organization far more powerful than the Peaky Blinders. At the start of season 5 the world is thrown into turmoil by the Wall Street Crash. Tommy Shelby, now an MP, is approached by a charismatic politician with a bold vision for Britain. He realises that the fate of the nation is now at stake. In season 6, Tommy faces his demons in an epic final showdown.
Created and written by Steven Knight and starring Cillian Murphy, Sam Neill, Helen McCrory, Paul Anderson, Annabelle Wallis, Sophie Rundle, Joe Cole, Finn Cole, Charlotte Riley, Natasha O’Keeffe, Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Jack Rowan, Harry Kirton, Kate Phillips, Emmett J. Scanlan. With Noah Taylor, Paddy Considine, Adrien Brody, Aidan Gillen, Anya Taylor-Joy, Sam Claflin, Tom Hardy, James Frecheville, Conrad Khan, Amber Anderson and Stephen Graham.
