BANDITS is a study of the social bandit or bandit-rebel - robbers and outlaws who are not regarded by public opinion as simple criminals, but rather as champions of social justice, as avengers or as primitive resistance fighters. Whether Balkan haiduks, Indian dacoits or Brazilian congaceiros, their spectacular exploits have been celebrated and preserved in story and myth. Some are only know to their fellow countrymen; others like Rob Roy, Robin Hood and Jesse James are famous throughout the world. First published in 1969, Bandits inspired a new field of historical study: bandit history. This substantially extended and revised new edition appears at a time when the disintegration of state power has reintroduced fertile conditions for banditry once again to flourish in many parts of the world.

埃瑞剋・霍布斯鮑姆，1917年生於亞曆山大，先後在維也納、柏林、倫敦和劍橋學習。他是英國和美國藝術及科學研究院的研究員，同時他還是許多國傢的綜閤大學的榮譽學位獲得者，他在到新的紐約社會研究學院前，一直從教於倫敦大學的伯剋貝剋（Bithbeck）學院。他的代錶作有：《革命年代，1789一1848》（The Age of Revolution 1789-1848）、《資本年代，1848－1875》（The Age of Capital 1848-1875）、《帝國年代，1875－1914》（The Age of Empire1875―1914）、《極端年代；一個短暫的20世紀，1914―1991》（The Age of Extremes； The Short Twenieth Century 1914-1991）。他的著作被翻譯成多種文字在世界各地發錶。