Portrait Of A Killer: Jack The Ripper -- Case Closed (Berkley True Crime)

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Now updated with new material that brings the killer's picture into clearer focus

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""No doubt there will always be skeptics, and critics tainted by self-interest who will refuse to accept that [Walter] Sickert was a serial killer, a damaged diabolical man driven by megalomania and hate. There will be those who will argue that it's all coincidence. As FBI profiler Ed Sulzbach says, 'There really aren't many coincidences in life. And to call coincidence after coincidence after coincidence a coincidence is just plain stupid.'" (Chap. 2 p.14 para. 4) -Patricia Cornwell, Portrait of a Killer In Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper, Case Closed, Cornwell combines the rigorous discipline of twenty-first century police investigation with forensic techniques undreamed of during the late Victorian era to solve one of the most infamous and difficult serial murder cases in history. medical procedures Sickert was forced to endure and reflects on the impact they might have had on the young boy. She also explores the ways in which women might have served as a dangerous reminder of his infuriating and humiliating abnormality. (Chap. 1 p.5 para. 3) ?

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This is the nearest we will ever get to knowing the truth about the Ripper.......2007-09-25

JACK THE RIPPER

REVIEW BY SALLY RAMAGE

OF

"PORTRAIT OF A KILLER:JACK THE RIPPER CASE CLOSED"

by Patricia Cornwell, Sphere Books, Little, Brown Book Group, London, 2003. ISBN 978-0-7515-3359-0

Patricia Cornwell is the Director of Applied Science at the National Forensic Academy. Her book is so gripping that I read it from first page to last page without putting it down.

It is obvious that the writer is a criminologist. She wrote this structured book with a beginning, middle and an end.

She tells the reader at the beginning that she concludes that Jack the Ripper was no other than Walter Sickert the artist. She then takes the reader through all the evidence and there is little doubt that her findings are sound. Cornell's writing is objective, scientific, methodical, and intelligent.

She reminds the reader that the `Jack the Ripper' killings were British and I can see reflections of the Jack the Ripper scenarios in the `Yorkshire Ripper' murders. It is clear that Cornell had examined a vast amount of evidence, primary and secondary and these are listed in the back pages. She was assisted over many years of research by a whole team of forensic investigators and in the book, she acknowledged their contributions.

Her `terms of reference' were to consider the extent of Jack the Ripper's unlawful activities. She then considered the motives for these murders. Obviously, she could not interview the killer, so she relied mainly on primary and secondary evidence about Sickert the artist.

I can see her use of Karl Popper's scientific methods. Popper suggested that one should look for instances that confirm or verify one's theories and Patricia Cornwell demonstrated this. She explored unsuccessful avenues as well as those which uphold her theory. She writes (pg 133), "computerised image enhancement detects hundreds of grey shades that the human eye cannot see and makes it possible for a fuzzy photograph or erased writing to become visible or discernible. Whilst forensic image enhancement might work with bank security videos or bad photographs, it does not work on paintings. All our efforts accomplished with Ennui (one of Sickert's paintings) was to separate Sickert's brush strokes until we ended up with the reverse of what he was doing when he put the strokes together."

One is reminded repeatedly in this `Jack the Ripper' case, that forensic science does not and will not ever take the place of human detection, deduction, experience, common sense and very hard work.

Patricia Cornwell's book concentrated on the number of women who were murdered by `Jack the Ripper'. Cornwell also concentrated her book on the conduct of the police investigation, the conduct of the coroners and on the death certificates issued after eachprostitute was murdered. Cornwell concentrated on the fact that social explanations often pinpoint which social group is more vulnerable to a phenomenon than others while psychological explanations identify the social group more likely to be vulnerable than others.

There is much concern and theorising about serial killers nowadays (see Simpson (1980); Leyton (1986); Seltzer, (1998);Grover and Soothill (1999); Soothill ( 2001); Smith, (2002) and Peters (2005).

I could see leanings in the book to Leyton's central thesis of homicidal protest. Leyton's thesis is that that the criminal offence of murder is a form of homicidal protest. Leyton concludes that homicidal killings are committed by frustrated members of the middle classes usually. Leyton said that, occasionally , serial killings contain a metaphor from the earlier era and that serial killers interrupt the lives of prostitutes and runaways because, in the killer's distorted mind, he assumes that these women deserve to be killed as punishment.. Criminologists Kelly and Radford also hypothesised that violence against women is a reflection of a patriarchal society Criminologists Grover and Soothill theorised that when women such as prostitutes are murdered, it is because they are increasingly seen as a socio-economic burden on society. Grover and Soothill's theory concluded that British serial killings reveal that Britain is inadequate in its provision of social and economic protection of the poor and vulnerable. Serial killers prey on the vulnerable and in Britain, the vulnerable are those who cannot compete within the structural conditions of patriarchal capitalism- those who, for various reasons, are unable to retort against those whom this patriarchal capitalism adorn with power.

Finally Patricia Cornwell brings the reader to conclusion that the artist Sickert was the murderer `Jack the Ripper'.

She revealed that DNA results from an anonymous letter to the police from the killer compares well with a letter to someone from Sickert's mother. DNA testing has become an established part of criminal justice procedures, and the admissibility of DNA in court today is routine. This technology is highly sensitive and can generate a reliable DNA profile from a crime scene stain that is as small as the size of a pin head. Both Sickert's written letter, the anonymous letter to the police and Sickert's mother's written letter contain part of the same DNA sequence. DNA evidence is biological evidence. Biological is a type of physical evidence. Biological evidence is not always visible to the naked eye.

DNA analysis is similar to fingerprint analysis in how matches are determined. Evidence collected from a crime scene is compared to a known sample. If each feature is not identical, the DNA evidence is determined NOT to be a match and therefore did NOT come from the suspect. When a crime scene profile does not match any stored profiles, it is possible to undertake further testing to see if it partially matches that of a genetic relative. Familial searches in the UK today can only be conducted with the specific authority of the Custodian of the NDNAD(National DNA Database) and there are legal parameters for use of the NDNAD, these being the prevention and detection of crime; the investigation of an offence; the conduct of a prosecution or the identification of a deceased person. The aim of familial searching is to provide legitimately useful intelligence in solving crime and there are instances in which its use is able to be justified, such as tracing the relatives of an unidentified serial killer.

The weak point of Cornwell's argument of DNA match, though, is this - the chain of custody of evidence is a record of individuals who have had physical possession of the evidence. Documentation is critical to maintaining the integrity of the chain of custody. Maintaining the chain of custody is vital for any type of evidence. In addition, if laboratory analysis reveals that DNA evidence was contaminated, it may be necessary to identify persons who have handled that evidence.

In processing the evidence, the fewer people handling the evidence, the better. There is less chance of contamination and a shorter chain of custody for court admissibility hearings. The Jack the Ripper case is very old and who knows how many people have previously handled the evidence?

Because extremely small samples of DNA can be used as evidence, greater attention to contamination issues is necessary when identifying, collecting and preserving DNA evidence. DNA evidence can be contaminated when DNA from another source gets mixed with DNA relevant to the case. Saliva on the envelopes or the letters was probably tested. Saliva is the fluid that moistens the mouth. It is secreted from three sets of glands. Screening for saliva is based on detection of high levels of amylase in the sample. It is not a confirmatory test as amylase is found in other body fluids.

Saliva contains ABH substances, especially in secretors. Saliva samples (spit or buccal swabs) are often taken as reference materials for determination of secretor status.. Stains can be typed using absorption-elution or absorption-inhibition.

If Cornwell's team had confirmed the DNA match by testing for body fluids on both letters, they would know that DNA typing has become such an effective tool in forensic biology that almost all of the traditional techniques have fallen into disuse but they may have used some old techniques which are still used in the examination of body fluids. Cornwell may have used the technique of serology, the detection, identification, and typing of body tissues, either in native form or as stains or residues left at a crime scene. Most often, the tissue of interest is a body fluid such as blood or semen; however, other tissues such as hair or bone are encountered. The detection and identification process begins with a physical examination, followed by a screening test, and may include confirmatory identification and sample typing.

All in all, Patricia Cornwell's book is a very convincing read. What is interesting is the renewed interest in the artist Walter Sickert. There is to be a London painting exhibition, on 25 October to 20 January, of Walter Sickert's paintings of the Camden Town Nudes. Against contemporary conventions of the idealised nude, Sickert depicted his naked models in the shabby interiors of Camden Town bedsits, investing the images with the disquieting themes of prostitution and poverty associated with this working class area of North London where he lived and worked.

The exhibition in London will bring together around fifteen of the principal canvases from private and public collections and will assemble Sickert's four so-called Camden Town Murder paintings.. Sickert's characteristic method of painting was in the reduced, almost grisaille quality of his tones. Many of his paintings depict the interiors of music- halls & theatres. Previous exhibitions of Sickert's paintings have been held at the Tate in the year 2006, and in the year 2000 at the Fine Arts Society, London. The exhibition in the year 2000 marked the publication of a book titled, Walter Sickert: Prints by Ruth Bromberg. The exhibition showed some of Sickert's finest paintings, drawings, prints & some letters & telegrams from Sickert. The fevered interest in Sickert and his paintings has even inspired an essay competition at the University of St Andrews, Scotland.

Patricia Cornwell, as well as her scientific and biological analysis, has, as a criminologist, read all the literature on Sickert, including these texts:

* Whistler, "Cross-examination in the Trial of Ruskin for libel-1878;

* Sickert, "Mr Whistler and His Art" The Artists and Journal of Home Culture, 1st Jan. 1884;

* Sickert "Is the Camera the Friend or the Foe of Art", Spectator Magazine, July 1893;

* Sickert, "All the greater draughtsmen tell a story- A critical calendar", English Review. March 1912

* W. Baron, W. and R. Shone, (ed)., Sickert Paintings, ( Yale University Press, Newhaven & London 1992);

* Q. Bell, "Some Memories of Sickert." Burlington Magazine. Vol. Cxxix, April 1987;

* R. Bromberg, Walter Sickert: Prints, A Catalogue Raisonn. (New Haven, London 2000);

* L. Browse, Sickert, ( Faber and Faber Ltd, London 1943);

* M. Connetti, Walter Sickert and the Camden Town Group,(David & Charles, Italy 1992);

* C.Connolly, "The Degas of Camden Town." Sunday Times. 29 May 1960;

* D. P. Corbett, Walter Sickert, ( Tate Gallery Publishing, London 2001);

* A. Dempsey, "Whistler and Sickert: A Friendship and its End", Apollo. No. 83, Jan. 1966;

* T. W. Earp, "The Work of Walter Richard Sickert" Apollo. No. 11, April 1930

* R. Emmons, The Life and Opinions of Walter Richard Sickert, ( Faber and Faber Ltd, London, 1942);

* M. Hollis, M. (ed.), Late Sickert - Paintings 1927 to 1942, ( Arts Council Publications, London 1981);

* M. Lilly, (ed.) Sickert - The Painter and his Circle, ( Elek, London 1971);

* R. Morphet, "The Modernity of Late Sickert", Studio International. Vol. 140, 1975;

* L. Morris, Walter Richard Sickert - Advice to Young Artists, (Norwich School of Art Gallery, Norwich 1986);

* P.Pelowski, Sickert & Thanet - Paintings and Drawings by W.R. Sickert, (Ramsgate Library Gallery, Ramsgate 1986);

* A. Powell, "The Servant of Abraham", Apollo, No. 95, March 1972;

* R. Pickvance, "The Magic of the Halls and Sickert", Apollo. No. 76, April 1962;

* A.G.Robins, "Degas and Sickert: notes on their friendship", Burlington Magazine. 1988;

* J.Rothenstein, . Sickert, ( Beaverbrook Newspapers Ltd., London 1961);

* F.Rutter, "Richard Sickert", Studio. No. 100, Nov. 1930;

* R.Seddon, "The Technical Methods of Walter Richard Sickert", Apollo. No. 38, Dec. 1943;

* R.Shone, Walter Sickert, ( Phaidon, Oxford 1988);

* O.Sitwell (Ed), "A Free House!" - The Writings of Walter Richard Sickert, (MacMillan & Co. Ltd., London 1947);

* A.Stephenson, "Buttressing bohemian mystiques and bandaging masculine Anxieties", Art History. 1994 vol. 17, no.2. June;

* D. Sutton, Walter Sickert, ( Michael Joseph, London 1976);

* L. Tickner, "Walter Sickert: The Camden Town Murder and Tabloid Crime" Modern Life and Modern Subjects - British Art in the Early Twentieth Yale University Press. London, 2000;

* S.Tillyard, "W.R. Sickert and the Defence of Illustrative Painting.", Brian Allen (ed.) Studies in British Art 1 - Towards a Modern Art World. (Yale University Press, London 1995);

* V. Woolf, Walter Sickert: A Conversation, ( Hogarth Press, London 1934);

and

* E.D.H. Johnson, Paintings of the British Social Scene from Hogarth to Sickert. (Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London 1986).

QED.

Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper--Case Closed.......2007-09-21

I am looking forward to reading this book. I have been looking for this book for quite a while and now I have a chance to read it. I am very interested in the Jack the Ripper case.

A speculative confection of a book that's taken too much abuse ...........2007-08-20

It seems that a lot of people hate either this book, Patricia Cornwall, or both. Fair enough. But some of the reviews I've just been perusing have seemed unjustifiably vicious. Since the late 19th century, people have been speculating--with a great deal of confidence--on the identity of Jack the Ripper. Patricia Cornwall has the professional resume to take her turn, and in her defence, I believe she makes a very strong case for her conclusions.

I cannot believe the nastiness of some of these other reviews--particularly the ones calling her names that have no business in a public forum. Really, it's probably the first time I've ever actually felt sorry for a wildly successful writer.

Cornwall's a novelist, and her writing of nonfiction is enlivened by the prose that's made her successful in her established medium. This is no dreary textbook; quite a lot of it is narrative, following her tracks as she researches the White Chapel murders. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Does this mean she knows better than Scotland Yard? Probably not--but, then again ...

(This review has been posted by Marcus Damanda, author of the vampire novel: "Teeth: A Horror Fantasy.)

IMPOTENT FURY! .......2007-07-22

"I knew the identity of a murderer and couldn't possibly avert my gaze" so states Cornwell. Give me a break. Enough people have spent their time defending Sickert now, so I won't take up the space. Though he could be a suspect... The Jack the Ripper cases will most likely never be solved. Some people kinda' want it that way.

This is a good book for its documentation of the killings. Its also good for its in depth, yet ungrounded Sickert accusations; such as him having had a fistula. Pure speculation. I don't know if that would really be enough to drive a man to mutilate... but it doubtlessly would drive a person mad with "impotent fury"! And other phrases that will leave you giggling.

Did we read the same book? Lots of evidence!.......2007-07-09

In response to the other reviewers who complain about a lack of Cornwell's forensic evidence and "knowledge" of the suspect, Sickert's, actions: did we both read the same book?: The part where she discussed the manufacture and form of Sickert's vs. Jack's paper upon which the Ripper's letters were written? (matching watermarks, sheets ripped in half along matching lines, Ripper letters on Sickert's wife's stationery, etc. . )? The fact that Sickert paintings hauntingly and very convincingly match unpublishable photographs of crime scenes (shown side by side)? Matching up Sickert's travels on the Continent with gaps in Ripper activity in England, and prostitute butchers in France and other Sickert retreat locations? And, almost as telling as the paper stock matches (which are correspondence existing in modern day, which Cornwell subjected to in-person examination and forensic testing), the fact that The Ripper's letters contained illustrations almost exactly matching in ink and skill quality as that of Sickert, a published artist?

Forensic evidence abounds, and is convincingly argued and presented. LOOK at the photographic comparisons. Judge for yourself.. .I did, and I was convinced. (And condemning a book based on self-admittedly accepted name spelling variations, when original records are handwritten? Criticizing Cornwell for criticizing Victorian authorities' dismissive investigations of the murders of homeless prostitutes? These only bolster Cornwell's investigations, rather than doom them.)

I've recommended this book to historically inquiring minds who like to see for themselves, and I recommend it to you as well.

Rainbow Magic: Heather The Violet Fairy (Rainbow Magic)

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Good, For Very Early Readers
Fairy Review
Fairy Wonderland

Rainbow Magic: Heather The Violet Fairy (Rainbow Magic)
Daisy Meadows
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
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ASIN: 0439746868

Book Description

Fairyland is home to seven colorful sisters. Together, they are the Rainbow Fairies! They keep Fairyland dazzling and bright. But when evil Jack Frost sends them far away, the sisters are in big trouble. If they don't return soon, Fairyland is doomed to be gray forever!The merry-go-round whisks Rachel and Kirsty away to a magical world. Could Heather the Violet Fairy have something to do with it? Help the girls find the last Rainbow Fairy, and bring the color back to Fairyland!

Customer Reviews:

Good, For Very Early Readers.......2007-06-13

My youngest daughter enjoyed this book and the rest in this series. This is a colorful book with an uncomplicated and engaging story and simple illustrations to capture the eye of little girls. It is for the very young and not challenging. The Rainbow series will interest most young girls and help with their reading skills. However if you are seeking books with more complex storylines and challenging text try Fairy Realm or Fairy Chronicles. Also recommended - the Weather Fairies series by this same author.

Fairy Realm #6: The Unicorn (Fairy Realm)

Marigold and the Feather of Hope, The Journey Begins (The Fairy Chronicles, Book 1)

Hayley The Rain Fairy (Weather Fairies)

Fairy Review.......2006-03-20

My daughter, Rachel, loved these books. They have cute pictures, imaginative descriptions and the whole set of books from Ruby to Violet are cute.

Fairy Wonderland.......2006-03-10

My daughters love Daisy Meadows and the Rainbow Magic series. They can't wait to read her other series with the fairies. These are great chapter books for beginning readers. They capture attention, have a plot, and keep the interest beyond the first book. My daughters couldn't wait to get their hands on this final book in the Rainbow series. Now they can't wait to get their hands on the other series' books! Thank you, Ms. Meadows!

Rainbow Magic: Inky The Indigo Fairy (Rainbow Magic)

Average customer rating:

Fantastic Series
Isabel's Mom

Rainbow Magic: Inky The Indigo Fairy (Rainbow Magic)
Daisy Meadows
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 043974685X

Book Description

Fairyland is home to seven colorful sisters. Together, they are the Rainbow Fairies! They keep Fairyland dazzling and bright. But when evil Jack Frost sends them far away, the sisters are in big trouble. If they don't return soon, Fairyland is doomed to be gray forever!A magical book sweeps Rachel and Kirsty away to the Land of Sweets. Could Inky the Indigo Fairy be waiting there for them?

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic Series.......2007-03-20

My daughter loves this series of books - the biggest problem we have is that she won't stop after one chapter. She's 5, so we do most of the reading, she'll read a paragraph or two, but we do that's it for now. It won't be long before she'll be re-reading them herself. She and her sister love playing fairies now, it's been great for her developing her imagination and her creative play has flourished lately.

We started with book 1 of the Rainbow Fairies and are now on the Weather Fairies Series. I highly recommend these books.

Isabel's Mom.......2006-08-25

This is the 6th book in the series of rainbow fairy books. My daughter (almost 6) absolutely loves these books and they are a great introduction to chapter books. She lines them up in order and anxiously awaits the arrival in the next ordered book of the series. It is a nice change for me to read something that entertains me too as I read to her. She delights in having them read to her and as her reading skills emerge, she will be able to enjoy them again when she can read to herself.

Rainbow Magic #5: Sky The Blue Fairy (Rainbow Magic)

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Great way to get kids excited about reading!

Rainbow Magic #5: Sky The Blue Fairy (Rainbow Magic)
Daisy Meadows
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0439746841

Book Description

Fairyland is home to seven colorful sisters. Together, they are the Rainbow Fairies! They keep Fairyland dazzling and bright. But when evil Jack Frost sends them far away, the sisters are in big trouble. If they don't return soon, Fairyland is doomed to be gray forever!The beach means bubble trouble for Sky the Blue Fairy. Can a special friend help Rachel and Kirsty track her down?

Customer Reviews:

Great way to get kids excited about reading!.......2006-03-22

My first grader absolutely fell in love with the Rainbow Fairy series and is now onto the Weather Fairies. Lovely, light stories, they feature young girls (just like her) trying to save fairies and their magical world. These are perfect books for readers beginning chapter books.

Polly the Party Fun Fairy (Rainbow Magic)

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Polly the Party Fun Fairy (Rainbow Magic)
Daisy Meadows
Manufacturer: Orchard Books
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Binding: Paperback

ASIN: 1843628228

Average customer rating:

Great Book; Great Series

Stella the Star Fairy (Rainbow Magic)
Daisy Meadows
Manufacturer: Orchard Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ASIN: 1846162335

Customer Reviews:

Great Book; Great Series.......2006-11-29

Stella the Star Fairy is all in a flutter, trying to put the sparkle into Christmas. Stella looks after all the special Christmas lights - from the overhead illuminations,to the Christmas tree fairy lights, right through to the twinkling stars. Three magic Christmas baubles control all of these elements but now Jack Frost's goblins have stolen them. There's not going to be any Christmas atmosphere and Santa won't even be able to guide his sleigh through the night sky. Stella the Star Fairy needs Rachel and Kirsty's help to get the baubles back.

My daughters love this series!
I got a whole hour to myself each day when they started reading these books!

Crystal The Snow Fairy: The Weather Fairies (Rainbow Magic)

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My daughter wants all the books now!
Got My Daughter Interested in Reading Again
We love the Rainbow Magic series
We love it!!
Doodle's magic feathers lost!

Crystal The Snow Fairy: The Weather Fairies (Rainbow Magic)
Daisy Meadows
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ASIN: 0439813875

Book Description

Fairyland is home to the seven Weather Fairies! They use magical feathers to bring all of the weather to Fairyland. But when the feathers disappear, the weather turns wacky. The Weather Fairies must fix it -- fast! In this book, Crystal the Snow Fairy has lost her magic feather. Now it's snowing in summer! Find one feather in each book and fix the weather in Fairyland!

Customer Reviews:

My daughter wants all the books now!.......2007-07-08

My daughter is 9 and has Asperger's syndrome, or high functioning autism. She collects feathers, and the weather is one of her IMPORTANT subjects. She reads fast, and finished this book quickly.... and informed me that she needs to read the rest of them so could I please help her get them right away? The story itself is a little intense because the goblin is actually trying to hit Storm and girls with lightning, but of course it all comes out okay in the end. We will definitely read the other books in the series!

Got My Daughter Interested in Reading Again.......2007-05-07

We've been struggling for a way to get my daughter to read now that she's run out of Junie B. Jones books. The Weather Fairies books have done the trick. She seems to enjoy reading again for the first time in half a year or more.

I have to say I haven't read any of the Weather Fairies myself but I caught my twelve-year-old son reading the series because his sister had obviously liked it. He said he wanted to read more, too.

We love the Rainbow Magic series.......2007-02-06

My soon-to-be 5 year old daughter and I LOVE this series. The stories are simple enough and short enough (about 40 min) to hold her attention as a read aloud, and there are enough illustrations peppered throughout to give her something to look at as I read. Both the stories and the illustrations are delightful. These books have ignited a passion for reading in my daughter, and she is now extremely motivated to read on her own so she doesn't have to wait for me to read them to her. We can hardly wait for the rest of the series to be published in the US. There are also the Jewel Fairies, the Pet Fairies, and the Party Fun Fairies that are only available in the UK right now, but it looks like some of them will be published here this summer. You can be sure we will be pre-ordering them!

We love it!!.......2006-12-23

My seven-year old daughter Clare has read 12 books by Daisy Meadows and we've ordered several more. She especially liked Crystal the Snow Fairy. It has great pictures. Some of her other favorites include: Pearl the Cloud Fairy and Heather the Violet Fairy. What a great series!

Doodle's magic feathers lost!.......2006-10-13

I love this book! I would recommend this book for ages 5 and up. In this book Jack Frost's evil goblins stole Doodle's, the rooster who gives the weather faries their weather feathers so they can control the weather in FairyLand, tail feathers which are the weather feathers! Kirsty and Rachel are best friends, who are friends with the fairies so they can help! Their first mission is in this book when they have to find Crystal the snow fairies weather feather. Read this book to find out more!

Holly the Christmas Fairy (Rainbow Magic)

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We love this whole series!

Holly the Christmas Fairy (Rainbow Magic)
Daisy Meadows
Manufacturer: Orchard Books
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1843626616

Customer Reviews:

We love this whole series!.......2007-10-03

My 6 year old daughter got started on the Rainbow Magic Fairy books about a year ago and has been obsessed every since. These books are perfect for readers that are ready for chapter books. If you are new to these books, you should also check out the Rainbow Faires and the Weather Faires - they are my daughter's favorites!

Average customer rating:

The best book on the subject yet written.
maggiemu
Exhaustive and detailed
Exhaustive, Factual, and Unbiased
Great account of an oft complicated topic

The Complete History of Jack the Ripper
Philip Sugden
Manufacturer: Carroll & Graf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0786709324

Book Description

Adding more new material for his Complete History of Jack the Ripper, crime writer and historian Philip Sugden already has painstakingly uncovered much new and hitherto neglected material, including a new Ripper sighting, a possible earlier assault, and a potential American connection. As noted Ripperologist Dan Farson observes, “This is indeed the ‘definitive account’,” for armchair sleuths of the White Chapel Horrors and all true crime aficionados. “A meticulous and reasoned profile for readers and future detectives.”—Kirkus Reviews “The charm of well written history about a character of almost mythical standing.”—Daily Telegraph (London)

Customer Reviews:

The best book on the subject yet written........2007-06-09

Unlike most "Ripperologists," Philip Sugden does not have any pet theories to prove. Therefore, like a good historian, Sugden concentrates only on all the facts of the case as they can be cooberated by the primary sources. Very well written and thoroughly researched, The Complete History of Jack the Ripper not only covers each of the known murders in detail, the book also looks at several other unsolved murders that may have been part of the series of "Jack's" crimes. Furthermore, Sugden follows the police investigation and examines the suspects developed by the police at the time. While Sugden does evaluate the likelihood of these suspects' guilt, he makes no attempt to positively identify the killer. If you read only one book on the 1888 murders in Whitechaple, read this one.

maggiemu.......2007-05-12

I found this book to be a bit boring and quite wordy for my personal taste. There were alot of facts that seemed to lead nowhere. I wasn't impressed!

Exhaustive and detailed.......2007-03-13

Jack the Ripper is perhaps the best-known figure in history whose real identity is obscured. He killed (as far as we know) something between 4 and 9 women in London between 1887 and 1891. He was never caught, and there's no convincing proof anyone ever saw him clearly, let alone came upon him in the act of killing and tried to stop him. He became the subject of rumor and speculation while the killings were going on, and has since been a subject of much speculation and theorizing. "Solutions" to the crimes he committed range from various suspects to a conspiracy of the British Royal Family in some fashion all the way around to anti-Semitic conspiracies.

Author Philip Sugden decided to write this book, and work from as many original sources as he could, recounting only that information he was able to confirm from contemporary records. He generally dismisses newspapers of the era, and tries to rely on police files as much as possible. What emerges is a different picture of the killer and the murders than has been presented in the past, because many previous books have repeated the errors of others while recounting what they believe happened. Sugden does his best to avoid this.

The result is a well-written, detailed, exhaustive study of the killings themselves. Sugden recounts each of the killings in detail, and then spends considerable time telling of the police response to the crimes, their attempts to counter the killings, and especially their interrogations of witnesses. One point he makes clear is how primitive their forensic thinking was at the time: fingerprints were about a decade off yet, and it wasn't even possible to analyze bloodstains to tell if they were human or animal in origin. The police, as a result, depended to a great deal on witnesses and confessions. In crimes of passion or crimes of greed, those things worked reasonably well, but with a "stranger crime" where the killer and the witnesses probably didn't know the criminal, and he probably also didn't associate with other criminals, the chances of catching him were frankly minimal. That's what happened...they didn't catch him.

I really enjoyed Sugden's book. It contains a great deal of information. The author, in the latter part of the book, leans towards one of the suspects (George Chapman) but doesn't insist that he must have done it. He does think it unlikely that Druitt, Kosminski, or Ostrog were the killer, but in each case his evidence is, like everything else at this remove, pretty much speculation. At least his speculation makes sense, however. Regardless, anyone who's interested in Jack the Ripper needs this book, definitely.

Exhaustive, Factual, and Unbiased.......2007-01-12

Beginning and Elite Ripperologists alike MUST read this book. A best way to explain the quality of this book is to explain Sugden's handling of the facts. Unlike the mast majority of Ripperologists, Sugden's goal is not to create theories to fill in the gaps, nor to hold onto common myths of the Ripper. Any ideas he does suggest in the book are only those most "probable" and based on the facts that are available. Like any good researched book dealing with a topic with various controversies, Sugden is quick to point out flaws in common misconceptions and how their origins were spawned from incorrect historical data.

He does a fantastic job on truly capturing the "complete history" of the Ripper case while maintaining an enjoyable read for the elite and curious passerby alike. After reading the book I finally realized why this is declared THE book to have on the Ripper case. I strongly suggest this to be the starting point and foundation for all newly interested and all who have long loved the infamous murderer of almost mythical standing.

Great account of an oft complicated topic.......2006-11-24

Let me give a little anecdote first - when in London over five years ago, I was sincerely honored to see the admiration and respect that its citizens gave Polly Nichols, Annie Chapman, Liz Stride, Kate Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly. I am a massive reader and barely saw a thing by Patricia Cornwell in all of England, especially her book in which she claimed that the Ripper was Walter Sickert. You know why? I was basically told that people were so angered that she went on TV afterwards and admitted a lot of the book was invented scenarios told merely because "I thought it would make a good story" that they refused to endorse it. That, London, is respect, and I honor you for it.
Now said, mr. Sugden gives a great account of the murders of each of those women, portraying them as real people and not "Jack the Ripper's # victim." Although it is lacking severely in new topics such as Francis Tumblety and the like, anything previous is well researched and expertly presented with no bias. This is a worthwhile book, and if you want to see those involved portrayed fairly and as real people without a number, then try it.

A Field Guide to Pacific States Wildflowers: Washington, Oregon, California and adjacent areas (Peterson Field Guides(R))

Average customer rating:

A Field Guide to Western Wildflowers
Pacific States Wildflowers.
A Useful Tool
Excellent Field Guide to help identify Wildflowers

A Field Guide to Pacific States Wildflowers: Washington, Oregon, California and adjacent areas (Peterson Field Guides(R))
Theodore F. Niehaus
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0395910951

Book Description

Here are descriptions and illustrations of 1,492 species from 77 families - virtually all of the wildflowers found from British Columbia to Baja California, from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. Grouped by color, each species description includes field marks, size, habitat, range, flowering season, and common and scientific names.

Customer Reviews:

A Field Guide to Western Wildflowers.......2005-06-12

Personally, I think the Peterson Guides are far more helpful than the Audobon publications. As mentioned in other reviews, Peterson uses illustrations organized by color and flower configuration. The illustrations are very well done. Audobon uses photos. The idea is that you match your specimen to the photo it most closely matches and follow further identification from there. The books are complimetary and work well together; however, if you can only choose one-- get the Peterson book. Overall, I have had much better success keying out plants with Peterson and repeatedly have found the plant I am looking for overlooked in the Audobon text. The truth be known, I doubt I will ever buy a Audobon plant book again-- perhaps they are better with birds.

Pacific States Wildflowers........2001-06-22

I like the book and the topic, however the binding is is such bad shape that the book is useless in the field or for a more robust usage. Can this be fixed?

A Useful Tool.......2000-04-04

Though this title may be a little pricy, it is a must have for residents of California, Oregon, and Washington. At any rate, any family within which there is a flower collecter, should have a copy of this excellent resource. Though my family originally purchased this title because of a biology project assigned to my daughter, it has since opened up an interesting world of the natural plant life of this area and even those farther away.

Excellent Field Guide to help identify Wildflowers.......1999-07-06

I take this guide (and the Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers-- west) on all my field trips to identify wildflowers. Though Peterson has fewer real photos, it does have better aids to identify specific wildflowers, as it is organized by color, as well as number and types of petals. The sketches help me do a preliminary id on the wildflower.

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