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1888: London Murders in the Year of the Ripper
In 1888 Jack the Ripper made the headlines with a series of horrific murders that remain unsolved to this day. But most killers are not shadowy figures stalking the streets with a lust for blood. Many are ordinary citizens driven to the ultimate crime by circumstance, a fit of anger or a desire for revenge. Their crimes, overshadowed by the few, sensational cases, are ignored, forgotten or written off. This book examines all the known murders in London in 1888 to build a picture of society. Who were the victims? How did they live, and how did they die? Why did a husband batter his wife to death after she failed to get him a cup of tea? How many died under the wheels of a horse-driven cab? Just how dangerous was London in 1888?
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
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September 30, 2012
This book gives a fascinating account of London in 1888: a time of depression, strikes and protests and panic over a series of murders by Jack the Ripper. The author looks at a number of other murders, and cases of manslaughter, that happened during that year; revealing a portrait of London that is very different, and yet very similar, to our own time. We too have a time of economic depression, a Queen who has just celebrated a Jubilee, a government led by an Old Etonian Conservative, gangs and knife crime. In many ways, 1888 mirrors our present age in a distorted image, although there are also interesting, and important, differences. In London today, you are more likely to be a victim of murder if you are male. In 1888, women made up a greater percentage of victims, and children were also, tragically, often killed - especially as babies.
The author gives a wonderfully vivid account of those times, presenting cases of murder which range from those which caused media outrage, to those which aroused little interest at the time. He recounts the stories of drunken brawls which led to murder, omnibus accidents which resulted in charges of manslaughter, domestic violence, the murders of prostitutes (including those attributed to the Ripper) and many other cases. There is also a lot of detailed information about how the city was policed (including the discovery of the torso of a woman hidden in the foundations of the building which was to become New Scotland Yard). Links between then and today are always with us. Whitechapel, still a cosmopolitan area, was under attack from complaints of immigrants driving down wages and taking jobs, with intolerance and racism rearing its ugly head. Sadly, knife crime and gangs are not a new problem either and in 1888 the Gazette proclaimed, "a generation is growing up around us which has never been disciplined, either at home or at school." Not much new from the newspapers either then, with the media still attempting to rouse moral frenzy and panic around news stories. It is also shocking to read how many deaths were caused by firearms before proper restrictions were placed on them in 1920.
Overall, this is a really exciting and evocative read. It follows crimes to their conclusion, discussing court cases and how many murders remained unsolved. Poverty and drink, plus the fear of ruin, lay at the core of many of the most tragic murders and often the courts took a more lenient and compassionate view of crimes which were caused by total despair. If you are interested in historical true crime, or Victorian London, I am sure you will find this book an excellent read. The Appendix has many statistics about murder and manslaughter cases in London in the 1880's and, lastly, I read the kindle version of this book and the illustrations were included at the end.
The author gives a wonderfully vivid account of those times, presenting cases of murder which range from those which caused media outrage, to those which aroused little interest at the time. He recounts the stories of drunken brawls which led to murder, omnibus accidents which resulted in charges of manslaughter, domestic violence, the murders of prostitutes (including those attributed to the Ripper) and many other cases. There is also a lot of detailed information about how the city was policed (including the discovery of the torso of a woman hidden in the foundations of the building which was to become New Scotland Yard). Links between then and today are always with us. Whitechapel, still a cosmopolitan area, was under attack from complaints of immigrants driving down wages and taking jobs, with intolerance and racism rearing its ugly head. Sadly, knife crime and gangs are not a new problem either and in 1888 the Gazette proclaimed, "a generation is growing up around us which has never been disciplined, either at home or at school." Not much new from the newspapers either then, with the media still attempting to rouse moral frenzy and panic around news stories. It is also shocking to read how many deaths were caused by firearms before proper restrictions were placed on them in 1920.
Overall, this is a really exciting and evocative read. It follows crimes to their conclusion, discussing court cases and how many murders remained unsolved. Poverty and drink, plus the fear of ruin, lay at the core of many of the most tragic murders and often the courts took a more lenient and compassionate view of crimes which were caused by total despair. If you are interested in historical true crime, or Victorian London, I am sure you will find this book an excellent read. The Appendix has many statistics about murder and manslaughter cases in London in the 1880's and, lastly, I read the kindle version of this book and the illustrations were included at the end.
November 25, 2012
The horrific crimes of Jack the Ripper tend to dominate London in the year 1888 but there were other murders and this book sets out to give us more information about these other cases. I found it interesting reading as it brings all those almost forgotten cases to life. What I was most surprised by was that of all the murders in London during that year only one resulted in the death penalty being carried out.
There were many cases where the death penalty was passed but the person was reprieved. I think many people have the idea that in Victorian London a murder conviction always resulted in the hangman’s noose but this is very far from being the case if this year is in any way representative.
There were many cases of babies or small children dying accidentally or being killed by their mothers or fathers. Again I was surprised by the leniency shown to women who had often given birth in secret and disposed of the child. The courts, the coroner and the police seemed to lean over backwards to find extenuating circumstances for the crime and hardly any of the women concerned actually ended up in prison.
The author suggests that this could also be because children were not considered as important then as they are now – life was cheap certainly when it came to infants. Men killing their wives were not so lucky and it seemed as though violence against women was starting to be unacceptable to authority as well as to society in general.
I loved the way the author brought all the cases to life by quoting from the trials and by providing details about the way people lived and worked in 1888. The book showed clearly that alcoholism – both men and women – and teenage gangs are nothing new.
The book contains an appendix which gives the statistics for those who are interested and there is also a chapter about the Ripper cases. There are notes on each chapter and a bibliography which provides suggestions for further reading. If you are interested to know about other people who met their death apart from the Ripper victims then try this book.
There were many cases where the death penalty was passed but the person was reprieved. I think many people have the idea that in Victorian London a murder conviction always resulted in the hangman’s noose but this is very far from being the case if this year is in any way representative.
There were many cases of babies or small children dying accidentally or being killed by their mothers or fathers. Again I was surprised by the leniency shown to women who had often given birth in secret and disposed of the child. The courts, the coroner and the police seemed to lean over backwards to find extenuating circumstances for the crime and hardly any of the women concerned actually ended up in prison.
The author suggests that this could also be because children were not considered as important then as they are now – life was cheap certainly when it came to infants. Men killing their wives were not so lucky and it seemed as though violence against women was starting to be unacceptable to authority as well as to society in general.
I loved the way the author brought all the cases to life by quoting from the trials and by providing details about the way people lived and worked in 1888. The book showed clearly that alcoholism – both men and women – and teenage gangs are nothing new.
The book contains an appendix which gives the statistics for those who are interested and there is also a chapter about the Ripper cases. There are notes on each chapter and a bibliography which provides suggestions for further reading. If you are interested to know about other people who met their death apart from the Ripper victims then try this book.
March 16, 2019
3.5 stars
1888 in London had more murders than the women Jack the Ripper killed. This book looks at many more of them, though some are manslaughter, and some of the possible/potential murderers are acquitted. . They include bar fights, domestic abuse, infants and newborns, prostitutes, hit and runs (horse and carriage), and more. Of course, the chapter that includes prostitutes does also talk a bit about the Ripper murders.
It was good and interesting as I read it, but fitting so many murders into one book, the descriptions of them have to be fairly short, so it felt a bit like short stories to me. And to me, that means I probably won’t remember much of it in the not-too-distant future. Enjoyable at the time, but maybe not memorable later on. There was some history of London, especially near the start of the book, to help describe the conditions, so that was interesting, too.
1888 in London had more murders than the women Jack the Ripper killed. This book looks at many more of them, though some are manslaughter, and some of the possible/potential murderers are acquitted. . They include bar fights, domestic abuse, infants and newborns, prostitutes, hit and runs (horse and carriage), and more. Of course, the chapter that includes prostitutes does also talk a bit about the Ripper murders.
It was good and interesting as I read it, but fitting so many murders into one book, the descriptions of them have to be fairly short, so it felt a bit like short stories to me. And to me, that means I probably won’t remember much of it in the not-too-distant future. Enjoyable at the time, but maybe not memorable later on. There was some history of London, especially near the start of the book, to help describe the conditions, so that was interesting, too.
August 3, 2018
Puff! ¡¡Vaya viaje!! Este libro no solo habla de los asesinatos de Jack The Ripper sino también de miles de casos no relacionados de la vida cotidiana en el Londres Victoriano. Se muestra una sociedad en donde si eras niña o mujer joven o vieja, lo más seguro es que murieras a manos de tus hermanos, marido, padres o la sociedad. La violencia hacia el sexo femenino era impresionante, el marido podía matarte a golpes, los padres estrellaban contra el pavimento a los hijos o los degollaban, las prostitutas eran en esos tiempos, igual que ahora, el sector más vulnerable y castigado. Muchas de ellas abandonadas, divorciadas o viudas, terminaban prostituyéndose por unas monedas para comprar licor, la comida era muy cara, una copa era lo más barato, muchas alcohólicas, enfermas de tifus, sífilis, gonorrea, cirrosis, escarlatina, tuberculosis, etc. Terminaban en manos de asesinos no solo de Jack, estaba el Asesino del río Támesis, las pandillas, ladrones, etc. La Belle Epoqué, era hermosa si eras de un estatus social burgués como Oscar Wilde o Marcel Proust, pero si eras pobre, te tocaba lo peor de un sistema que no estaba diseñado para atender a su población más necesitada. No es un libro para los sensibles o impresionables con facilidad. Aquí se encuentra lo peor de una sociedad pobre, que vive en la inmundicia y en decadencia en el umbral de la Primera Guerra Mundial y del nuevo siglo.
January 31, 2021
My main disappointment with this book is that I was expecting a bit more discussion about what the murders meant about Victorian society. But instead, this book is really little more than a well organized list of tragic events in the year 1888. If you were to summarize any city's murders in any given year without context, they will give the appearance of a violent society.
The murders themselves are not provided with enough details to form your own opinion about the person's motives, actions, or guilt. Just the verdicts handed down by the juries in an age where fairness and justice took second place to appearance and creating an example.
Also, while discussing the victims of Jack the Ripper, the author incorrectly identifies them all as prostitutes. It was a standard stereotype in the newspapers of that age to identify any very poor woman as such, but it is not true. I highly recommend the book The Five. The Untold Lives of the Five Women Killed by Jack the Ripper, by Hallie Rubenhold to anyone interested in Jack the Ripper or women studies. It is brilliantly written and restores the truth of the lives these women led. It is also a good reminder that they were human beings, not just victims.
The murders themselves are not provided with enough details to form your own opinion about the person's motives, actions, or guilt. Just the verdicts handed down by the juries in an age where fairness and justice took second place to appearance and creating an example.
Also, while discussing the victims of Jack the Ripper, the author incorrectly identifies them all as prostitutes. It was a standard stereotype in the newspapers of that age to identify any very poor woman as such, but it is not true. I highly recommend the book The Five. The Untold Lives of the Five Women Killed by Jack the Ripper, by Hallie Rubenhold to anyone interested in Jack the Ripper or women studies. It is brilliantly written and restores the truth of the lives these women led. It is also a good reminder that they were human beings, not just victims.
April 14, 2019
Picked this up a few times and tried to get into it didn't get very far kept putting it down again, when I do this with a book means I wont get through it.
didn't hold my attention for very long at all.
didn't hold my attention for very long at all.
March 4, 2013
The year 1888 is most notably known as the year Jack the Ripper created terror in the streets of Whitechapel, murdering five, possibly six prostitutes and escaping from justice, the mystery of his identity lingering on through the years. But, as Stubley quite rightly points out, Jack's were not the only murders in London that year, and perhaps it is these others, lost to history, that are far more indicative of a particular time and place that the more celebrated ones of Jack the Ripper.
Stubley takes a relatively thematic approach, looking at the different kinds of murders and manslaughters committed in 1888 - vehicular accidents, street fights, illegal abortions, insanity pleas, husbands murdering wives, parents killing children, teenage gangs. With this approach he looks at the context surrounding the crimes, and it is telling just how often poverty and alcoholism play a major part.
What I found interesting is just how few of these cases resulted in the death penalty. The stereotypical view of Victorian justice was that it was harsh and extreme, the hangman's noose the inevitable end - but the majority of the cases involved pleas for mercy and only one ended up making the final drop.
Stubley takes a relatively thematic approach, looking at the different kinds of murders and manslaughters committed in 1888 - vehicular accidents, street fights, illegal abortions, insanity pleas, husbands murdering wives, parents killing children, teenage gangs. With this approach he looks at the context surrounding the crimes, and it is telling just how often poverty and alcoholism play a major part.
What I found interesting is just how few of these cases resulted in the death penalty. The stereotypical view of Victorian justice was that it was harsh and extreme, the hangman's noose the inevitable end - but the majority of the cases involved pleas for mercy and only one ended up making the final drop.
January 29, 2020
The author is a crime and court reporter and he has used his expertise to examine police and court reports, witness statements and newspaper coverage for unnatural deaths in 1888. Many of them remain unsolved. This was the year the horrific murders of five women were attributed to a serial killer known as Jack the Ripper and he covers that case, but also many others, which shows the world in which they happened.
I could not get excited about this book and give it five stars, but it clearly and competently written and it is difficult to imagine that anyone could have written a better one about the subject.
The number of child deaths are very sad, but the late Victorian justice system came out of the book better than I expected.
I could not get excited about this book and give it five stars, but it clearly and competently written and it is difficult to imagine that anyone could have written a better one about the subject.
The number of child deaths are very sad, but the late Victorian justice system came out of the book better than I expected.
April 13, 2014
I' m afraid.I gave up on this as it was quite repetative, which in turn made it quite dull. It would be useful for a school or history project, but as someone who enjoys reading history stictly for recreational purposes, it just didn't engage me.
January 30, 2015
History beyond The Ripper
Fascinating look at what else was happening all over London in the year of The Ripper. Other crimes, poverty, politics, etc. I love to read about Victorian London and this book didn't disappoint!
Fascinating look at what else was happening all over London in the year of The Ripper. Other crimes, poverty, politics, etc. I love to read about Victorian London and this book didn't disappoint!
February 21, 2018
A fascinating work of criminal history. stabley takes an approach that nobody has ever thought to take previously and does it amazingly well.
1888 was a year that was made infamous by the work of Jack the Ripper the faceless killer who infamously terrorised the entire city of London and has engrossed generations of people over 120 years and multiple continents. Stabley all but ignores the killings, except for a brief description on the killings, instead he fixates on the grim and depressing litany of murders, manslaughter, domestic abuse and homicidal post natal depression. The stories are universally depressing and lack the glamour that has accrued around the Ripper case, they also lack the prior research from writers.
This is an ingenious decision as Ripperology has long since absorbed all the known facts and as somebody once observed that all we remain to discover is the favourite food of the victims and perhaps their shoe size. The killer remains a fascinating void who can be appropriated for whichever cause authors which to espouse. Here, though we are told about every "unnatural" death in the city of London in that year. The single most horrifying statistic is dealt with in the first chapter. The Ripper (whoever he was) accounted for 20 25% of the wilful murders in the city that year. It comes down to whether or not you hold Martha Tabram was a Ripper victim or not.
The style is lively and the research commendable. This is a surprisingly light read given the grim nature of the subject and well worth the effort of reading.
1888 was a year that was made infamous by the work of Jack the Ripper the faceless killer who infamously terrorised the entire city of London and has engrossed generations of people over 120 years and multiple continents. Stabley all but ignores the killings, except for a brief description on the killings, instead he fixates on the grim and depressing litany of murders, manslaughter, domestic abuse and homicidal post natal depression. The stories are universally depressing and lack the glamour that has accrued around the Ripper case, they also lack the prior research from writers.
This is an ingenious decision as Ripperology has long since absorbed all the known facts and as somebody once observed that all we remain to discover is the favourite food of the victims and perhaps their shoe size. The killer remains a fascinating void who can be appropriated for whichever cause authors which to espouse. Here, though we are told about every "unnatural" death in the city of London in that year. The single most horrifying statistic is dealt with in the first chapter. The Ripper (whoever he was) accounted for 20 25% of the wilful murders in the city that year. It comes down to whether or not you hold Martha Tabram was a Ripper victim or not.
The style is lively and the research commendable. This is a surprisingly light read given the grim nature of the subject and well worth the effort of reading.
February 18, 2025
I enjoyed this book and see is it as a social commentary on how poorly women were treated in 1888, as well as how those women treated others including children. It gives a good description of the squalor and extensive poverty existing in the east end of London with high drunkenness, gangs, unemployment, and family life or the lack thereof. It does not center on Jack the Ripper as much as what was going on during that period. When you look at 1888 life in the east end, Jack the Ripper is not completely out of character, although gruesome. Very interesting and enlightening.
November 14, 2018
Glad I've finished!
I began this book thinking that would be a chapter(at least) on Jack the ripper, there wasn't.
I found it to be very random with its information quickly swapping to other stories throughout the book.
At many points i found myself thinking 'move on to a new book. I got through half way and decided to finish and to be honest I'm glad it's finally finished and I wouldn't recommend this book.
I ended thankful it's finished and very dissapointed.
I began this book thinking that would be a chapter(at least) on Jack the ripper, there wasn't.
I found it to be very random with its information quickly swapping to other stories throughout the book.
At many points i found myself thinking 'move on to a new book. I got through half way and decided to finish and to be honest I'm glad it's finally finished and I wouldn't recommend this book.
I ended thankful it's finished and very dissapointed.
December 28, 2025
A readable overview of London's murders and manslaughters that have been (obviously) overshadowed by the splashier crimes of Saucy Jack, many of the accounts here are brief ones and after a while, they tend to blur into one but this is still valuable social history that sets the Ripper killings in context and also says a lot about attitudes to issues like domestic violence, drunkenness and infant mortality.
February 12, 2018
Great overview of the murder situation in Victorian London in the year of the Ripper Murders - I found the statistics at the back of the book of murders in the 10 years surrounding the infamous year very interesting. More men murdered in England each year over all, but almost every year there was a higher rate of murders for women per capita then men in the city.
July 8, 2019
Repetitive and kind of boring for a book that's supposed to be about murder. It was interesting as far as what life was like in London in 1888, but it was pretty bland overall. A tough read to get through.
August 26, 2019
This was a fascinating look into crime in 1888. Although most people associate the year with Jack the Ripper the author delves into other crimes in Victorian London and gives an insight into life, death and poverty in the capital city. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read.
August 31, 2019
Interesting book
1888 is forever know as the year of the Ripper. But what this book shows is all the other different crimes and social upheaval that was ghastly going on at the same time. Well researched good read.
1888 is forever know as the year of the Ripper. But what this book shows is all the other different crimes and social upheaval that was ghastly going on at the same time. Well researched good read.
November 10, 2019
Very Gruesome
Not my Style of book. It was a well researched with many many references. However I am not a fan of a constant stream of murders rapes and the like. For those that enjoy that kind of reading it is a very good book
Not my Style of book. It was a well researched with many many references. However I am not a fan of a constant stream of murders rapes and the like. For those that enjoy that kind of reading it is a very good book
December 13, 2017
An informative and well written book. Each case is examined in detail and fitted into the broader context of the time well.
December 13, 2017
Really interesting to find out about life and death in 1888. It does seem that many causes of death were similar and the police force was definitely improving!
February 6, 2018
Interesting. Gave a real snapshot of life in the 1800s.
September 17, 2018
The author knows how to keep you reading chapter after chapter this book opened my eyes how hard it really was on the street of London in the reign of queen Victoria
July 24, 2019
Surprisingly few of the crimes in here were actually murder. Mostly manslaughter charges and many acquittals. Still interesting though.
April 13, 2020
Really enjoyed this book. I'm not one for long reviews.
October 14, 2022
A well written and fascinating read on what else happened in and around London during the year of the Ripper 👍
March 29, 2013
Jack the Ripper casts such a heavy shadow over 1888 that even we criminologists tend to lose some objectivity about the "year of the Ripper," to forget that the great metropolis of London saw more than just the five (or six) deaths attributed to Jack the Ripper. What Peter Stubley does in 1888: London Murders in the Year of the Ripper is take a close and perceptive look at the other poor souls who met their demise that year. Although he starts the book with 1 January 1888 and ends it with 31 December 1888, he does not follow a strictly chronological pattern; instead he tackles the murder (or manslaughter)cases by the general theme under which they fall, such as prostitution, domestic violence, gangs, poverty, the Metropolitan Police, and geography. Doing so is a stroke of genius that allows him to minutely examine every facet of London and the people who called it home, whether they lived there by choice or just could not escape.
Although Jack the Ripper operated in the East End, he reminds us that its dread reputation was not created by the Ripper: "Even before Jack the Ripper, that stretch of city beyond the Tower of London already had its own mythology. That area encompassing Whitechapel, Spitalfields, Ratcliffe and the docks resembled some black hole sucking in every beggar, whore and crook, corrupting all it touched and threatening the destruction of respectable society." But, of course, crime was not all confined to the dark heart of London's East End, and he brings in the other areas of the city, as well as the various suburbs.
Mr Stubley excels at not only making the victims and murderers achingly human but in giving them their voices, still vibrant after more than 120 years. He does so by relying extensively on primary documents, the actual transcripts and statements of the time. While he does at times explain, interpret and extrapolate from the statements, he only does so when necessary, and seems content to let the Londoners speak for themselves as he examines specific cases.
He's also quick to let us know that, murders and violence of all kinds aside, London of 1888 was an inherently dangerous place. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the chapter entitled "Policing the Metropolis," in which he details the activities of the Metropolitan Police (Scotland Yard) with regards to investigating murders and suppressing crime. Police Constable Michael Lewis, who was 48 years old in 1888 and a twenty-year veteran of the force, was just one of 68 Met officers who died that year...and yet he was the only one to die of inflicted violence; of the other 67, most died from typhoid fever, pneumonia, bronchitis, diphtheria and other common (though now rare) diseases, while one accidentally drowned and another committed suicide by hanging.
As he reaches the end of the book his writing reaches evocative heights, attaining such poignancy and power as I have rarely encountered in an historical volume. His description of the coming of night on the final day of the Year of the Ripper is sheer poetry. And it is toward the end of the book that he draws together all the crime, all the cases, all the lives lost, all the brightness and darkness of the times, and asserts its relevancy in our own dark age:
"Revisiting London in 1888 has revealed some similarities to the present day. Again capitalism is in crisis. The city is labouring through an economic depression and has been visited by riots, strikes, and occupations of public places. Our head of state is an elderly Queen who has just celebrated a jubilee. The government is again led by an Old Etonian Conservative. The police force is under pressure, morale is low and a commissioner has been forced to resign...Just as in 1888, when some feared the spectre of revolution, it is difficult to predict what will happen next. Hopefully we will not have to face our own Jack the Ripper."
After the conclusion of the book, Mr Stubley includes statistics for cases of murder and manslaughter in London for 1888 and the surrounding years. He lists the victims in solved and unsolved cases, as well as the chapters in the book in which they appear. He also includes a full bibliography of primary and secondary sources, and notes for all references in the text. If there is a flaw in Mr Stubley's otherwise excellent effort it is in the lack of an index, surely a necessity for any reference volume. Still, this book will be a valuable addition to both my extensive collection of books about London, and my criminology reference library.
Although Jack the Ripper operated in the East End, he reminds us that its dread reputation was not created by the Ripper: "Even before Jack the Ripper, that stretch of city beyond the Tower of London already had its own mythology. That area encompassing Whitechapel, Spitalfields, Ratcliffe and the docks resembled some black hole sucking in every beggar, whore and crook, corrupting all it touched and threatening the destruction of respectable society." But, of course, crime was not all confined to the dark heart of London's East End, and he brings in the other areas of the city, as well as the various suburbs.
Mr Stubley excels at not only making the victims and murderers achingly human but in giving them their voices, still vibrant after more than 120 years. He does so by relying extensively on primary documents, the actual transcripts and statements of the time. While he does at times explain, interpret and extrapolate from the statements, he only does so when necessary, and seems content to let the Londoners speak for themselves as he examines specific cases.
He's also quick to let us know that, murders and violence of all kinds aside, London of 1888 was an inherently dangerous place. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the chapter entitled "Policing the Metropolis," in which he details the activities of the Metropolitan Police (Scotland Yard) with regards to investigating murders and suppressing crime. Police Constable Michael Lewis, who was 48 years old in 1888 and a twenty-year veteran of the force, was just one of 68 Met officers who died that year...and yet he was the only one to die of inflicted violence; of the other 67, most died from typhoid fever, pneumonia, bronchitis, diphtheria and other common (though now rare) diseases, while one accidentally drowned and another committed suicide by hanging.
As he reaches the end of the book his writing reaches evocative heights, attaining such poignancy and power as I have rarely encountered in an historical volume. His description of the coming of night on the final day of the Year of the Ripper is sheer poetry. And it is toward the end of the book that he draws together all the crime, all the cases, all the lives lost, all the brightness and darkness of the times, and asserts its relevancy in our own dark age:
"Revisiting London in 1888 has revealed some similarities to the present day. Again capitalism is in crisis. The city is labouring through an economic depression and has been visited by riots, strikes, and occupations of public places. Our head of state is an elderly Queen who has just celebrated a jubilee. The government is again led by an Old Etonian Conservative. The police force is under pressure, morale is low and a commissioner has been forced to resign...Just as in 1888, when some feared the spectre of revolution, it is difficult to predict what will happen next. Hopefully we will not have to face our own Jack the Ripper."
After the conclusion of the book, Mr Stubley includes statistics for cases of murder and manslaughter in London for 1888 and the surrounding years. He lists the victims in solved and unsolved cases, as well as the chapters in the book in which they appear. He also includes a full bibliography of primary and secondary sources, and notes for all references in the text. If there is a flaw in Mr Stubley's otherwise excellent effort it is in the lack of an index, surely a necessity for any reference volume. Still, this book will be a valuable addition to both my extensive collection of books about London, and my criminology reference library.
May 3, 2016
1888 is a year that entered history for all the wrong reasons - the Autumn of Terror was the time the unidentified serial killer known as Jack the Ripper stalked the streets of London. But these were not the only crimes in what was then the capital of the British Empire, and the primary trading port of the world.
This fascinating book recounts a whole year of killings; some were done in pitiful desperation, some for the usual reasons - greed or love, some were done on the spur of the moment, some were done in madness but all were tragic in their own way. In part this is a social commentary - almost all the killers and the majority of the victims were poor. This was a time without many rights for women or children, domestic violence was very common, families were often large and money was scarce. In, what was arguably, the most civilised city on Earth, life was cheap and crime was rife.
Most of these tragic tales are little known - forgotten by time, and overshadowed by the Ripper's crimes. This is the first time I have seen some of these outlined, and I read a lot of true crime. The author deals with the subject sympathetically, non-judgementally and references particular articles, laws, biographies etc. It's obvious a lot of research was done to select these accounts and to present them accurately, and in the context of the time. In the case of the Ripper, the author does not speculate on a possible perpetrator, as many crime writers do, he simply presents the facts and states that no one was ever identified as Jack the Ripper.
Overall I'd recommend this to readers of Victorian history, true crime, British history and those interested in the social commentary of the time.
This fascinating book recounts a whole year of killings; some were done in pitiful desperation, some for the usual reasons - greed or love, some were done on the spur of the moment, some were done in madness but all were tragic in their own way. In part this is a social commentary - almost all the killers and the majority of the victims were poor. This was a time without many rights for women or children, domestic violence was very common, families were often large and money was scarce. In, what was arguably, the most civilised city on Earth, life was cheap and crime was rife.
Most of these tragic tales are little known - forgotten by time, and overshadowed by the Ripper's crimes. This is the first time I have seen some of these outlined, and I read a lot of true crime. The author deals with the subject sympathetically, non-judgementally and references particular articles, laws, biographies etc. It's obvious a lot of research was done to select these accounts and to present them accurately, and in the context of the time. In the case of the Ripper, the author does not speculate on a possible perpetrator, as many crime writers do, he simply presents the facts and states that no one was ever identified as Jack the Ripper.
Overall I'd recommend this to readers of Victorian history, true crime, British history and those interested in the social commentary of the time.
February 4, 2014
I have never understood the appeal of the Jack the Ripper industry. Why invest a series of squalid and horrible crimes against women with a sort of nostalgic gaslight glow?
Here is a book which sets the whole business in context. By concentrating on the other murders of 1888 - commonplace, unexciting, sad and often unresolved affairs - we get a detailed picture of a real world, strikingly similar to our own. No attempt is made to sensationalise the crimes. It's an inspired concept. The book also offers an insight into the Victorian legal system and its often surprisingly generous treatment of the accused.
This is a compelling and deeply human study, that engages with human nature in a way that is rare in 'true crime' books. Its 'analysis' of the data is handled with a light touch: it is no sociological essay. It allows its many voices to speak for themselves, which is a great part of its success.
Here is a book which sets the whole business in context. By concentrating on the other murders of 1888 - commonplace, unexciting, sad and often unresolved affairs - we get a detailed picture of a real world, strikingly similar to our own. No attempt is made to sensationalise the crimes. It's an inspired concept. The book also offers an insight into the Victorian legal system and its often surprisingly generous treatment of the accused.
This is a compelling and deeply human study, that engages with human nature in a way that is rare in 'true crime' books. Its 'analysis' of the data is handled with a light touch: it is no sociological essay. It allows its many voices to speak for themselves, which is a great part of its success.
July 7, 2015
Peter Stubley's book is about London murders in the year of the Ripper. It shows, that most killers are not shadowy figures stalking the streets with a lust for blood, many are ordinary citiziens driven to the crime by circumstances. This book examines all the known murders in London in 1888.
It describes who the victims are, how they lived and how they die.
Well it wasn't that interesting at all I have to admit. Because most of the crimes were yeah as mentioned, more "ordinary" ( ok this sounds weird but it's the kind of why batter a husband his wife to death after she failed to get him a cup of tea - and as sad as it is of course, well not soo worth reading at the end).
But it wasn't totaly boring, so three out of five.
It describes who the victims are, how they lived and how they die.
Well it wasn't that interesting at all I have to admit. Because most of the crimes were yeah as mentioned, more "ordinary" ( ok this sounds weird but it's the kind of why batter a husband his wife to death after she failed to get him a cup of tea - and as sad as it is of course, well not soo worth reading at the end).
But it wasn't totaly boring, so three out of five.
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