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"In 1856, a baying crowd of over 30,000 people gathered outside Stafford prison to watch the hanging of Dr. William Palmer, "the greatest villain that ever stood in the Old Bailey" as Charles Dickens once called him. Palmer was convicted of poisoning and suspected in the murders of dozens of others, including his best friend, his wife, and his mother-in-law--and cashing in on their insurance to fuel his worsening gambling addiction. Highlighting his gruesome penchant for strychnine, the trial made news across both the Old World and the New. Palmer gripped readers not only in Britain--Queen Victoria wrote of "that horrible Palmer" in her journal--but also was a different sort of murderer than the public had come to fear--respectable, middle class, personable--and consequently more terrifying. But as the gallows door dropped, one question still gnawed at many who knew the case: Was Palmer truly guilty? The first major retelling of William Palmer's story in over sixty years, The Poisoner takes a fresh look at the infamous doctor's life and disputed crimes. Using previously undiscovered letters from Palmer and new forensic examination of his victims, journalist Stephen Bates presents not only an astonishing and controversial revision of Palmer's life but takes the reader into the very psyche of a killer"--… (plus d'informations)
Overall not bad. The main impression I have come away with was that the author researched the crap outta the subject material... But I also feel this book could have done with some serious culling. I noticed several (largely inconsequential or non essential) factoids were repeated in different places. I almost wonder if there was simply too much detail included that didn't need to be, like intense descriptions of minutiae that have limited bearing on Palmer's case. There also seemed an overabundance of quotes, letters, and speeches. It got kind of exhausting after a while. On the flip side, there were some things about social context that were glossed over only very briefly, or changes in the legal code that were mentioned in passing - why didn't they get more exploration? I find that far more interesting than how the judges/lawyers looked physically.
I'm giving three stars because I thought it was well researched, but it got tiresome and I felt like I was slogging through it. I would tentatively recommend it, but don't be surprised if you start skimming across some paragraphs. Fly my little pebble, fly! ( )
Less a book about a murderer than a potted social history of England in the 1850s. The basics of the story are already well-known - William Palmer, surgeon by profession but an (unsuccessful) professional gambler by avocation was tried and executed in Stafford after the suspicious death of his friend John Cook, allegedly by strychnine (none was found in his body). Along way he was also accused of the murder of his mother in law, several of his children and two of his brothers. Palmer stubbornly protested his innocence to the end, and the simple fact is, regardless of his guilt or otherwise, he should never have convicted as the case was clearly not beyond reasonable doubt. Around this story Bates weaves a picture of England in transition into modernity, from the increasing spread of railways, to tabloid journalism and the national obsession with crime, to gradual breaking down of social barriers, and the increasing mass appeal of sport. In fact, only about half the book actually deals with Palmer's crimes. Fascinating and well-written regardless of whether your interest if brutal crime or social history ( )
Much as I usually enjoy historical true crime books, I'm beginning to feel that they reached their apotheosis with The Suspicions of Mr Whicher and the genre is now being overloaded. Stephen Bates' research into the case of the Victorian poisoner, Doctor William Palmer, could not be more thorough. For me, it was rather too thorough, especially when it came to the stream of so-called experts on the effects of Strychnine and other poisons. The most interesting aspects of the book are the accounts of the newspaper reports (if we think the modern day press is intrusive it's got nothing on the Victorians) and how fascinated the great British public were in the case. ( )
Informations provenant du Partage des connaissances anglais.Modifiez pour passer à votre langue.
For James Meikle, who enjoys a good murder...
Premiers mots
Informations provenant du Partage des connaissances anglais.Modifiez pour passer à votre langue.
The night had been unseasonably cold and wet for June, but hour after hour the tramp of boots and clogs and the grind and clatter of iron-rimmed wheels could be heard down the country lanes and village streets of the Midlands.
Citations
Informations provenant du Partage des connaissances anglais.Modifiez pour passer à votre langue.
If gentlemen would associate with gentlemen and race with gentlemen, we should have no such practices. But if gentlemen will condescend to race with blackguards, they must expect to be cheated. - Judge Baron Alderson
Staffordshire. The Jurors for Our Lady the Queen upon their oath present that William Palmer late of the Parish of Rugeley in the County of Stafford Surgeon not having the fear of God before his eyes but being moved and seduced at the instigation of the Devil on the 21st day of November in the year of our Lord 1855 with force and arms at the parish afsd in the County aforesaid feloniously wilfully & of his malice aforethought did kill and murder one John Parsons Cook Against the Peace of Our Lady the Queen Her Crown and Dignity.
If you feel a deadly sensation within and grow gradually weaker, how do you know that you are not poisoned? If your hands tingle, do you not fancy that it is arsenic? How can you be sure that it is not? Your household perhaps is a "Well-regulated family"; your friends and relations all smile kindly upon you; the meal at each period of the day is punctual and looks correct; but how can you possibly tell that there is not arsenic in the curry?
Derniers mots
Informations provenant du Partage des connaissances anglais.Modifiez pour passer à votre langue.
"Poor Doctor Palmer," she sighed. "He was such a tall, handsome man you know, with such rosy cheeks. Some say he poisoned his wife and other people, but I don't know."
"In 1856, a baying crowd of over 30,000 people gathered outside Stafford prison to watch the hanging of Dr. William Palmer, "the greatest villain that ever stood in the Old Bailey" as Charles Dickens once called him. Palmer was convicted of poisoning and suspected in the murders of dozens of others, including his best friend, his wife, and his mother-in-law--and cashing in on their insurance to fuel his worsening gambling addiction. Highlighting his gruesome penchant for strychnine, the trial made news across both the Old World and the New. Palmer gripped readers not only in Britain--Queen Victoria wrote of "that horrible Palmer" in her journal--but also was a different sort of murderer than the public had come to fear--respectable, middle class, personable--and consequently more terrifying. But as the gallows door dropped, one question still gnawed at many who knew the case: Was Palmer truly guilty? The first major retelling of William Palmer's story in over sixty years, The Poisoner takes a fresh look at the infamous doctor's life and disputed crimes. Using previously undiscovered letters from Palmer and new forensic examination of his victims, journalist Stephen Bates presents not only an astonishing and controversial revision of Palmer's life but takes the reader into the very psyche of a killer"--
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