Famous Trials 10 is a compilation volume of four essays selected from earlier volumes of the Penguin Famous Trials series which were no longer available in 1964. Those written on the accused murderers Madeline Smith, Oscar Slater, and Hawley Harvey Crippen were taken from the first book in the series, while the essay discussing the case of Buck Ruxton had first featured in Famous Trials III. Every case featured in the series had in turn been taken from Harry Hodge's Notable British Trials series*, with the Penguin essays abridged versions of the originals. Despite the name of the series, the trial is not always the main subject of these essays, and notoriety does not appear to be the only reason for their inclusion: while each case caused a sensation in its day, they all also feature some novel aspect of additional interest. Continued