Author: Michael Rogers
Wednesday, 18 November 1998 - 11:48 pm |        |
| A top-notch volume that is indeed a complete history of the case. It's most important contribution to the study is a lengthy and detailed chapter on Aaron Kosminski and his detainment in the Colney Hatch Lunatic Asylum. Sugden asserts that the dates of Kosminski incarceration there and the length of his life as stated in the Swanson marginalia were incorrect. Sugden suggests that Kosminki did not "die shortly afterwards" as Swanson reported, but lived for another 28 years and that he was admitted in 1891, not 1889. The book also contains may good, clear photos, making it a solid overall study of the case. |
Author: OdetoPoe
Wednesday, 18 November 1998 - 11:49 pm | |
I finally got finished with "The Complete History of Jack The Ripper".
I feel all salutes must go out to Philip Sugden for his work found within the pages. Truly remarkable stuff. Confusing and exhausting at times. No matter the case, his book should be respected as a great reference and beginning point for any 'Ripperologist'! |
Author: Simon Naji
Wednesday, 18 November 1998 - 11:49 pm | |
| I am currently reading Sugden's book, and must say I am really impressed with his meticulous and scholarly approach. Almost all of his assertions are supported by contemporaneous evidence, or rational and reasonable inferences therefrom. Of course, the inevitable effect of this is that when he makes an assertion that appears to be less well supported, is is much less convincing. An example of this concerns 29 Hanbury Street. I have always (which in my case amounts to about two weeks!) thought this location to be odd. With the exception of Mitre Square, the anomaly of which case can be explained in one of two well rehearsed ways, the murder sites make sense - i.e. prostitutes choosing quiet/secluded sites in which to transact and/or the murderer having similar locations as pre-requisites for his intentions. However, if the Chapman murder did indeed take place at around 5.30 a.m., and Sugden argues that very convincingly, the backyard of 29 Hanbury Street seems an extraordinary choice for either prostitute or killer on the basis that it would be private. It really could not expected to be so at that time of day, and was not. Sugden claims that it was frequented by prostitutes and their clients, but he seems to base this on witness testimony that strangers had been seen previously in the passage or stairs (which could probably be said of any premises at that time). He does not seem to have any testimony that it was a site commonly used by prostitutes. If that can be shown, I still find it hard to believe that it would be so used at that time of day. If the site was not selected, by either participant, on the highly doubtful expectation of privacy, there must be some other explanation, and that possibility leads me to wonder whether this site has more significance than the others, and to ask you to what extent this has been pursued by subsequent investigators? |
Author: say
Wednesday, 20 October 1999 - 11:34 pm | |
| who was jack ripper please respond now |
Author: say
Wednesday, 20 October 1999 - 11:36 pm | |
| please tellme who he is please |
Author: John K.
Thursday, 21 October 1999 - 01:40 am | |
| If anyone really wants to know about the Ripper case, they should take the time to read Sugden's book. With a thoroughness that astounds me, he organizes and sifts through tons of information, ruthlessly seperates the solid evidence from the myths and theories, and makes it very clear what is really known about the killings and the killer. Instead of endorsing a pet suspect, Sugden shows why every existing suspect comes up short. To date, this is the definitive book on the subject. We may never know for sure who Jack was -- thanks to Mr. Sugden's extraordinary command of detail and investigative writing, we at least have a clearer idea of who we was not. |
Author: Stephen P. Ryder
Monday, 07 January 2002 - 04:27 pm | |
Just got the new edition of Sugden in the mail today... was a bit disappointed to see that the book looks almost entirely similar to the 1995 softcover edition. A random sampling of pages throughout the book finds the exact same text and pagination in both editions. This new edition is similar in all respects, though it lacks the "Addendum to the Second Edition" provided in the 1995 softcover. As far as I can tell, the only new information in the 2002 edition is a paragraph of extra acknowledgments in the beginning.
Will take a more careful read through it this evening.... |
Author: Stephen P. Ryder
Monday, 07 January 2002 - 05:19 pm | |
| On closer inspection the Introduction to the book does appear to be completely new... Sugden discusses some of the more recent books and findings, including Tumblety, more on Emma Smith, George Chapman and R. Michael Gordon's book, etc. I also note that a handful of footnotes appear to have been revised with new information. |
Author: graziano
Tuesday, 08 January 2002 - 12:17 pm | |
Is some of the information coming from the posts produced by the boarders on this Casebook ?
It would be nice. |
Author: Nick B
Thursday, 07 February 2002 - 07:14 am | |
| Im about 1/4 the way through the book now. It's a good book, I have many on the subject and this is defenately one of the best. |
Author: Esther Wilson
Friday, 15 November 2002 - 09:00 am | |
I just ordered this book yesterday and am very excited to get it. I am glad that I found this section of posts so that I could read everyone's opinions of this title. Has anyone else anything to add since this thread last appeared? I would be very interested in reading them. Thanks a bunch! 
Esther |
