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tomleetang's review against another edition
4.0
Is this a good book? It's certainly a good political statement, putting the victims before the killer, recognising Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly as individuals with unique attributes as well as women of their time. But is it a good book?
I was expecting The Five to be nothing more than a topical premise, designed to fit neatly (and profitably) with the zeitgeist. Yes, that was probably a bit cynical, and I'm always delighted to have my cynicism proved wrong.
The Victorian age is one that has been well pored over, but Rubenhold uses her canonical five as a prism through which to provide a fresh perspective. We explore the lives of the titular quintet from cradle to grave, experiencing not just their own lives, but also those of their parents, siblings, husbands and children. What emerges is a fascinating, detailed look at the struggles faced by the Victorian working class, and particularly working class women, whether as housemaids or tin workers, beleaguered wives or Swedish immigrants. Just as importantly, Rubenhold gives back Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly their individuality, turning each life inside out to reveal each woman's challenges, passions and quirks, and thereby transforming them back from mere names into flesh-and-blood humans.
I was expecting The Five to be nothing more than a topical premise, designed to fit neatly (and profitably) with the zeitgeist. Yes, that was probably a bit cynical, and I'm always delighted to have my cynicism proved wrong.
The Victorian age is one that has been well pored over, but Rubenhold uses her canonical five as a prism through which to provide a fresh perspective. We explore the lives of the titular quintet from cradle to grave, experiencing not just their own lives, but also those of their parents, siblings, husbands and children. What emerges is a fascinating, detailed look at the struggles faced by the Victorian working class, and particularly working class women, whether as housemaids or tin workers, beleaguered wives or Swedish immigrants. Just as importantly, Rubenhold gives back Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly their individuality, turning each life inside out to reveal each woman's challenges, passions and quirks, and thereby transforming them back from mere names into flesh-and-blood humans.
pandin's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Sexism, Violence, Stalking, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture
mollbrownlee's review against another edition
4.0
*4.5
Conclusion:
There is no concrete evidence to suggest that 3/5 of these women ever engaged in prostitution, so labelling Jack the Ripper the prostitute killer is a dishonour to their memories.
Polly -
Polly originally lived with her brother and father fairly comfortably in the slums of London. She married at a young age and had a number of children. But her husband, William, began to see another lady and Polly was forced out. She began taking up with other men.
Annie -
Annie's childhood was bleak. Many of her siblings died from contracting scarlet fever but later in life had a very nice set up for married life. She married a high ranking coach man and had a two lovely daughters. But she was an alcoholic who was forced to leave her family house. Her family - sisters and brother- tried to help out but she did not improve herself.
Elizabeth-
Elizabeth was born in Sweden but moved to England with a wealthy family as a maid. She married a man almost twice her age called John. They ended up separating- maybe due to her inability to produce any children as she had a run in with STI's after her time soliciting. She was also partial to the drink and dubbed a lady called Mrs Malcom into giving her money for it. Mrs Malcom was old and hard of sight and believed Elizabeth to be her long lost sister.
Kate-
Kate was born in Wolverhampton and when her family moved to London they faced many hardships including her mother and father both passing away. She was moved back to Wolverhampton with her family where she met her future 'husband' Conway. They travelled a lot and ended up having a number of children. But Kate was partial to the drink and it often lead to her family, sisters inarticulately, cutting her off. Her own daughter, Annie, eventually cuts her of to.
Mary Jane -
We do not have much evidence on Mary Janes previous life before she came to London but it is believed she was of a high education working in some of the Middle Class brothels. She was tricked into prostitution in Paris and it is unclear how she escaped and came back to London. She was killed in her own bed
Conclusion:
There is no concrete evidence to suggest that 3/5 of these women ever engaged in prostitution, so labelling Jack the Ripper the prostitute killer is a dishonour to their memories.
Polly -
Polly originally lived with her brother and father fairly comfortably in the slums of London. She married at a young age and had a number of children. But her husband, William, began to see another lady and Polly was forced out. She began taking up with other men.
Annie -
Annie's childhood was bleak. Many of her siblings died from contracting scarlet fever but later in life had a very nice set up for married life. She married a high ranking coach man and had a two lovely daughters. But she was an alcoholic who was forced to leave her family house. Her family - sisters and brother- tried to help out but she did not improve herself.
Elizabeth-
Elizabeth was born in Sweden but moved to England with a wealthy family as a maid. She married a man almost twice her age called John. They ended up separating- maybe due to her inability to produce any children as she had a run in with STI's after her time soliciting. She was also partial to the drink and dubbed a lady called Mrs Malcom into giving her money for it. Mrs Malcom was old and hard of sight and believed Elizabeth to be her long lost sister.
Kate-
Kate was born in Wolverhampton and when her family moved to London they faced many hardships including her mother and father both passing away. She was moved back to Wolverhampton with her family where she met her future 'husband' Conway. They travelled a lot and ended up having a number of children. But Kate was partial to the drink and it often lead to her family, sisters inarticulately, cutting her off. Her own daughter, Annie, eventually cuts her of to.
Mary Jane -
We do not have much evidence on Mary Janes previous life before she came to London but it is believed she was of a high education working in some of the Middle Class brothels. She was tricked into prostitution in Paris and it is unclear how she escaped and came back to London. She was killed in her own bed
elisenoga's review against another edition
challenging
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.5
iancarpenter's review against another edition
DNF. Meticulously researched. As someone who's not a Ripper nut there's something in the very educated guess work for Rubenhold's work here that just separated me from the material. There's a lot of "Polly probably did" "might have" etc. I think for anyone immersed in the material this would be necessary reading and a refreshing focus on the facts of the day.
ashleywhitereads's review against another edition
3.0
While I found this book to be a little slow, I do recognize why it's important that it exists.