tlholmes's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

Women’s history, non fiction 

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krisha's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

5.0


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thinkingcatss's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0


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caribbeangirlreading's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative medium-paced

4.0


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gabriella_brown's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

This book is a beautifully written and angry exploration of the lives of the women murdered by Jack the Ripper. It de-bunks common misconceptions about the victims and gives an intelligent insight into their experiences as working class women in Victorian London.

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tiernanhunter's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced

5.0


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librarymouse's review against another edition

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challenging informative sad medium-paced

4.5

This is a sincere and well-researched account of the lives of the five women killed by Jack the ripper. Hallie Rubenhold ensures their legacies with her diligent research and her focus on the lives of the women, over their gruesome and mythologized deaths. In contextualizing the sexual climate of the Victorian era, Rubenhold offers a vivid image of the nuanced worlds these women lived in, often so different from the straight laced Victorian England canonized today.

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oceanwriter's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

4.0

Behind Jack the Ripper is the lives of his victims. Given the illusiveness of this particular killer, the women he slayed tend to be swept aside. This book gives them a voice.

Each section of the book discusses each woman: Polly, Annie, Elisabeth, Kate, and Mary Jane. We learn about their lives leading up to their murders rather than the murder themselves. Along with the story of their lives, the author provides a detailed history of life in England at the time. 

I was initially surprised by the fact Jack the Ripper was hardly mentioned, but I think I ultimately enjoyed the book more because of it. It was incredibly insightful and put a lot of things in perspective. I will say that this was about 60% general history and 40% the five women. While interesting, this did cause the narration to drag at times. It’s worth wading through the slow bits. There is a lot to take in. 

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pedanther's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

4.5


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nieva098's review against another edition

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emotional informative sad medium-paced

4.0


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