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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
Oh, this was a fascinating read. Summerscale provides a wonderful lens into the world of Victorian London, its court system, and its treatment of a teenage boy deemed insane. The story seems straightforward, but took surprising twists and turns that kept me unable to put the book down - and the end left me perfectly satisfied.
Read this for class. This was fine, very detailed nonfiction. I’m not really into true crime or Victorian literature, so this wasn’t for me, but I could still tell it was well researched.
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
The principal story at the core of this book is interesting BUT the writer goes off topic at so many different points I lost the thread of what this book was about Especially when the arthor started to detail other inmates & lives of guards of Broadmoor. While the tales where interesting I started to wonder who the book was about and why these stories weren't in a separate about book about Broadmoor. Same goes for the wartime stories & more that went far beyond Robert & general context. This book could use a strong editor because there is a interesting tale of a life of a boy who grew into a interesting man. I learned more in the final chapter with greater emotion in a quick summation the arthor made then 10 chapters of time wasting. It's such a shame
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Murder, War, Classism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Violence
There were many times while reading this that I felt like details could have been captured with fewer words; however, after finishing, I'm grateful for all of the research Summerscale conducted and how factual and thorough her writing is.
Furthermore, I found myself waiting for THE WICKED BOY to conclude that bad people are bad and good people are good, but the surprise, deeply human epilogue slapped me in the face with my own prejudices.
THE WICKED BOY demonstrates the nuance and beauty of brave, well-conducted research. The facts speak volumes and led me to feel unexpected emotions.
Furthermore, I found myself waiting for THE WICKED BOY to conclude that bad people are bad and good people are good, but the surprise, deeply human epilogue slapped me in the face with my own prejudices.
THE WICKED BOY demonstrates the nuance and beauty of brave, well-conducted research. The facts speak volumes and led me to feel unexpected emotions.
A combination of my non-fiction interests: true crime, Victorian history, murder, child murderers, the life of working people, mental health, punishment, rehabilitation.
So! The mystery is not what happened. The mystery is why. In 1895, Robert Coombes, age 13, murdered his mother; left her rotting body in her bedroom; and he and his younger brother, age 12, did what two boys on their own would do. Go watch some sports events, play, pawn a few things to get more money. Family members and neighbors were suspicious, and when they came and smelled something and found the body, Robert pretty much confessed right away.
The mystery is why: and in looking at why, Summerscale looks at both Robert's family but also the times he lived in. His trial, and what happened after.
It was both surprising and actually a bit hopeful. The primary documents answer some questions and leave others unpursued, so it's to the reader and the author to connect the dots and make some guesses. Part of my surprise was, well, how sympathetic some people were; and how rehabilitation mattered as much as punishment.
Definitely recommended.
So! The mystery is not what happened. The mystery is why. In 1895, Robert Coombes, age 13, murdered his mother; left her rotting body in her bedroom; and he and his younger brother, age 12, did what two boys on their own would do. Go watch some sports events, play, pawn a few things to get more money. Family members and neighbors were suspicious, and when they came and smelled something and found the body, Robert pretty much confessed right away.
The mystery is why: and in looking at why, Summerscale looks at both Robert's family but also the times he lived in. His trial, and what happened after.
It was both surprising and actually a bit hopeful. The primary documents answer some questions and leave others unpursued, so it's to the reader and the author to connect the dots and make some guesses. Part of my surprise was, well, how sympathetic some people were; and how rehabilitation mattered as much as punishment.
Definitely recommended.
dark
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
An intriguing and promising premised that, for reasons I can't quite place my finger on (perhaps because there is little 'who done it" to be found) it didn't catch my imagination. The research is admirable but the narrative-ness that Ms. Summerscale employed to great success in The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher is just not present here and, as a result, it all falls a bit flat.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Having read The Suspicions of Mr Whicher a few years ago, I expected this to be good and Summerscale did not disappoint. A detailed account of a shocking and gruesome matricide commited by a 13 year old boy, supposedly spured-on by his 12 year old brother, the days that followed, and the gripping aftermath.
It's a sensational story peppered with snapshots of history. It was fascinating to read about how keen the press and the public were to pin the blame on "penny dreadfuls" warping the mind of the youth and ruining literature in general.
The narrative reads like a police report - devoid of emotional bias and strictly facts backed by multiple sources. It gives the story an accurate unfolding day by day, but leaves a frustrating sense of mystery throughout. Apart from the odd theory offered by Summerscale, there isn't much to go on concerning the boys' personalities or motives.
It's a sensational story peppered with snapshots of history. It was fascinating to read about how keen the press and the public were to pin the blame on "penny dreadfuls" warping the mind of the youth and ruining literature in general.
The narrative reads like a police report - devoid of emotional bias and strictly facts backed by multiple sources. It gives the story an accurate unfolding day by day, but leaves a frustrating sense of mystery throughout. Apart from the odd theory offered by Summerscale, there isn't much to go on concerning the boys' personalities or motives.