A review by abbyfr
The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold

dark informative sad medium-paced

5.0

Hallie Rubenhold has single-handedly changed the narrative around one of the most famous historical figures, and we owe it to these women to hear their stories. Their lives were cut short by Jack the Ripper, but that is by far the least interesting thing about them. They were songwriters, business owners, victims of human trafficking, mothers, sisters, wives. The list goes on. Rubenhold has done the most wonderful job of weaving their lives together through fragments of documents and records, piecing together their fragile narratives that for so long have been cast aside. 

Is this book about history? Yes, but it’s also about feminism, classism, poverty, and how we as a society demonise certain groups to make their misery more palatable. 

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