The poisoner : the life and crimes of Victorian England's most notorious doctor / Stephen Bates.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bates, Stephen, 1954-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Palmer, William, 1824-1856.

Palmer, William.

Poisoners--Great Britain--Biography.

Poisoners.

Poisoning--Great Britain--Case studies.

Poisoning.

Serial murders--Great Britain--Case studies.

Serial murders.

Great Britain.

Genre:

Case studies.

Biographies.

Physical Description:

342 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

New York : Overlook Duckworth, 2014.

Summary:

"In 1856, a baying crowd of over 30,000 people gathered outside Stafford prison to watch the hanging of Dr. William Palmer, "the greatest villain that ever stood in the Old Bailey" as Charles Dickens once called him. Palmer was convicted of poisoning and suspected in the murders of dozens of others, including his best friend, his wife, and his mother-in-law--and cashing in on their insurance to fuel his worsening gambling addiction. Highlighting his gruesome penchant for strychnine, the trial made news across both the Old World and the New. Palmer gripped readers not only in Britain--Queen Victoria wrote of "that horrible Palmer" in her journal--but also was a different sort of murderer than the public had come to fear--respectable, middle class, personable--and consequently more terrifying. But as the gallows door dropped, one question still gnawed at many who knew the case: Was Palmer truly guilty? The first major retelling of William Palmer's story in over sixty years, The Poisoner takes a fresh look at the infamous doctor's life and disputed crimes. Using previously undiscovered letters from Palmer and new forensic examination of his victims, journalist Stephen Bates presents not only an astonishing and controversial revision of Palmer's life but takes the reader into the very psyche of a killer"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Stafford, 14 June 1856

"Oh doctor, I shall die!"

"They won't hang us yet"

"The great days of England"

"A thoroughly bad boy"

"If public rumour be worthy of credit"

"On, on! like the rushing whirlwind"

"The man is as silent as death"

"Dreadful reports current at Rugeley"

"History when properly written"

"As calmly as the question of the moon's rotation"

"Extraordinary disclosures of a most frightful character"

"The most memorable proceedings for the last 50 years"

"It was the riding that did it"

"In accordance with the voice of science and the feeling of the country"

"Are you sure this damn thing's safe?"

"Distinctly not quite composed"

"Poisoning is just not very popular these days".

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781468309119

1468309110

OCLC:

861069042