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The Case of Madeleine Smith (Treasury of Victorian Murder)
by
Rick Geary
A scandalous secret affair in 19th century Scotland between an upperclass woman and a gentleman of lower standing ends in his murder by poison...
Hardcover, 80 pages
Published
July 1st 2006
by NBM Publishing
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Set in mid-19th century Glasgow, Madeleine Smith, a well to do young woman, embarks on an affair with a young man of lower class. When she becomes engaged to a wealthy older man, she breaks off the affair. Afraid that the affair will come to light, its suggested, she kills her former lover by serving him hot chocolate laced with enough arsenic to fell 40 men. After his death she is arrested, tried, and found not guilty. She might have done it but then her former lover had a dramatic side and had...more
Set in mid-19th century Glasgow, Madeleine Smith, a well to do young woman, embarks on an affair with a young man of lower class. When she becomes engaged to a wealthy older man, she breaks off the affair. Afraid that the affair will come to light, its suggested, she kills her former lover by serving him hot chocolate laced with enough arsenic to fell 40 men. After his death she is arrested, tried, and found not guilty. She might have done it but then her former lover had a dramatic side and had...more
This particulary lurid tale comes to us from an era in which the kind of double-faced behavior of woman (and men!) was not so uncommon at all. This obscure series of events plays out before us in Rick Geary's trademark style and skill- giving us that half nosy newspaper style, and half cold hard facts and thoughts on the situation... in this case, the story twists and turns and leaves so many things that seem not to add up, it's very easy for the reader to get involved in making his or her own d...more
Mar 01, 2013
Jemidar
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
graphic-novels-comics,
history-biography
My interest in Madeleine Smith was first piqued years ago when I came across David Lean's 1950 movie 'Madeleine' on late night TV. I always meant to find out more about her and her life after the trial but as often happens my life got in the way and she remained mostly forgotten by me until recently. What renewed my interest in her story was that I found out Wilkie Collins' The Law and the Lady was inspired by Madeleine's court case and the unsatisfactory and peculiarly Scottish verdict of Not P...more
4 likes · like · see review
view all 18 comments
I had been putting off reading a graphic novel, but I found this one that didn't have super heroes or anime and it wasn't as painful as I had anticipated. This book covers the true story of Madeleine Smith, an aristocrat who has a love affair with a clerk. When the clerk dies of poisoning, she goes to trial. Interesting story and kids who like a good mystery will enjoy this. For me, the story was a little choppy. I felt like I was reading something from a crime scene rather that a story. This wa...more
1 like · like · see review
I recognize the artwork style of Rick Geary from the "Classics Illustrated" books I loved as a kid. This is the first I've read of his Treasury of Victorian Murder, and I really enjoyed it. Having never heard of Madeleine Smith, I loved that this was presented as a sort of true-crime unsolved mystery, with the evidence gathered from Ms. Smith's letters and the testimonies from her trial. Not terribly exciting, but a fun and interesting read nonetheless. I'll be seeking out more books in this ser...more
As always, Geary's artwork is top notch, but the material of this volume, the 8th in the "Victorian Murders" series, is a bit of weak tea (I find it interesting that Geary subsequently moved on to the "20th Century Murder"). The true story of Madeleine Smith, who poisoned her lover, is fine but less compelling then earlier subjects. Still, interesting for those who may not realize how convoluted the societal rules and expectations for relationships were in the late 1800's.
I saw the David Lean film about Madeleine Smith so I was excited to read Rick Geary's version of the story. Geary is definitely more sympathetic to Emile L'Anglier than Lean; Geary paints him as the crushed dismissed lover where Lean's Emile is far more rascally and conniving. As with all of the books in the Treasury of Victorian Murder, The Case of Madeline Smith is thoroughly entertaining and somewhat unnerving and extremely well illustrated and written.
This was the first of the Victorian comic mysteries I've read and it was interesting enough. I enjoy the fact that the book allows you to take the evidence that was present and come up with your own conclusion to the puzzle. In this case, while I'm still not certain if the accussed is guilty, I have a couple ideas of what may have actually happened. Good, quick read.
Rick Geary, it seems, has put together quite a number of these True Crime/ Unsolved Murder books. The stories, fascinating already, are very much helped by the static/ graven images which make up the art. Obviously researched in detail, this is another example of a quality book by NBM Publishing. I will indeed be ordering more from them!
I'm not sure what else I can say about this graphic novel series by Rick Geary. Again: good illustrations and excellent story telling. This is not my favorite in the series, but I was interesting and I knew nothing about Madeline Smith prior to reading this. I'll probably read more by Geary.
The animation is amazing; this guy was an illustrator for Heavy Metal and the National Lampoon movies! The actual story is pretty interesting, but it read like a case file. If the characters spoke, instead of the story being narrated, I would have given it 4 stars...
Out of the Rick Geary true crime comics I have read so far, this is probably my favorite. He cuts up the narrative in an interesting way that builds tension even though the reader already knows the outcome. Plus the post trial bits about Madeleine Smith are fascinating.
Another great addition to the series. I think the best part about this book is learning what happened to Madeleine Smith after the murder case. It wasn't a case I was familiar with before, but it was very interesting.
Reading The Case of Madeleine Smith is like watching a 19th Century Law and Order - only, apparently, this isn't just "ripped from the headlines" - her story actually WAS the headlines. This graphic novel traces the true story of an upper class woman who allegedly poisoned her lower class gentleman lover - in a case study type format. It felt well researched and the comic-book format makes the history so accessible. It also puts the time in which these people are living into context in a way tha...more
I love this series! It combines two of my favorite types of literature: True crime and graphic novels. The drawings are amazing and the stories are fascinating. - Trevor Adams
Interesting little graphic novel about a Victorian murder case. I didn't like the illustration style. But it was interesting to read about a romance gone sour.
Matter-of-fact retelling of a murder case from the 1850s. The best part is the last chapter where we learn about the rest of the murderer's long life -- she died in 1928!
Madeleine Smith--i.e., another great Victorian murder--and graphic novel. Enough said. Well-researched and authoritative yet superfun presentation!
Oooohhhh... cooooll! Didn't think I would be into any graphic novels. Proved me wrong. Thanks for the suggestion, Heather!
A secret affair, love letters, poisonous cups of hot chocolate...Victoria scandal in graphic novel form - torrid fun!
A well told account of an actual murder case. While some may find it dry, I found it compelling and rather interesting.
I read this today at the library while Eric was waylaid by a crazy local library patron in the music aisle.
Yes, I'm morbid and have a slight fascination with stories of Victorian crime. *shifty eyes*
Another sad/creepy/amusing Rick Geary murder book. It feels a little twisted to love them so much.
Mar 01, 2013
Mo
marked it as to-read
available at Rochester Public Library Central
graphic novel
graphic novel
Enjoying this series of graphic non-fiction.
Nov 11, 2007
Lisa
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
mystery fans
Shelves:
adultfictionmalewriters
What a story! What a life Madeline, Mimi or whatever her name was lived!! Of the three Victorian Murders I've read thus far, this is the one I've had a solid guess as to the accused innocence or guilt.
The storyline was brilliant.
The storyline was brilliant.
Sep 04, 2007
Deb
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
murder mystery affectionatos
Shelves:
non-fiction,
graphic_novels
Most of the books in this series are a primer for bourgeois Victorians on how to commit murder and get away with it. I'm not too fond of the illustration style, but the stories and research are totally worth the read.
Nov 25, 2008
Christiane
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
comics,
true-crime
I've read all of Geary's Treasury of Victorian Murders, but this is my favorite. Did sweet Madeleine slip arsenic into her lover's hot chocolate? Or was it all an innocent mistake?
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RICK GEARY was born in 1946 in Kansas City, Missouri and grew up in Wichita,
Kansas. He graduated from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, where his first
cartoons were published in the University Daily Kansan.
He worked as staff artist for two weekly papers in Wichita before moving to San
Diego in 1975.
He began work in comics in 1977 and was for thirteen years a contributor to the
Funny Pages of Nat...more
More about Rick Geary...
Kansas. He graduated from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, where his first
cartoons were published in the University Daily Kansan.
He worked as staff artist for two weekly papers in Wichita before moving to San
Diego in 1975.
He began work in comics in 1977 and was for thirteen years a contributor to the
Funny Pages of Nat...more
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