Murder and Madness: the Secret Life of Jack the Ripper

by David. Abrahamsen

Using his remarkable analytical powers, the author of Confessions of Son of Sam reveals not only the identity of Jack the Ripper, but also uncover s the frustrations, fears, and fantasies that drove him to commit the shocking murders.

Genres: True Crime, History, Nonfiction, Crime

242 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1992

Reviews

[Bernard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written, but I do not agree on whom he considers Jack the Ripper.

[Fishface · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was -- unusually for this subgenre! -- a real page-turner about the Jack the Ripper case. A prison psychoanalyst, who cites his own work throughout the text, explains that JTR was a pair of upper-crust gay men who would have been straight but for their mother issues, who overcame their sense of castration by killing mostly elderly, mostly alcoholic prostitutes in Whitechapel. Wait'll you see who he zeroes in on as his suspects. I have to admit that he completely changed my view of the scene of Liz Stride's murder by getting me to superimpose those two faces on the men who chased off Israel Schwartz with a hissed ethnic slur. The book is full of entertaining psychoanalytic twaddle, like the idea that women forced to sell themselves on the street to survive only continued working during the Autumn of Terror because they were "unconsciously drawn to the Ripper." There are no work sabbaticals when you're desperate for a place to sleep tonight, Doctor!

[Jimmy · Rating 1 out of 5]

The silliest book ever written on the theory of Jack the Ripper's identity. There have been some far out ideas put out there on this topic, but this one is just comically ridiculous. Don't waste your time.

[Teresa Creek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too sure what I just read….not too sure I agree with his consideration of who Jack the Ripper was either. But I do enjoy a stroll down the memory lane of history any day

[Netsen7Bookdragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most interesting books I read when I was younger :o) It succest that one of the princes of britain was Jack the ripper and why. Goes over the crimes scenes, photos with detail.

[Allan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A ground-breaking book in Ripperology, Abrahamsen presents the most convincing case yet for the identity of the infamous serial killer.

[SouthWestZippy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book.