A Grim Almanac of Jack the Ripper's London, 1870-1900

by Neil R. Storey

Did you know? On 15 November 1892 as Dr Neill Cream dropped through the gallows trap at Newgate he declared 'I'm Jack the ...'. (Cream was in prison in America at the time the Ripper murders were committed). In November 1887, there was a pitch battle in Trafalgar Square between those so poor they took to camping there and 2,000 policemen and soldiers. The event became known as 'Bloody Sunday'. In December 1884, after bombs had been successfully detonated near Trafalgar Square and Scotland Yard a terrorist dropped another over one of the parapets of London Bridge and only succeeded in killing himself. By the mid-nineteenth century, the graveyards of London became so full a vast cemetery was established at Woking in Surrey. Opened in 1854 and known as Brookwood Cemetery or The London Necropolis it was even served by its own railway - the Necropolis Light Railway where the deceased's last one-way ticket could even be bought in first, second or third class. Neil Storey's macabre calendar chronicles the darker side of life in the London between 1870 and 1900. Murderers and footpads, pimps and prostitutes, riots, rebels, bizarre funerals, disaster and peculiar medicine all feature. The book will be illustrated with engravings, newspaper reports, photographs and original documents.

Genres: History, True Crime, Nonfiction, London

192 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2004

About the author

A graduate of the University of East Anglia, Neil R. Storey is a professional historian and lecturer specialising in the study of the impact of war on British society in the first half of the 20th century.

Neil R. Storey is an award-winning social historian specialising in the impact of the First and Second World Wars on British society. He also has a long-standing interest in gothic horror, is the creator of the popular 'Grim Almanac' series published by History Press, and has published numerous works on dark history. He has been in publication since 1989 and now has a canon of over 50 books and has had great reviews in The Times and Daily Mail. A graduate of University of East Anglia he guest lectures for both academic and social audiences across the UK and internationally. He has written countless articles for national periodicals and frequently appears as a guest expert on factual television and radio programmes such as: Who Do You Think You Are?, Classified Britain, The Buildings that Fought Hitler, and Help! My House is Haunted.

Reviews

[Deanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Puts the Ripper crimes into context with other crimes that were occuring at the time as well as the prisons in occupation and the types of crimes. There's also some really atmospheric photos of the era.
Appeals to my love of history.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed going through this almanac, especially as I have Family History as one of my hobbies. with most of my ancestors living in London in this period.

[Filip · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must applaud the effort and research that must have gone into making this book. It gives a great feel of these times.

Unfortunately soon the stories become a bit... repetitive. Also some are so interesting that one just wishes some more information was given about them.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating

Gives a great impression of what life was like in those years. Not a good time for most people who were poor.

[Gail Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A look at Jack the Rippers London and all the accounts of the grim happenings is a very informative and entertaining read.