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The Diary of Jack the Ripper: The Chilling Confessions of James Maybrick
After more than a year of authentication analysis, a Victorian journal found in England is determined to be the actual diary of the notorious serial killer known as Jack the Ripper. This detailed recounting of the authentication process contains a facsimile of the document itself.
323 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
March 14, 2023
It has been 125 years since Jack the Ripper roamed Whitechapel and viciously murdered and mutilated five women; yet we are still talking about him and who he really was since he was never identified. There have been more books than we could count with theories about him and to be honest, many are pretty far fetched. This book takes a little different approach which might just convince the reader that the search is over.
In 1990, a young man approached Robert Smith, the Editor of the publishing house Smith-Gryphon in London,with a book that had been given to him by his best friend. His friend did not tell him where he found it and died shortly after. The young man was fascinated by book which was a diary written by James Maybrick, a cotton merchant from Liverpool and the man had a suspicion that it was connected with Jack the Ripper. Not being a scholar, he decided to consult the Editor to see if there was a possibility that he was in possession of something amazing.
The publishing house staff was intrigued and began contacting "Ripperologists" and noted experts of paper,ink,items mentioned, et al. It took them three years of intensive study before the book was published. The most important issue in this book is that it offers the pro's and con's of the authenticity and they are quite interesting. A copy of the diary is included which is then repeated in printed text for better understanding as the writing is difficult to read.
Today, the diary is considered by most as authentic. As the Editor/author states.........."I am delighted to encourage the debate on the diary's authenticity. All I ask the readers of this book is to read the evidence, then judge for yourself"
In 1990, a young man approached Robert Smith, the Editor of the publishing house Smith-Gryphon in London,with a book that had been given to him by his best friend. His friend did not tell him where he found it and died shortly after. The young man was fascinated by book which was a diary written by James Maybrick, a cotton merchant from Liverpool and the man had a suspicion that it was connected with Jack the Ripper. Not being a scholar, he decided to consult the Editor to see if there was a possibility that he was in possession of something amazing.
The publishing house staff was intrigued and began contacting "Ripperologists" and noted experts of paper,ink,items mentioned, et al. It took them three years of intensive study before the book was published. The most important issue in this book is that it offers the pro's and con's of the authenticity and they are quite interesting. A copy of the diary is included which is then repeated in printed text for better understanding as the writing is difficult to read.
Today, the diary is considered by most as authentic. As the Editor/author states.........."I am delighted to encourage the debate on the diary's authenticity. All I ask the readers of this book is to read the evidence, then judge for yourself"
February 6, 2018
For starters, I think a lot of people rated and reviewed this book based on whether they believed it's authenticity or not instead of rating how it read. I think some people went into it already sure it was fake. So what I'm saying is, I suggest you read it if you're interested in Jack the Ripper. Ignore the reviews. Read it and come to your own conclusion. With that said, I enjoyed it. I read another "diary" of Jack the Ripper book and was pretty sure it was a fraud.(though I still kinda enjoyed the book). This book is a little harder to judge. Basically, they could not prove it was fake. And of course there is no way to prove it's real. But if it's a forgery, it's a very convincing one. I won't say I believe it truly is the diary of Jack.... but I will say for me personally, after reading the book and the debate. I do believe it possibly could be the real thing. But either way I thought it was a very interesting read. If you go into it with an open mind....and haven't already pre-judged its authenticity... I think you will enjoy it.
September 1, 2014
Is the diary a hoax or isn't it? I don't know. I do know that the author presents a damn good case for its validity. However, the only supporting evidence is the diary itself. Nonetheless it's still a good read that anyone interested in Ripper history shouldn't pass up.
July 23, 2018
Um livro muito bom que aborda as partes mais obscuras da mente de Jack, o estripador. Contem fotos originais do diário do mesmo e também das Dudas vítimas e a tradução em que algumas podem ser um pouco chocantes.
March 26, 2020
Still generates enthusiasm and intrigue in me despite knowing full well what it is.. fascinating look into a deep forgery & the outside view of the mind of a sadistic serial killer!
October 30, 2022
Para mi, lo menos importante de este libro, es la autenticidad del diario. Me parece que el libro está muy bien contruido, y ha sido menos insistente en la culpabilidad del sospechoso propuesto que otros autores con premisas menos creibles.
Cuenta como llegó a descubrirse el diario, y como llegó a manos del dueño actual, como se contactó con una gente editorial, con una autora, etc.
Continua relatando de una manera muy ligera y sin entrar en detalles morbosos todo aquel "otoño de terror" intercalandolo (de una manera muy acertada) con los pasajes del diario correspondientes a esa época.
Posteriormente nos cuenta algo que es menos conocido, pero diría que casi igual de misterioso y siniestro que el caso de Jack, y es el final del sospechoso propuesto: James Maybrick, su mujer Florie, sus hijos y resto de familiares... una lectura realmente interesante y muy bien formada.
Posteriormente reproduce las hojas del diario y las traduce. Esta parte, quizá es menos interesante y casi todo ya se ha intercalado en la parte anterior.
Por último discute la veracidad o falsedad del diario, exponiendo el resultado de las pruebas que hicieron diferentes expertos, etc.
Para mi, aunque sólo sea por conocer la parte del final de la familia Maybrick, merece la pena su lectura.
Cuenta como llegó a descubrirse el diario, y como llegó a manos del dueño actual, como se contactó con una gente editorial, con una autora, etc.
Continua relatando de una manera muy ligera y sin entrar en detalles morbosos todo aquel "otoño de terror" intercalandolo (de una manera muy acertada) con los pasajes del diario correspondientes a esa época.
Posteriormente nos cuenta algo que es menos conocido, pero diría que casi igual de misterioso y siniestro que el caso de Jack, y es el final del sospechoso propuesto: James Maybrick, su mujer Florie, sus hijos y resto de familiares... una lectura realmente interesante y muy bien formada.
Posteriormente reproduce las hojas del diario y las traduce. Esta parte, quizá es menos interesante y casi todo ya se ha intercalado en la parte anterior.
Por último discute la veracidad o falsedad del diario, exponiendo el resultado de las pruebas que hicieron diferentes expertos, etc.
Para mi, aunque sólo sea por conocer la parte del final de la familia Maybrick, merece la pena su lectura.
November 12, 2017
A remarkable read by Shirley Harrison. No doubt in my mind this is the actual Diary of Jack the Ripper. Great if you're into criminology, law enforcement, criminal justice, or if you just want to know who Jack the Ripper really was. In this novel, not only will you read why they think James Maybrick is Jack the Ripper. But also you actually get to read the actual pages from his diary that was found, and if you can't make out some of his writing like me, their is a transcript you can read from. Absolutely fascinating! And terrifying!
January 29, 2017
Riveting
This book dives deep into Victorian England and gives the reader a fantastic idea of what it was like during the time frame. It is hard for the reader to make up their minds about this diary as it is for the experts. It would be nice to continue with the research to determine its authenticity not only for history buffs but for the famlies of all the women killed. Their descendants, if any are alive, might find some closure. Very good read.
This book dives deep into Victorian England and gives the reader a fantastic idea of what it was like during the time frame. It is hard for the reader to make up their minds about this diary as it is for the experts. It would be nice to continue with the research to determine its authenticity not only for history buffs but for the famlies of all the women killed. Their descendants, if any are alive, might find some closure. Very good read.
August 5, 2008
Now, dont think I am crazy by saying that I thought this diary was absolutley cruel, twisted, and amazing. If this man truly was Jack the Ripper, which can be very convincing once you read it, then I give him props. The way he talks about women and the things he does without remorse, and regret, just drives me insanley captivated by him.
August 30, 2025
Excellent book that takes the reader through the long research process to determine its authenticity, while describing in detail the Ripper's murders together with excerpts from the Diary in order to understand the context of each excerpt. After all that, the final chapter is the transcript of the diary itself.
February 8, 2018
Gostei do livro, fiquei surpresa pelas pesquisas feitas que foram muito bem elaboradas em sua maior parte. E a maneira que ele te contextualiza na Era Vitoriana, para que até um leigo possa entender. E apesar de ser em sua maior parte ser voltado para a pesquisa, a sua escrita não é maçante no geral. Entretanto, por vezes, é ressaltado a publicação do livro e suas dificuldades de maneira excessiva, o que o torna penoso por estas vezes.
February 10, 2012
This is a very interesting possibility that the identity of Jack the Ripper may have been discovered. It has many clues that do lead me to believe that the identity is in fact James Maybrick. The book goes on to discuss that although the diary has not been proven to be 100% genuine, it has also not been proven to be a hoax or fake...... what a life James & Florie Maybrick lead! I do believe that his drug use of Arsenic killed him and not his wife as she was accused of. I felt bad for her throughout the book She had to endure many mistreatings from her husband and then by society when she was tried and convicted of his murder. She was not given a fair trial at all. It seems like back in Victorian times, it was a deadfully sin for a woman to cheat on her husband. (I guess the same can be said about modern times).
Was James Maybrick Jack the Ripper??? We may never truly 100% know. After reading this book I can say that I believe he was. This book is a must read for Rippercologist spectators...... Even if you aren't a Rippercologist, this is a historical case that remains a true mystery...
Was James Maybrick Jack the Ripper??? We may never truly 100% know. After reading this book I can say that I believe he was. This book is a must read for Rippercologist spectators...... Even if you aren't a Rippercologist, this is a historical case that remains a true mystery...
May 14, 2019
Interesting read about the finding of a diary that appears to be of James Maybrick, who may be Jack the Ripper. Harrison goes into many details about trying to find the truth of whether the diary is authentic and how it came to be where it was found. It also goes into details of Florie Maybrick's trial for the death of James, who appears to have been a long time addict.
Most of the time Harrison manages to do a decent job of presenting all sides, though it is clear she believes the book is the diary of Jack the Ripper. She discusses the many questions still left to be answered.
The main problem I had was occasional assertions that either she didn't state evidence for, or her support was stated earlier but was not strong enough for me to remember. The item that sticks out most in my mind is the assertion that one of James' brothers was in love with Florie; an assertion was made as if it was already established in the book, and I didn't recall hearing anything about it earlier. Later there was a reference to missing letters from the brother to Florie but didn't explain why anyone believes the letters existed.
Most of the time Harrison manages to do a decent job of presenting all sides, though it is clear she believes the book is the diary of Jack the Ripper. She discusses the many questions still left to be answered.
The main problem I had was occasional assertions that either she didn't state evidence for, or her support was stated earlier but was not strong enough for me to remember. The item that sticks out most in my mind is the assertion that one of James' brothers was in love with Florie; an assertion was made as if it was already established in the book, and I didn't recall hearing anything about it earlier. Later there was a reference to missing letters from the brother to Florie but didn't explain why anyone believes the letters existed.
November 8, 2019
The book was very informative and gave good evidence for the diary's authenticity. It described the everyday-life of Maybrick and his family very clearly and also offered interesting insight into Maybrick's mind. Despite only being the second book that I have read about Jack the Ripper, I am putting more faith in this book than Patricia Cornwell's "Portrait of the Killer".
However, one thing that this book lacked in my opinion was an interesting description of passing events. It's not a huge complaint, since the book is more of a documentation than a fictional novel, but Cornwell managed to make her documentation to sound like a thriller than a textbook, something that this book lacked a bit.
In conclusion, I would still recommend anyone who's interested about Jack the Ripper to read this book.
However, one thing that this book lacked in my opinion was an interesting description of passing events. It's not a huge complaint, since the book is more of a documentation than a fictional novel, but Cornwell managed to make her documentation to sound like a thriller than a textbook, something that this book lacked a bit.
In conclusion, I would still recommend anyone who's interested about Jack the Ripper to read this book.
January 17, 2022
Um livro em formato de arquivo com fotografias, o dito diário e notas em conjunto com uma narrativa de Shirley que explica, desdobra e coloca evidências e outros senãos sobre a possível identidade de Jack, o estripador de 1888.
Foi um livro que genyinamente, pensei, que iria gostar de imergir nele. Não aconteceu 🙅♀️
Não consegui gostar da forma como foi escrito, ou seja a sua estrutura, que remete para o mix de factos, evidências e as possíveis realidades.
Porém este livro é ideal para quem tem interesse sobre o Jack, o estripador e queira entender e/ou conjecturar se James Maybrick será mesmo a identidade do maior serial killer de 1888🔪
Não funcionou...
Foi um livro que genyinamente, pensei, que iria gostar de imergir nele. Não aconteceu 🙅♀️
Não consegui gostar da forma como foi escrito, ou seja a sua estrutura, que remete para o mix de factos, evidências e as possíveis realidades.
Porém este livro é ideal para quem tem interesse sobre o Jack, o estripador e queira entender e/ou conjecturar se James Maybrick será mesmo a identidade do maior serial killer de 1888🔪
Não funcionou...
September 14, 2017
The argument made was written well and adds to the conversation but I'm not to the "beyond a reasonable doubt" mindset. Although the book has a thesis for some college course feel, it doesn't read as dry as one might suspect. It has made me very interested in Mrs. F Maybrick's story, however, Harrison did such a good job summarizing that I don't have inclination to... well maybe her autobiography.
May 31, 2019
This is the fourth book on the Ripper case I've read, and the fourth person suspected of being the Ripper.
While we will probably never know conclusively who Jack the Ripper was, this book makes a compelling case. And at the least gives the spirit of Florence Maybrick another outlet to show the world the injustice of her life.
Definitely worth the read.
While we will probably never know conclusively who Jack the Ripper was, this book makes a compelling case. And at the least gives the spirit of Florence Maybrick another outlet to show the world the injustice of her life.
Definitely worth the read.
June 21, 2017
Amazing account of the "real Ripper". Hard to put down, hard to dispute the facts as they come alive on the pages. Very well written, would recommend to anyone even remotely interested in this brutal piece of history.
January 20, 2020
Whether you believe the Diary is genuine or a hoax, this is still a very interesting book. I really enjoyed this one and read it in 2 days. I was fascinated by how the Diary and pocket watch were discovered. I really enjoyed this book
May 8, 2016
Once again I wish there were more then 5 stars cause this book was amazing. Without giving away too much I have to agree that the diary is real and the mystery of Jack the Ripper has been solved.
February 2, 2018
Resource Material
Being a writer, I am always reading as well as writing. This book will remain in my resource section. What finds that can be hidden in old tins!
Being a writer, I am always reading as well as writing. This book will remain in my resource section. What finds that can be hidden in old tins!
October 6, 2019
Great read, wether you believe it's real of fake. Review the book by its quality not by it authenticity.
December 27, 2019
Interesting read. I was amazed at the amount of facts now available, and the diary itself. Well written with lots of interesting info from so many sources. Fasinating.
May 20, 2025
"Mientras los expertos se encargaban de reconstruir el cuerpo de la historia, yo fui en busca de su alma".
...
Entre Diciembre de 1989 y Marzo de 1992 en Liverpool, Inglaterra, en la mansion Battlecrease House mientras se realizaban trabajos en la instalación eléctrica y por primera vez desde 1888 eran levantados los tablones del suelo, se halló un diario bastante peculiar y escalofriante, donde su autor James Maybrick se identificaba como "Jack el Destripador" y confesaba con espantosa y detallada exactitud sus crimenes. Se supuso que dicho escrito fue hallado por los electricistas pero ellos lo han negado y aún a día de hoy no se sabe cómo salió a la luz el documento. La mansión, pertenecía en la época de los homicidios a un comerciante de algodón llamado James Maybrick.
¿Fue realmente Maybrick el asesino de mujeres tan buscado en su época? Tenía una razón y tenía el móvil. Cabe aclarar que el diario fue sometido a estudios forenses, pericias, examinaciones, y todo esto bajo la lupa de grandes profesionales en el área. Tambien vale recalcar la gran investigación realizada por la escritora y los profesionales que escribieron informes a favor del diario entre ellos un prestigioso psiquiatra de renombre especializado en psicopatalogias y adicciones.
El diario llegó a manos de su autora y todos estos altamente calificados especialistas mediante un marino mercante retirado por invalidez, Mike Barrett, quien a su vez lo recibió de manos de su mejor y confiable amigo, Tony Devereux, que en 1990, se lo entrego junto a estas (y cito textualmente) palabras: "Llevatelo. Quiero que lo tengas tú.Haz algo con él" sin mas explicación.
Mike nunca pudo sacarle la confesión de dónde había sacado el escrito y acaso antes de decirlo Tony falleció de una enfermedad cardiaca. Mike obsesionado con el contenido del
volumen empezó a leer e investigar, asi fue como llegó a manos (entre una cosa y otra) de Shirley Harrison y Rupert Crew Ltd una agencia de Londres.
En un principio iba a ser publicado en conjunto Europa-Estados Unidos bajo el sello de la editorial Warner Books (USA) pero debido a la controversia de los falsificados diarios de Hitler y Mussolini la editorial tambaleó su decision y se echó para atrás generando un gran malestar a todos los involucrados en su publicación.
Me tengo que sacar el sombrero ante la gran investigación y trabajo de campo realizado por la autora haciendo del libro algo interesante, fácil de llevar el hilo de los hechos y más allá de todo lo leído, disfrutable. Agregando material visual muy rico que suma a su lectura y haciendo más fácil el entender el contexto. Para casi no leer libros de NO FICCIÓN (porque me aburren) este me engancho muchísimo, la pluma de la autora es ágil más alla de contener tan intensa datación.
...
James Maybrick fue un negociante de algodón inglés. Su vida (según su diario) era problemática, fue adicto al arsenico y la estricnina desde muy joven cuando un medico le recetó dichas drogas como ultima instancia para tratar un cuadro de malaria. La particularidad del arsenico (según entendí yo mediante los informes médicos que se citan en el
libro) es que una vez ingerido se tiene que ingerir siempre porque de lo contrario en caso de dejarlo te puede matar. Su vida fue turbia acaso de las drogas, acaso de la infidelidad de su esposa, el ambiente en Battlecrease House era siempre un ambiente hostil donde los criados conspiraban contra la esposa Estadounidense del señor y hasta éste llego a golpearla al menos dos veces. A los ojos del mundo exterior era un padre de familia, una persona correcta, honrada y con una conducta intachable (razon de más para creer que fuera el Destripador, pues asi es la cara que muestran los psicopatas al mundo exterior), mientras que en su diario ahondaba en los detalles escabrosos de sus asesinatos, y tenía opiniones muy misoginas y violentas hacía las mujeres, ¿Quién sino, el mismo asesino para escribir detalles y hechos de una manera tan explícita y gráfica? ¿O cómo saber información tan específica que sólo la policia tenía en su poder y no fue abierta a todo público sino hasta muchísimos años después? ¿Fraude o verdad? Me lo pregunté durante toda la lectura, o fue el verdadero Jack o esclavo de sus adicciones perdió completamente la cabeza o debido al odio profesado hacia su esposa por
la infidelidad se siente proyectado con los asesinatos e identificado con el autor de dichos asesinatos. La cosa es que tenia el motivo, el movil y la motivacion.
Maybrick fallecio el 11 de mayo de 1889 por un supuesto "envenamiento" autoria de su esposa, pero en todo caso si murió realmente envenenado (cosa que los estudios y las autopsias negaron) me inclino a creer que fue un envenamiento por sus propias adicciones.
El juicio a Florence Elizabeth Chandler (Maybrick) fue un juicio más machista que otra cosa, en una sociedad tan patriarcal se la juzgó más por su infidelidad (de las cuales el marido tenía muchas e incluso otra esposa cometiendo bigamia) que por lo que supuestamente hizo según las conspiraciones de la familia Maybrick y la servidumbre. Florence Maybrick fue juzgada y condenada a muerte por ahorcamiento, pero luego agraciada por la reina Victoria a cambio de una pena de reclusión de 15 años finalmente abandonó la prisión en 1904. Se fue a Estados Unidos, donde trabajó, escribió un libro y pasó sus ultimos días sola y rodeada de gatos.
Para aumentar la duda, la cronología de los hechos demuestra que James Maybrick estaba en Whitechapel cuando ocurrieron las muertes. Y después de la muerte de Maybrick, los crímenes cesaron. En vida y según algunos de sus colegas de negocios, James Maybrick había hecho gala de una cultura anatómica que llevaba a la admiración y a la sorpresa. Y en la última muerte, la policía advirtió una inscripción trazada sobre un muro con la sangre de la víctima. Esta inscripción formaba vagamente las letras "F" y "M", tal vez queriendo señalar las iniciales de "Florence Maybrick". Debe anotarse que Mary Jane Kelly (la víctima) era sensiblemente de la misma edad de la esposa de James Maybrick, con lo que podría conjeturarse que la rabia y el odio que este comerciante tendría para con su mujer, sería tal vez la razón para las muertes y para las increíbles mutilaciones a los cuerpos de las víctimas, y muy especialmente al cuerpo de la última infortunada. El diario íntimo de Maybrick igualmente señala un detalle que la policía jamás había informado a la prensa: junto al cuerpo de una de las víctimas, los agentes encontraron una pequeña caja de metal vacía perteneciente a la víctima, y este objeto era mencionado en el manuscrito de Maybrick, señalando con precisión que estaba vacío.
...
Para cerrar este analisis/reseña voy a decir que el libro me gusto muchísimo, para ser un libro de no ficción logró engancharme, la pluma de la autora más allá de ser bastante cargada es ágil haciendo de su lectura ligera, amena, y explica todo con tanta paciencia y detalle que uno llega a comprender bien los hechos, los resultados de los estudios forenses que se le realizaron al diario como tambien los procedimientos, la época, costumbres, rutinas, etc, y los informes médicos, la verdad que me encantó. Esta lectura se lleva sus cinco estrellas bien puestas. Solo voy a decir léanlo es un librazo y saquen sus propias conclusiones.
...
Jack el destripador fue un asesino en serie sin identificar, al que se le atribuyen al menos cinco homicidios en el barrio londinense de Whitechapel en 1888, y cuyo modus operandi estuvo caracterizado por cortes en la garganta, mutilaciones en el área genital y abdominal, extirpación de órganos y desfiguración del rostro de mujeres que se dedicaban a la prostitución. Pese a que se investigó aproximadamente a trescientos sospechosos, la investigación policial resultó ineficaz en el esclarecimiento de la identidad del asesino serial, y fue objeto de burla y polémica por parte de la prensa.
...
Entre Diciembre de 1989 y Marzo de 1992 en Liverpool, Inglaterra, en la mansion Battlecrease House mientras se realizaban trabajos en la instalación eléctrica y por primera vez desde 1888 eran levantados los tablones del suelo, se halló un diario bastante peculiar y escalofriante, donde su autor James Maybrick se identificaba como "Jack el Destripador" y confesaba con espantosa y detallada exactitud sus crimenes. Se supuso que dicho escrito fue hallado por los electricistas pero ellos lo han negado y aún a día de hoy no se sabe cómo salió a la luz el documento. La mansión, pertenecía en la época de los homicidios a un comerciante de algodón llamado James Maybrick.
¿Fue realmente Maybrick el asesino de mujeres tan buscado en su época? Tenía una razón y tenía el móvil. Cabe aclarar que el diario fue sometido a estudios forenses, pericias, examinaciones, y todo esto bajo la lupa de grandes profesionales en el área. Tambien vale recalcar la gran investigación realizada por la escritora y los profesionales que escribieron informes a favor del diario entre ellos un prestigioso psiquiatra de renombre especializado en psicopatalogias y adicciones.
El diario llegó a manos de su autora y todos estos altamente calificados especialistas mediante un marino mercante retirado por invalidez, Mike Barrett, quien a su vez lo recibió de manos de su mejor y confiable amigo, Tony Devereux, que en 1990, se lo entrego junto a estas (y cito textualmente) palabras: "Llevatelo. Quiero que lo tengas tú.Haz algo con él" sin mas explicación.
Mike nunca pudo sacarle la confesión de dónde había sacado el escrito y acaso antes de decirlo Tony falleció de una enfermedad cardiaca. Mike obsesionado con el contenido del
volumen empezó a leer e investigar, asi fue como llegó a manos (entre una cosa y otra) de Shirley Harrison y Rupert Crew Ltd una agencia de Londres.
En un principio iba a ser publicado en conjunto Europa-Estados Unidos bajo el sello de la editorial Warner Books (USA) pero debido a la controversia de los falsificados diarios de Hitler y Mussolini la editorial tambaleó su decision y se echó para atrás generando un gran malestar a todos los involucrados en su publicación.
Me tengo que sacar el sombrero ante la gran investigación y trabajo de campo realizado por la autora haciendo del libro algo interesante, fácil de llevar el hilo de los hechos y más allá de todo lo leído, disfrutable. Agregando material visual muy rico que suma a su lectura y haciendo más fácil el entender el contexto. Para casi no leer libros de NO FICCIÓN (porque me aburren) este me engancho muchísimo, la pluma de la autora es ágil más alla de contener tan intensa datación.
...
James Maybrick fue un negociante de algodón inglés. Su vida (según su diario) era problemática, fue adicto al arsenico y la estricnina desde muy joven cuando un medico le recetó dichas drogas como ultima instancia para tratar un cuadro de malaria. La particularidad del arsenico (según entendí yo mediante los informes médicos que se citan en el
libro) es que una vez ingerido se tiene que ingerir siempre porque de lo contrario en caso de dejarlo te puede matar. Su vida fue turbia acaso de las drogas, acaso de la infidelidad de su esposa, el ambiente en Battlecrease House era siempre un ambiente hostil donde los criados conspiraban contra la esposa Estadounidense del señor y hasta éste llego a golpearla al menos dos veces. A los ojos del mundo exterior era un padre de familia, una persona correcta, honrada y con una conducta intachable (razon de más para creer que fuera el Destripador, pues asi es la cara que muestran los psicopatas al mundo exterior), mientras que en su diario ahondaba en los detalles escabrosos de sus asesinatos, y tenía opiniones muy misoginas y violentas hacía las mujeres, ¿Quién sino, el mismo asesino para escribir detalles y hechos de una manera tan explícita y gráfica? ¿O cómo saber información tan específica que sólo la policia tenía en su poder y no fue abierta a todo público sino hasta muchísimos años después? ¿Fraude o verdad? Me lo pregunté durante toda la lectura, o fue el verdadero Jack o esclavo de sus adicciones perdió completamente la cabeza o debido al odio profesado hacia su esposa por
la infidelidad se siente proyectado con los asesinatos e identificado con el autor de dichos asesinatos. La cosa es que tenia el motivo, el movil y la motivacion.
Maybrick fallecio el 11 de mayo de 1889 por un supuesto "envenamiento" autoria de su esposa, pero en todo caso si murió realmente envenenado (cosa que los estudios y las autopsias negaron) me inclino a creer que fue un envenamiento por sus propias adicciones.
El juicio a Florence Elizabeth Chandler (Maybrick) fue un juicio más machista que otra cosa, en una sociedad tan patriarcal se la juzgó más por su infidelidad (de las cuales el marido tenía muchas e incluso otra esposa cometiendo bigamia) que por lo que supuestamente hizo según las conspiraciones de la familia Maybrick y la servidumbre. Florence Maybrick fue juzgada y condenada a muerte por ahorcamiento, pero luego agraciada por la reina Victoria a cambio de una pena de reclusión de 15 años finalmente abandonó la prisión en 1904. Se fue a Estados Unidos, donde trabajó, escribió un libro y pasó sus ultimos días sola y rodeada de gatos.
Para aumentar la duda, la cronología de los hechos demuestra que James Maybrick estaba en Whitechapel cuando ocurrieron las muertes. Y después de la muerte de Maybrick, los crímenes cesaron. En vida y según algunos de sus colegas de negocios, James Maybrick había hecho gala de una cultura anatómica que llevaba a la admiración y a la sorpresa. Y en la última muerte, la policía advirtió una inscripción trazada sobre un muro con la sangre de la víctima. Esta inscripción formaba vagamente las letras "F" y "M", tal vez queriendo señalar las iniciales de "Florence Maybrick". Debe anotarse que Mary Jane Kelly (la víctima) era sensiblemente de la misma edad de la esposa de James Maybrick, con lo que podría conjeturarse que la rabia y el odio que este comerciante tendría para con su mujer, sería tal vez la razón para las muertes y para las increíbles mutilaciones a los cuerpos de las víctimas, y muy especialmente al cuerpo de la última infortunada. El diario íntimo de Maybrick igualmente señala un detalle que la policía jamás había informado a la prensa: junto al cuerpo de una de las víctimas, los agentes encontraron una pequeña caja de metal vacía perteneciente a la víctima, y este objeto era mencionado en el manuscrito de Maybrick, señalando con precisión que estaba vacío.
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Para cerrar este analisis/reseña voy a decir que el libro me gusto muchísimo, para ser un libro de no ficción logró engancharme, la pluma de la autora más allá de ser bastante cargada es ágil haciendo de su lectura ligera, amena, y explica todo con tanta paciencia y detalle que uno llega a comprender bien los hechos, los resultados de los estudios forenses que se le realizaron al diario como tambien los procedimientos, la época, costumbres, rutinas, etc, y los informes médicos, la verdad que me encantó. Esta lectura se lleva sus cinco estrellas bien puestas. Solo voy a decir léanlo es un librazo y saquen sus propias conclusiones.
...
Jack el destripador fue un asesino en serie sin identificar, al que se le atribuyen al menos cinco homicidios en el barrio londinense de Whitechapel en 1888, y cuyo modus operandi estuvo caracterizado por cortes en la garganta, mutilaciones en el área genital y abdominal, extirpación de órganos y desfiguración del rostro de mujeres que se dedicaban a la prostitución. Pese a que se investigó aproximadamente a trescientos sospechosos, la investigación policial resultó ineficaz en el esclarecimiento de la identidad del asesino serial, y fue objeto de burla y polémica por parte de la prensa.
June 4, 2020
I came at this book having recently read
Did She Kill Him?: A Victorian Tale of Deception, Adultery, and Arsenic
, so I knew quite a bit about the death of James Maybrick and the trial of his wife Florence. What I hadn't known when I read that book, was that James Maybrick had later been suspected of being Jack the Ripper.
In 1992, a diary was discovered which claimed to have been written by Jack the Ripper. The diary's author was soon identified as James Maybrick, and then the fun began...
This book read really well. As a true crime book, it was detailed and quite gripping. Certainly it was an easy read (though obviously uneasy at times).
Although the description says that the book explains the authentication process of the diary, the majority of the book is the author aligning (or trying to align) the diary with James Maybrick's life, his movements, and his possible motivation. Harrison clearly believed that the diary is the real thing, and she does make a good case for it, but some of the links and parallels were a rather far-fetched.
But the thing that really annoyed me was that Harrison seemed convinced that, if it had been forged, the diary must have been faked either at a time contemporary to the murders (i.e. late 19th century) or soon after (early 20th century, before 1950). Repeatedly she highlights 'evidence' that it can't be a fake - details of the crimes that weren't known publicly until at least 1950, and often not until the late 1980s. This diary came to light in the early 1990s. So the glaringly obvious question, which if I'm not mistaken was totally glossed over, was: why could the diary not have been forged very recently, in the late 1980s or early 1990s?
Anyway, a good read and a valuable addition to the Maybrick story - it included some details that were missing from Did She Kill Him? which added some background and other angles. I'd be interested to know what modern scientific analysis of the diary would conclude - I imagine identification of ink and paper could have come a fair way in the past 20 years - but I also doubt whether it will ever be of interest to the expert community again. But as a true crime book, worth a read.
In 1992, a diary was discovered which claimed to have been written by Jack the Ripper. The diary's author was soon identified as James Maybrick, and then the fun began...
This book read really well. As a true crime book, it was detailed and quite gripping. Certainly it was an easy read (though obviously uneasy at times).
Although the description says that the book explains the authentication process of the diary, the majority of the book is the author aligning (or trying to align) the diary with James Maybrick's life, his movements, and his possible motivation. Harrison clearly believed that the diary is the real thing, and she does make a good case for it, but some of the links and parallels were a rather far-fetched.
But the thing that really annoyed me was that Harrison seemed convinced that, if it had been forged, the diary must have been faked either at a time contemporary to the murders (i.e. late 19th century) or soon after (early 20th century, before 1950). Repeatedly she highlights 'evidence' that it can't be a fake - details of the crimes that weren't known publicly until at least 1950, and often not until the late 1980s. This diary came to light in the early 1990s. So the glaringly obvious question, which if I'm not mistaken was totally glossed over, was: why could the diary not have been forged very recently, in the late 1980s or early 1990s?
Anyway, a good read and a valuable addition to the Maybrick story - it included some details that were missing from Did She Kill Him? which added some background and other angles. I'd be interested to know what modern scientific analysis of the diary would conclude - I imagine identification of ink and paper could have come a fair way in the past 20 years - but I also doubt whether it will ever be of interest to the expert community again. But as a true crime book, worth a read.
May 3, 2022
O Diário de Jack, o Estripador - ou - Porque escritores não deveriam fazer o trabalho de historiadores
Esse livro é decepcionante por tantos motivos que me é difícil começar...
Quando se tem em mãos algo que pode ser um documento histórico, a primeira coisa que se faz é procurar um especialista para fazer o trabalho em cima dele. Mas, ao invés de procurar um historiador, a editora britânica resolveu jogar essa bomba na mão de uma escritora ficcional. E ela age como tal.
Em nenhum momento, Shirley Harrison procura a ajuda de historiadores para tratar do período histórico discutido, na verdade há uma certa fleuma sobre isso. Um dos resultados é que o baixo orçamento que ela tem para realizar os testes necessários sobre autenticidade fez com que sejam feitos aos poucos, por poucas instituições, e só foram repetidos ao serem questionados.
A própria linha de raciocínio da escritora, para provar que o autor é mesmo o assassino Jack, parece tortuosa. Ela enche sua tese (se é que pode ser chamada disso) de noções circunstanciais, aceita coincidências como provas, e soterra o texto com noções abstratas sobre sentimentos e motivos. Em dado momento, chega a utilizar um mapa astral...
O que mais detrata essa obra é a parcialidade, contudo. Há vários pontos de interrogação, contradições e mesmo fatos que põe em dúvida a autenticidade do manuscrito ou a validade da tese - e Shirley Harrison ignora todos ao seu bel-prazer. Isso contradiz um princípio básico de historiografia: "Se os fatos não correspondem a teoria, então a teoria está errada."
Francamente, processo de pesquisa porco, malfeito, não é a toa que algumas editoras recusaram a publicação e outras decidiram usar o viés sensacionalista.
Terminei justamente por não acreditar que alguém seria capaz de deturpar tanto um trabalho tão importante. Shirley Harrison poderia ter feito algo interessante se tivesse desde o início assumido-o como uma obra literária, ao invés de tomar para si algo que não tem competência para realizar.
Esse livro é decepcionante por tantos motivos que me é difícil começar...
Quando se tem em mãos algo que pode ser um documento histórico, a primeira coisa que se faz é procurar um especialista para fazer o trabalho em cima dele. Mas, ao invés de procurar um historiador, a editora britânica resolveu jogar essa bomba na mão de uma escritora ficcional. E ela age como tal.
Em nenhum momento, Shirley Harrison procura a ajuda de historiadores para tratar do período histórico discutido, na verdade há uma certa fleuma sobre isso. Um dos resultados é que o baixo orçamento que ela tem para realizar os testes necessários sobre autenticidade fez com que sejam feitos aos poucos, por poucas instituições, e só foram repetidos ao serem questionados.
A própria linha de raciocínio da escritora, para provar que o autor é mesmo o assassino Jack, parece tortuosa. Ela enche sua tese (se é que pode ser chamada disso) de noções circunstanciais, aceita coincidências como provas, e soterra o texto com noções abstratas sobre sentimentos e motivos. Em dado momento, chega a utilizar um mapa astral...
O que mais detrata essa obra é a parcialidade, contudo. Há vários pontos de interrogação, contradições e mesmo fatos que põe em dúvida a autenticidade do manuscrito ou a validade da tese - e Shirley Harrison ignora todos ao seu bel-prazer. Isso contradiz um princípio básico de historiografia: "Se os fatos não correspondem a teoria, então a teoria está errada."
Francamente, processo de pesquisa porco, malfeito, não é a toa que algumas editoras recusaram a publicação e outras decidiram usar o viés sensacionalista.
Terminei justamente por não acreditar que alguém seria capaz de deturpar tanto um trabalho tão importante. Shirley Harrison poderia ter feito algo interessante se tivesse desde o início assumido-o como uma obra literária, ao invés de tomar para si algo que não tem competência para realizar.
Read
December 24, 2021I've came to the conclusion that my brain is alright. That when I had to return over and over again to the same paragraph or sentence, it's not my brain being stupid and inattentive; it's the writing that's confusing. Plus some direct speech without any quotation mark in a sea of first person narrative. I've done well to stick with it. As a note, i've read saramago and had no problem with it.
It's a pity of course, with all these distraction, i didn't have enough brain left to decide for myself if James Maybrick was Jack the Ripper; nor do i care at the end of this bumpy road. The first part is basically ok, with the writer trying to see if the text matched know history. It went quite beyond the diary, following the death of Maybrick then his wife's trial and tribulations which is a must in this case. And then... and then came the bellyaching part, which hurt my brain, eyes, and uh.. belly. it's the war after the first publication, with full on accusation left right center, wailing by everyone, exclamation marks!!! etc. All told in the same confusing writing. Which i guess would be be someone elses cup of tea.
I wanted to read some nonfiction to balance my rich fiction diet lately, but this is not exactly what i was aiming for
2 stars
It's a pity of course, with all these distraction, i didn't have enough brain left to decide for myself if James Maybrick was Jack the Ripper; nor do i care at the end of this bumpy road. The first part is basically ok, with the writer trying to see if the text matched know history. It went quite beyond the diary, following the death of Maybrick then his wife's trial and tribulations which is a must in this case. And then... and then came the bellyaching part, which hurt my brain, eyes, and uh.. belly. it's the war after the first publication, with full on accusation left right center, wailing by everyone, exclamation marks!!! etc. All told in the same confusing writing. Which i guess would be be someone elses cup of tea.
I wanted to read some nonfiction to balance my rich fiction diet lately, but this is not exactly what i was aiming for
2 stars
April 9, 2023
The 4⭐ has little to do with the veracity of the diary and whether I believe it or not.
The book certainly presents several reasons why it is; there were countless tests performed by specialists and it goes as far as explaining how ink worked back then —several pages of this interesting subject, as well as paper and forgery.
If the diary is fake, then it took several people to help achieve it, as well as a great writer *and* someone who used the same drugs as the writer as to be able to know how to describe its effects. But it still wouldn't explain how the diary contains details that were not available to the public (back) then.
The rating goes for the stories happening parallel to the Jack the Ripper murders; the lives of James and Florie Maybrick, the psychology behind the diary itself and that of the team of experts who shared extraordinary knowledge from their fields.
Those alone make it an amazing read where the diary has its value as an insight to the mind of James Maybrick, his thoughts running from delusional, proud and angry to methodical and absolutely insane, regardless of him being Jack the Ripper or not.
For that, it's worth it.
"Jack the Ripper, although a monster, was just one amongst many." (Dr. David Forshaw)
The book certainly presents several reasons why it is; there were countless tests performed by specialists and it goes as far as explaining how ink worked back then —several pages of this interesting subject, as well as paper and forgery.
If the diary is fake, then it took several people to help achieve it, as well as a great writer *and* someone who used the same drugs as the writer as to be able to know how to describe its effects. But it still wouldn't explain how the diary contains details that were not available to the public (back) then.
The rating goes for the stories happening parallel to the Jack the Ripper murders; the lives of James and Florie Maybrick, the psychology behind the diary itself and that of the team of experts who shared extraordinary knowledge from their fields.
Those alone make it an amazing read where the diary has its value as an insight to the mind of James Maybrick, his thoughts running from delusional, proud and angry to methodical and absolutely insane, regardless of him being Jack the Ripper or not.
For that, it's worth it.
"Jack the Ripper, although a monster, was just one amongst many." (Dr. David Forshaw)
October 4, 2021
The book was really interesting, although these are all real facts and real people they are so insane that the life of the Maybricks’ sounds fake, as a True Crime fan I loved it.
From James supposedly being Jack the ripper, Florie being framed with James' death, and his brothers being involved in framing Florie with a bunch of other people this could be the plot of a movie. Felt super sad for Florie because misogyny ruined her life, also kinda disappointed that the big bad Jack the ripper started murdering people because he found out his wife cheated on him, which gives big petty man behavior vibes.
I am perfectly aware that this diary wasn't proven to be true but it wasn't proven to be fake either and that says a lot too, I think this diary is real because everything in James’ life lines up with the crimes, it just makes too much sense to me.
There's a lot of strong pictures in this book and I think this should come with a trigger warning or something like that because not only was very explicit telling how the victims died, it also had pictures of them in the crime scenes while deceased, that's very strong and not everyone has “stomach” to see it.
From James supposedly being Jack the ripper, Florie being framed with James' death, and his brothers being involved in framing Florie with a bunch of other people this could be the plot of a movie. Felt super sad for Florie because misogyny ruined her life, also kinda disappointed that the big bad Jack the ripper started murdering people because he found out his wife cheated on him, which gives big petty man behavior vibes.
I am perfectly aware that this diary wasn't proven to be true but it wasn't proven to be fake either and that says a lot too, I think this diary is real because everything in James’ life lines up with the crimes, it just makes too much sense to me.
There's a lot of strong pictures in this book and I think this should come with a trigger warning or something like that because not only was very explicit telling how the victims died, it also had pictures of them in the crime scenes while deceased, that's very strong and not everyone has “stomach” to see it.
January 15, 2023
This was an interesting read and story, but I think I would have preferred it if we're shown how the facts of Maybrick's life lined up with the diary & Jack the Ripper via evidence. Instead, it felt as though we were to take the diary, & it being Maybrick's, as verbatim and we're relayed the story as Harrison believed it to have occurred.
I think if there was more discussion as to how Harrison knew about Haybrick's life and his movements during the period of murders, it would have held more weight. Unfortunately, we are only given the excerpts of the diary as 'proof' to his misdeeds.
It would have been interesting to read the views of other Ripper enthusiasts on the book rather than them being glossed over. Harrison could then have provided counter-arguments, with evidence, to help validate her beliefs further.
For me, 'the debate' part was quite lacking and mainly concerned the validity of the age of the diary rather than much else.
Overall, I found it an easy read and definitely an interesting premise. However, I feel much more research would need to be done by readers to decide the 'truth' as this book is rather biased towards the diary being the real deal & by Maybrick.
I think if there was more discussion as to how Harrison knew about Haybrick's life and his movements during the period of murders, it would have held more weight. Unfortunately, we are only given the excerpts of the diary as 'proof' to his misdeeds.
It would have been interesting to read the views of other Ripper enthusiasts on the book rather than them being glossed over. Harrison could then have provided counter-arguments, with evidence, to help validate her beliefs further.
For me, 'the debate' part was quite lacking and mainly concerned the validity of the age of the diary rather than much else.
Overall, I found it an easy read and definitely an interesting premise. However, I feel much more research would need to be done by readers to decide the 'truth' as this book is rather biased towards the diary being the real deal & by Maybrick.
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