The Art of the English Murder - by Lucy Worsley (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Murder--a dark, shameful deed, the last resort of the desperate or a vile tool of the greedy. And a very strange obsession. But where did this fixation develop? And what does it tell us about ourselves?

Our fascination with crimes like these became a form of national entertainment, inspiring novels and plays, prose and paintings, poetry and true-crime journalism. At a point during the birth of the modern era, murder entered the popular psyche, and it's been a part of us ever since.

The Art of the English Murder is a unique exploration of the art of crime--and a riveting investigation into the English criminal soul by one of our finest historians.

Review Quotes

"Lively. Worsley's goal isn't to provide a history of crime or crime writing, but to show how the British enjoyed and consumed the idea of murder."--The New York Times Book Review

"Worsley has a lively, accessible style, with frequent changes of pace and contagious enthusiasm for the little anecdotes and artifacts that bring history to life. A friendly introduction to the history of crime fiction."--The Washington Post

"Worsley's vivid account excites as much as its sensational subject matter, and edifies, too, thanks to her learned explications."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Fascinating. This riveting cultural history will enthrall fans of British crime novels as well as readers of true crime."--Library Journal (starred review)

"A brief, absorbing history lesson on how the British obsession with bloody deeds changed not only methods of law enforcement, but fertilized the roots of modern popular culture."--Bookgasm