The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper
Winner of the Baillie Gifford Prize for Nonfiction and of the Goodreads Choice Award for History & Biography
The award-winning, best-selling true crime book that changes the narrative of the “Ripper” murders foreverPolly, Annie, Elisabeth, Catherine, and Mary Jane are famous for the same thing, though they never met. They came from some of London’s wealthiest and poorest neighborhoods, from the factory towns of middle England, and from Wales and Sweden. They wrote ballads, ran coffeehouses, lived on country estates; they breathed ink dust from printing presses and escaped human traffickers.
What they had in common was the year of their murders: 1888. The person responsible was never identified, but the character created by the press to fill that gap has become far more famous than any of these five women. Now, in this gripping work of social history, Hallie Rubenhold finally sets the record straight, giving these women back their stories and painting a vivid portrait of Victorian London.
By moving the focus away from the killer, The Five uncovers the real stories behind the headlines:
- The Five Lives: Meet Polly, Annie, Elisabeth, Catherine, and Mary Jane. For the first time, their full biographies are revealed, from their childhoods and careers to their loves and losses.
- Beyond the “Prostitute” Myth: This landmark investigation challenges the long-held, misogynistic assumption that all the victims worked as prostitutes, giving these women back their dignity.
- A Portrait of Victorian Poverty: Journey into the workhouses, lodging houses, and hidden corners of 19th-century London, where the struggle for survival was a daily reality.
- Gripping Narrative Nonfiction: A compelling and compassionate read that combines deep research with powerful storytelling to finally set the record straight.
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Readers say *The Five* is a rigorously researched, feminist history exposing the grim realities of Victorian working-class women, challenging myths an...
Very well researched histories of the five victims of Jack the Ripper. Essentially, this was more of a feminist history of Victorian working class society and female roles and expectations - the bleak, diseased living conditions, high rates of child mortality, physical abuse, and alcoholism.
The historical accounts of the lives of Polly, Annie, Kate, Elizabeth, and Mary Jane revealed oppressive, joyless realities exacerbated by poverty, poor decisions, and excessive drinking. The author maintains that not all these women were prostitutes, yet she provides evidence- either through research or conjecture based on researched information - that all five engaged in prostitution near the end of their lives. Certainly, they were daughters, sisters, mothers, and wives, but to what end? I read no redeeming qualities about any of them - liars, thieves, mistresses, con artists, and yes, prostitutes (although, only two were professionals).
The detailed accounts of the dismal lives led by these five women made their tragic deaths seem more of a compassionate - albeit gruesome - end to what was described as a miserable existence. Even Shakespeare knew to provide comic relief in his tragedies to add a little levity to offset the inevitable tragic end.
The historical accounts of the lives of Polly, Annie, Kate, Elizabeth, and Mary Jane revealed oppressive, joyless realities exacerbated by poverty, poor decisions, and excessive drinking. The author maintains that not all these women were prostitutes, yet she provides evidence- either through research or conjecture based on researched information - that all five engaged in prostitution near the end of their lives. Certainly, they were daughters, sisters, mothers, and wives, but to what end? I read no redeeming qualities about any of them - liars, thieves, mistresses, con artists, and yes, prostitutes (although, only two were professionals).
The detailed accounts of the dismal lives led by these five women made their tragic deaths seem more of a compassionate - albeit gruesome - end to what was described as a miserable existence. Even Shakespeare knew to provide comic relief in his tragedies to add a little levity to offset the inevitable tragic end.
This was a lot of information and historical storytelling. I learned about so many people that I don’t know if I could even name the fove women this is supposed to be about. I truly appreciate the I tension of this book - to bring to life the real lives of the women murdered by Jack the Ripper and not to perpetuate the false narrative surrounding their murders.
This felt like a huge data dump that struggled to sort itself out or trim the excess. Some parts seemed to go full steam into, what felt like, a major side story and by the time the author circled back, I had already forgotten whose life I was learning about.
What I appreciated most about this book though, was that the author refused to take liberties with the details of these women’s lives. There were no fictional tales to fill in the blank spaces or gaps in the timelines. She tried to stay very true to the experiences, facts, documented records, and historical laws that existed.
This is a great book! Delving into the history of the five women's lives, it tells their story, of poverty and trying to survive in Victorian times. Discounting the labels of prostitute that the authorities and press placed on them when they were brutally murdered by the monster we call "Jack the Ripper".