(A digression before I start the review: has anyone had book review drafts just disappear on them? I could have sworn I typed out the draft for the review of this book but it’s… just gone)
The Five has had a lot of hype and all of it was deserved. It’s a portrait of five different women living in Victorian London: Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly. They all came from different families and led very different lives, but they are tied together by one thread – they were murdered by the man we call Jack the Ripper.
Unlike most Jack the Ripper books, the murderer takes a back seat in The Five. Instead, Rubenhold honours the five women by piecing together their lives, revealing that they weren’t just prostitutes; in fact, four of them wouldn’t even have identified as prostitutes. They were distinct individuals, each with their own hopes and dreams.
One thing I took away from this book was that life for a middle-income to lower-income woman in Victorian-era England was very precarious. If you took one wrong step, you could be out on the streets or in a poorhouse, and honestly I have no idea which of the alternatives is worse.
Another thing I realised was that in the excitement and the sensationalism of the Ripper murders, we’ve more or less completely forgotten about the victims. Before I read this, I don’t think I could have told you who Jack the Ripper murdered, much less what they did or their histories. All I would think I know, was that they were poor and worked as prostitutes. It is unfair to them that their lives were simplified in this manner and I’m glad that The Five addresses this issue but paying respect to their individuality.
Overall, I found this to be a powerful book and I think that anyone who is/was interested in the Jack the Ripper case should read it. At the very least, we can and should remember these five women, not just for their deaths, but also for their lives.
Featured Image: Photo from Canva
So glad to hear you liked it! I have a copy, I recently got, since it was recommended to me a lot.
I think you’ll enjoy this! I honestly think it’s a very important book for all the people who are interested in the Jack the Ripper murders
You’re correct – totally deserves the hype. An incredible and eye opening read (although I’m not sure why were surprised that the Victorians had no empathy with such vulnerable women!). Glad you enjoyed it ☺️
That is true! I guess I didn’t expect the line between respectable and fallen women to be so precarious!
This sounds like an absolutely fantastic book! I don’t find myself particularly interested in the Jack the Ripper murders as a whole but learning more about the victims, seeing as it’s a side we don’t usually see, is definitely something I’d be interested in!
I highly recommend this book!! Apart from being a good way to remember the victims, I also learnt a lot about Victorian-era England!
Yes! I could have sworn I’ve written reviews of some books and then go back and find nothing. I don’t know if it’s my imagination or they actually did disappear. And yet I’m so certain I must have written the reviews . . .
I have heard a lot about this book and am interested in reading it. I am glad you recommend it, Eustacia.
Same here! I was very sure I had written the review, and even checked to see if I already published it but… it’s gone. Perhaps the internet swallows up posts ._.