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nanasanchez's review against another edition
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
It really feels good to have finished a book. I liked the story, which was totally new to me, but what I liked even more were all the descriptions of life and society and the time. The only thing that bothered me was the editing, with some bits of information being repeated over and over again and some quotes from letters seemed quite unnecessary. But that's just my opinion!
shakesfear's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
3.0
Interesting bit of history involving Sherlock Holmes’ creator.
melissadeemcdaniel's review against another edition
3.0
The “racialization of crime” is a horrifying but timely phrase. In the case outlined by Fox, the accused “affronted the sensibilities of the age”. What a depressing familiarity that sentiment expresses.
I enjoyed this book, although its detailed outline of the crime and the “criminal” were at times somewhat *too* detailed. The book was a total immersion into Great Britain of the time.
I enjoyed this book, although its detailed outline of the crime and the “criminal” were at times somewhat *too* detailed. The book was a total immersion into Great Britain of the time.
lieslindi's review against another edition
You know from the outset that the man wrongfully imprisoned is released, but the ending struck a gut-punch from another direction. I did wonder whether he would go home to Germany. Good thing he didn't: he still had siblings there in 1939. He didn't in 1945.
shadeyc's review against another edition
2.0
The last 25% of this book is literally acknowledgements, references, appendices and the glossary.
There is at least another 25% of this book that is research that SHOULD have been put into the appendices.
That leaves a book that could have been half the size and interesting.
Which is frustrating.
I spent most of my time distracted by information that did not need to be where it was.
All I wanted was the case and some padding to go with it to drive the "story". When I had snippets of that, it was good.
Unfortunately, because of all the extra gaff (at one point I skipped FOUR chapters of quotes about quotes....) it falls into the "it was ok" category.
I feel with some serious editing this would be quite interesting.
There is at least another 25% of this book that is research that SHOULD have been put into the appendices.
That leaves a book that could have been half the size and interesting.
Which is frustrating.
I spent most of my time distracted by information that did not need to be where it was.
All I wanted was the case and some padding to go with it to drive the "story". When I had snippets of that, it was good.
Unfortunately, because of all the extra gaff (at one point I skipped FOUR chapters of quotes about quotes....) it falls into the "it was ok" category.
I feel with some serious editing this would be quite interesting.