The Inheritor's Powder: A Tale of Arsenic, Murder, and the New Forensic Science

Nonfiction, Science & Nature, Science, Other Sciences, History, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science, Crimes & Criminals, Murder, True Crime
Cover of the book The Inheritor's Powder: A Tale of Arsenic, Murder, and the New Forensic Science by Sandra Hempel, W. W. Norton & Company
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Sandra Hempel ISBN: 9780393240467
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company Publication: October 15, 2013
Imprint: W. W. Norton & Company Language: English
Author: Sandra Hempel
ISBN: 9780393240467
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Publication: October 15, 2013
Imprint: W. W. Norton & Company
Language: English

An infamous murder investigation that changed forever the way poisoners were brought to justice.

In the first half of the nineteenth century, an epidemic swept Europe: arsenic poisoning. Available at any corner shop for a few pence, arsenic was so frequently used by potential beneficiaries of wills that it was nicknamed “the inheritor’s powder.” But it was difficult to prove that a victim had been poisoned, let alone to identify the contaminated food or drink since arsenic was tasteless.

Then came a riveting case. On the morning of Saturday, November 2, 1833, the Bodle household sat down to their morning breakfast. That evening, the local doctor John Butler received an urgent summons: the family and their servants had collapsed and were seriously ill. Three days later, after lingering in agony, wealthy George Bodle died in his bed at his farmhouse in Plumstead, leaving behind several heirs, including a son and grandson—both of whom were not on the best of terms with the family patriarch.

The investigation, which gained international attention, brought together a colorful cast of characters: bickering relatives; a drunken, bumbling policeman; and James Marsh, an unknown but brilliant chemist who, assigned the Bodle case, attempted to create a test that could accurately pinpoint the presence of arsenic. In doing so, however, he would cause as many problems as he solved. Were innocent men and women now going to the gallows? And would George Bodle’s killer be found?

Incisive and wryly entertaining, science writer Sandra Hempel brings to life a gripping story of domestic infighting, wayward police behavior, a slice of Victorian history, stories of poisonings, and an unforgettable foray into the origins of forensic science.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

An infamous murder investigation that changed forever the way poisoners were brought to justice.

In the first half of the nineteenth century, an epidemic swept Europe: arsenic poisoning. Available at any corner shop for a few pence, arsenic was so frequently used by potential beneficiaries of wills that it was nicknamed “the inheritor’s powder.” But it was difficult to prove that a victim had been poisoned, let alone to identify the contaminated food or drink since arsenic was tasteless.

Then came a riveting case. On the morning of Saturday, November 2, 1833, the Bodle household sat down to their morning breakfast. That evening, the local doctor John Butler received an urgent summons: the family and their servants had collapsed and were seriously ill. Three days later, after lingering in agony, wealthy George Bodle died in his bed at his farmhouse in Plumstead, leaving behind several heirs, including a son and grandson—both of whom were not on the best of terms with the family patriarch.

The investigation, which gained international attention, brought together a colorful cast of characters: bickering relatives; a drunken, bumbling policeman; and James Marsh, an unknown but brilliant chemist who, assigned the Bodle case, attempted to create a test that could accurately pinpoint the presence of arsenic. In doing so, however, he would cause as many problems as he solved. Were innocent men and women now going to the gallows? And would George Bodle’s killer be found?

Incisive and wryly entertaining, science writer Sandra Hempel brings to life a gripping story of domestic infighting, wayward police behavior, a slice of Victorian history, stories of poisonings, and an unforgettable foray into the origins of forensic science.

More books from W. W. Norton & Company

Cover of the book The Chan's Great Continent: China in Western Minds by Sandra Hempel
Cover of the book Love, Death, and the Changing of the Seasons by Sandra Hempel
Cover of the book Sylvanus Now: A Novel by Sandra Hempel
Cover of the book Texas: A History by Sandra Hempel
Cover of the book Rickwood Field: A Century in America's Oldest Ballpark by Sandra Hempel
Cover of the book Lewis Carroll in Numberland: His Fantastical Mathematical Logical Life by Sandra Hempel
Cover of the book Geons, Black Holes, and Quantum Foam: A Life in Physics by Sandra Hempel
Cover of the book A User's Guide to Therapy: What to Expect and How You Can Benefit by Sandra Hempel
Cover of the book Waltzing the Cat by Sandra Hempel
Cover of the book In the Yucatan: A Novel by Sandra Hempel
Cover of the book Indelible Ink: The Trials of John Peter Zenger and the Birth of America's Free Press by Sandra Hempel
Cover of the book Opening Skinner's Box: Great Psychological Experiments of the Twentieth Century by Sandra Hempel
Cover of the book Miss Manners' Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior (Freshly Updated) by Sandra Hempel
Cover of the book Keynes Hayek: The Clash that Defined Modern Economics by Sandra Hempel
Cover of the book Stars Between the Sun and Moon: One Woman's Life in North Korea and Escape to Freedom by Sandra Hempel
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy