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 Lexington and Concord: The Battle Heard Round the World by Sandra Hempel
Cover of the book Happy as a Dane: 10 Secrets of the Happiest People in the World by Sandra Hempel
Cover of the book The Size of the World: A Novel by Sandra Hempel
Cover of the book Blandings Castle by Sandra Hempel
Cover of the book The Meaning of Night: A Confession by Sandra Hempel
Cover of the book Identity and the Life Cycle by Sandra Hempel
Cover of the book The New Mind-Body Science of Depression by Sandra Hempel
Cover of the book The Religious Test: Why We Must Question the Beliefs of Our Leaders by Sandra Hempel
Cover of the book The Battle of Britain: The Greatest Air Battle of World War II by Sandra Hempel
Cover of the book Women After All: Sex, Evolution, and the End of Male Supremacy by Sandra Hempel
Cover of the book In Search of Memory: The Emergence of a New Science of Mind by Sandra Hempel
Cover of the book Thinking in an Emergency (Norton Global Ethics Series) by Sandra Hempel
Cover of the book Anthill: A Novel by Sandra Hempel
Cover of the book Restoration by Sandra Hempel
Cover of the book Babylon Heights 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