The Complete History of Jack the Ripper Paperback – January 9, 2002

With a minefield of books available on this subject, it is surprising to find that only a handful can be considered for the serious minded reader wanting to discover the full story behind one of the most famous crimes of the Victorian era. Philip Sudgens "Complete History of Jack the Ripper" is definitely one of these, if not at the top of the list. The author convincingly produces a comprehensive study of the case and paints a vivid picture of life in the East End of London in the latter part of the nineteenth century, as well as the processes employed (where known) of the Police investigations into these crimes.Each murder is dealt with individually. Sudgen has painstakingly recreated the events from known legitimate sources and medical documents. Each victim is given a history, a human face if you like - in effect giving life back to each one of the unfortunate women who fell foul of this madman, while the character of Jack the Ripper is extraordinary well drawn, considering he is a complete unknown.This book hasn't been written with the intention to lead up to a 'big reveal'. There is no sensational exposé here, the finger doesn't point to any one particular crazed individual, group or secret society. Sudgen presents the facts from records and documents available, and at the same time writing off any of the bizarre theories from recent years. The only relevant suspects presented here are the few who were seriously considered at the time (or in later years) by the Police investigating the crimes. Even here Sudgen dispels these.I choose this book after careful consideration of the many available on Amazon. I wanted to know the facts and that is exactly what I got. The subject matter may be grim but that doesn't distract from the fact that the book is a highly entertaining and satisfactory read. I was pleased to discover that this is considered one of THE most highly recommended and respected books by all serious Ripper historians (Ripperologists). I do however have one gripe worth mentioning, and this is with the update written for the new edition (2001 - the current version available). The introduction covers new insights to characters and theories presented in the book. Obviously only having just purchased the book I wasn't familiar with whom Philip Sudgen was referring to, and this did lead to some confusion. However re-reading the introduction again at the end makes perfect sense and I would suggest any new reader do the same.If you want to be taken on a journey into Victorian London with a well researched study of the Whitechapel murders, and given an insight into one of the most famous crimes in history, then this is the book you really should read. If on the other hand you want to read about fictional secret missions by mysterious persons riding though the fog filled London streets of the East End in hansom cabs, Masonic and secret societies or Police and Royal cover ups, look elsewhere.

Having read several books on Jack the Ripper, I can enthusiastically declare Sugden's volume the best of the lot, for a number of reasons. First and foremost, this book is not about "Jack the Ripper" per se, but rather it is about the series of murders in Whitechapel and the ensuing investigation. It is the author's stated goal to present the facts as clearly as can be gleaned from extant police files and press reports of the time (albeit, in the latter case, cautiously and only when information is not available in official form). As other reviewers point out, Sugden is not trying to convince us that his own pet suspect is the Ripper. Whereas most Ripper books begin with a conclusion and are written with the arbitary purpose of convincing us that the author has identified the Ripper, this book actually saves the conclusion to the end. Even that conclusion, however, is not definitive. The author does, in the end, tell us why a certain suspect seems to fit the facts better than other named suspects, but he clearly states that there is no definitive proof as to whether or not that suspect was Jack, and he by no means accuses the man of the crimes. In the same vein, Sugden does not attack other writers in the field. That being said, he does point out flaws and outright mistakes in others' thinking. Even this, it must be said, is done in a noble fashion. Sugden is very determined to dispel a number of myths that have wrongly influenced Ripperology for many years, and his contribution toward this end is the most important contribution he makes. He goes to great lengths to not only point out false "facts" (such as the supposed pregnancy of Mary Kelly, for example, an idea that even Donald Rumbelow accepted when he wrote his Casebook) but to explain where these myths came from and why they were accepted by other writers.Another wonderful thing about this book is Sugden's treatment of the victims. I must admit that I have always viewed the victims with some detachment--this is surely a personal shortcoming on my part, but it is one that many people may share, especially given that the victims were prostitutes in Victorian London over a century ago. In the pages of this book, though, these poor women actually become real and "human." I feel as if I knew them now, to at least a small degree, and, besides feeling pity and compassion for them, I have discovered that I actually liked a couple of them (especially Annie Camp). These women were not just poor "prostitutes." Other writers have done a good job of explaining the wretched conditions in Whitechapel, but no one else has made that world and its occupants really come alive and real to me before. Sugden deserves much praise for putting so much effort into researching, learning, and telling the true story of these women as comprehensively as possible.In this book, you will find the most complete, objective story that can be told of the Whitechapel murders. "Facts" you have assumed were true will be brought to light and revealed to be myths. New information, particularly in regard to the victims, will be presented. You will not be shown Jack the Ripper, however. What do the facts tell us about Jack the Ripper? That is the question Sugden poses. He has some ideas, which he shares, but any "answers" to this mystery are ultimately left with the reader.This book should be required reading for any person even remotely interested in Jack the Ripper. Sugden has written the sacred tome of Ripperology, in my opinion.

This is the essential read if you're interested in the absolute facts behind Jack the Ripper. The author doesn't give in to any mania or sensationalism about trying to put a name to the killer nor has a compulsion to believe one story more than another simply because it's more lurid. It's clear Mr. Sugden has delved deeper than most into the murk that surrounds the Whitechapel murders and yet has somehow kept his own sanity intact regarding what is the truth and what was created and misinterpreted by previous Ripperologists. The book is dense. Each page is a wall of text filled with detail and facts, but it's nonetheless fascinating.

This book is a thorough examination and sharing of the subject matter.