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Murder: The Biography
- Narrated by: Emilia Fox
- Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins
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Murder: The Biography
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Summary
THE CRIMES. THE STORIES. THE LAW
‘Masterful’ – Judith Flanders
‘A page-turning read' – Prof. David Wilson
Totally gripping and brilliantly told, Murder: The Biography is a gruesome and utterly captivating portrait of the legal history of murder.
The stories and the people involved in the history of murder are stranger, darker and more compulsive than any crime fiction. There’s Richard Parker, the cannibalized cabin boy whose death at the hands of his hungry crewmates led the Victorian courts to decisively outlaw a defence of necessity to murder. Dr Percy Bateman, the incompetent GP whose violent disregard for his patient changed the law on manslaughter. Ruth Ellis, the last woman hanged in England in the 1950s, played a crucial role in changes to the law around provocation in murder cases. And Archibald Kinloch, the deranged Scottish aristocrat whose fratricidal frenzy paved the way for the defence of diminished responsibility. These, and many more, are the people – victims, killers, lawyers and judges, who unwittingly shaped the history of that most grisly and storied of laws.
Join lawyer and writer Kate Morgan on a dark and macabre journey as she explores the strange stories and mysterious cases that have contributed to UK murder law. The big corporate killers; the vengeful spouses; the sloppy doctors; the abused partners; the shoddy employers; each story a crime and each crime a precedent that has contributed to the law’s dark, murky and, at times, shocking standing.
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Critic reviews
‘Brisk and fascinating… as befits a lawyer, Morgan’s real interest lies in the slippery concept of murder itself, which she carefully traces through the centuries.’ – Sunday Times
'A fascinating new history of homicide… Kate Morgan’s book is a detailed account of the subtle way that the law has changed over the years to embrace self-defence, insanity, diminished responsibility, medical incompetence, corporate manslaughter, dangerous driving, even death by bicycle.' – Daily Mail
‘Kate Morgan’s panoramic tour allows us to pull back and examine how our understanding is built on history, but also fiction and legend. Masterful.’ – Judith Flanders, author of The Invention of Murder
‘A page-turning read… A history that is framed by the Law but does not shy away from using popular culture and our endless fascination with murder and murderers to bring the story to life.’ – Prof. David Wilson, author of Signs of Murder
‘With Murder: The Biography author and lawyer Kate Morgan asks two essential questions: What exactly is the crime we know as murder? and how has it gained its current prominence in our criminal justice system? Weaving together fascinating historical cases and expert opinion on the subject, Morgan presents an account that will engross and titillate all those for whom murder is a passion…’ Vaseem Khan, author of Midnight at Malabar House
‘Fascinating reading… The pages come alive as the author drops in details about some well-known crimes – such as Ruth Ellis and Derek Bentley, and other more obscure cases and how they changed public opinion about the law… Morgan’s book will satisfy those who like grisly tales all in all it’s an excellent book which I highly recommend.’ TotalCrime.co.uk
What listeners say about Murder: The Biography
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Deborah McLeary/ James McLeary
- 04-08-21
interesting history
Really enjoyed the UK legal history of the consequences of murder throughout our history
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1 person found this helpful
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- Miss H MCCOY
- 25-09-21
Fascinating
Fascinating book - It was really eye opening and throughly engaging. Brilliantly narrated could listen to Emilia Fox all day.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 15-08-22
Interesting and informative.
I found this interesting, informative,well written and well read. I thoroughly recommend it. At know point did the narrator's tone start to annoy. The chapters were well balanced and incisive.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- JH
- 12-05-21
Thought Provoking
I really enjoyed this book, I found it absorbing & thought provoking. The knowledge I gained throughout has made me want to pursue the subject further. Thank you.
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- Mrs B 2017
- 07-11-21
Interesting and thought provoking
This book is suitable for anyone interested in crime and the way in which murders are framed within different contexts and time periods. The author leads you through carefully laid out insights and provides an excellent framework for the examination of the nature of murder. The narrator has a lovely voice, even though the subject is not so lovely!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Tracy
- 05-08-23
REALLY INTERESTING
What a fascinating book about the evolution of our murder laws. Well put together and superb narration. Thoroughly recommend.
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- 13
- 28-12-23
Utterly fascinating
Utterly fascinating, thoughtfully written and beautifully read. Neither salacious nor morbid but learned and balanced. Cannot recommend enough
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- Poppytastic
- 07-02-22
Excellent book, well performed.
This is a comprehensive story of the legal treatment of murder since the 1600s. There are lots of interesting cases discussed which maybe are not well known, but have helped to define our laws surrounding murder and manslaughter. Emilia Fox was a great choice as narrator. Well worth listening to.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Setare M
- 26-12-22
Interesting listen
The book focuses more on the law side of the history of murder which is quite an interesting listen. It tells some stories of past murders and how the law has changed on the course of history.
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- Miss L
- 26-02-22
interesting
Really interesting and well researched book. I enjoyed it immensely. I recommend to anyone who enjoys true crime podcasts.
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