
By Victor Macclure
I. — INTRODUCTORY
II. — A FAIR NECK FOR THE MAIDEN
III: — THE COUNTESS AND THE COZENER
IV: — A MODEL FOR MR HOGARTH
V: — ALMOST A LADY
VI: — ARSENIC A LA BRETONNE
VII: — THE MERRY WIDOWS
INDEX
FOOTNOTES:
This volume offers a vivid collection of true‑crime narratives centered on women whose names have haunted history. From ancient poisoners like Locusta to Renaissance figures such as Lucrezia Borgia, each chapter presents the courtroom drama, social context, and the tangled rumors that have colored their legacies. The author approaches the material with a historian’s eye, sifting through trial records, pamphlets, and scholarly debates to separate fact from political slander.
Beyond the lurid details, the work asks why certain women become symbols of evil while others fade into obscurity, exposing the gendered biases that have shaped legal and literary portrayals for centuries. Readers will find a blend of scholarly rigor and compelling storytelling that brings these long‑forgotten cases to life, inviting reflection on how justice was administered to women in different eras. It is a thoughtful, meticulously sourced portrait of crime, accusation, and the power of narrative.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (398K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Mike Lough and David Widger
Release date
1996-04-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1887–1963
A Scottish painter turned storyteller, he wrote brisk detective novels, thrillers, and an occasional fantasy while also publishing under the name Peter Craig. His work carries the feel of a writer who had seen a great deal of the world and knew how to keep a plot moving.
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