Customer Reviews

The Prince, His Tutor and the Ripper: The Evidence Linking James Kenneth Stephen to the Whitechapel Murders

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The subtitle of this book is "The Evidence Linking James Kenneth Stephen to the Whitechapel Murders". It should actually read "The Evidence NOT Linking James Kenneth Stephen to the Whitechapel Murders".....but then the book's prime selling point would have been eradicated. The added cover anouncement of a forward by Colin Wilson (one of the world's foremost Ripperologists) is also misleading in that given the subtitle and Wilson's foreword, the unwary buyer of this book is led to a quick conclusion that J.K. Stephen may well have been Jack the Ripper! Yet the book, and the foreword (once read) disavow this notion. The possible connection between Stephen and the Ripper murders comprises about 15% of the book, the rest of the text being a too-detailed bio of the lives of Stephen, Prince Eddy and another Ripper suspect named Druitt. While the lives of all three men are interesting in their own right, the book is tedious in its reliance on text quotations and detail that is, quite simply, just not needed. Rather Ms. McDonald focused more on her subtitle's implications....because there is, indeed, alot to the theory that J.K. Stephen was, in fact, Jack the Ripper. This conclusion was more directly addressed in two previous texts from years ago. So - while this book uses Jack the Ripper as its selling point - it in fact has very little to do with both the Ripper and the truly interesting feasibility of his identity. Plus - whilst Stephen's life is an interesting and tragic tale, as told so dryly and needlessly detail-laden as done in this book, it is neither dramatically, evocatively or interestingly related. A pity. A missed opportunity.

For those who have followed the continuing saga of Victorian killer Jack the Ripper this book is a must. Author McDonald has painstakingly scoured letters, documents and memoirs to give us one of the very few factual accounts of the lives of three of the "main characters" in the Ripper legend. These three are Prince Albert Victor (the Duke of Clarence and Avondale), J.K. Stephen, who was the prince's tutor and, possibly, lover, and Montagu Druitt, another often-mentioned Ripper suspect. While these names, and others, are often found in suspect lists, in other books very little background information usually accompanies them.
Here McDonald has done a forthright job of weaving the family backgrounds of each with the facts of their young lives that are known. Most of "Prince Eddy"'s correspondence has apparently been destroyed, a sad fact that must have presented quite a challenge to the author, but there is more in this book about him than I've seen before. Montagu and Stephen, especially, come to life really for the first time.
All three came from privilege but died as young men. There are eerie parallels between them involving money, madness and homosexuality.
Of course, J.K. Stephen and Prince Eddy knew each other very well. McDonald explains what ties the three of them could have had and what possible tie, though unlikely, to the Ripper killings. Indeed, these three must have been more than ships passing in the night. Were they, any of them, the killer?
This rare window into the late Victorian world is highly recommended.

It has been quite a while since I've read something "new" about the Ripper case. The majority of books (and I have purchased most of them) are a rehash of the same old material, much of which is composed of oft reapeated urban legends. This one has a fresh recap of the old evidence--and a lot that is new. The author has written a page-turner in a field that often causes more yawns than raised eyebrows.
Absolutely a MUST for any serious researcher who wants to know more about the relationship between Eddy, J.K. Stephen and Montague John Druitt.

'A well-researched and non sensational look at the fascinating life of a Ripper suspect. A must have for any Ripper enthusiast.

This book will be of interest to those studying the life of Prince Albert Victor (Eddy). His life along with those of James Kenneth Stephen and another Ripper suspect, Montague John Druitt, are examined The author shows how these people's lives and social circles were connected. Very interesting. There is also a photograph of Prince Eddy with James Kenneth Stephen, J.N. Dalton, Harry Wilson and others which was taken at Eddy's departure from Cambridge. I had never seen this photo before. All in all I found the book very readable, well researched and would definately recommend it.