Sickert and the Ripper Crimes [Hardcover]

Jean Overton Fuller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1990

In the autumn of 1888 London women lived under the shadow of the Ripper murders - killings perhaps unmatched in their sadistic brutality. Sickert & the Ripper Crimes derives from the unsuspected testimony of the woman who had particular reason to fear for her life. In the autumn of 1888 London women lived under the shadow of the Ripper murders - killings perhaps unmatched in their sadistic brutality. Sickert & the Ripper Crimes derives from the unsuspected testimony of the woman who had particular reason to fear for her life. Florence Pash, friend and colleague of the artist Walter Sickert and herself an artist, confided to the author's mother when in her late eighties, a terrible story that she had kept even from those closest to her. She and Sickert had both known Mary Kelly, the last woman to be brutally murdered by the Ripper - and Sickert had warned her that, because she knew what Mary Kelly knew, she could become, if she ever began to talk, the Ripper's next victim. Sickert told Florence that he was painting into his pictures clues to the murders as he wished people to know the truth after his death. Jean Overton Fuller using her artist's eye, has picked them out and read the riddle.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The author is no stranger to controversy. For several decades she has been exploding myths in a manner that has often lead to a complete reappraisal of historical events. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 260 pages
• Publisher: Mandrake of Oxford; 1 edition (1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1869928156
• ISBN-13: 978-1869928155
• Shipping Information: View shipping rates and policies
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,657,165 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Conclusions absolutely unfounded but still interesting, September 4, 2010

By 

C. J. Thompson "Arctic John" (Pond Inlet, Nunavut Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: SICKERT AND THE RIPPER CRIMES (Paperback)

I actually rather expected to get halfway through this book and then abandon it. After all, it is another retelling of the 'Royal cover-up' conspiracy theory advanced in Jack the Ripper: The Final Solution and Ripper & the Royals, albeit with a twist in that the painter, Walter Sickert, is fingered as the killer. This in fact, is also the conclusion in Patricia Cornwell's ridiculous book, Portrait Of A Killer, which was written after the first edition of this one, and from which, some say, she cribbed shamelessly and without acknowledgment. This is actually the reason I bought this book because I wanted to see what the earlier theory was about. I didn't expect to be convinced by any means and, as I say, I half expected to skim it without much interest. As it happened though, I quite enjoyed the book and read it from start to finish.

The story behind the book is that a female artist and acquaintance of Walter Sickert, told the author's mother that she and Sickert both knew Mary Kelly, the last canonical victim, and that he had told her that she might be in danger because of her acquaintance with Kelly. From this and other facts, the friend concluded that Sickert was himself the killer. Years later, in 1948, the author's mother repeated the story to her daughter in a way that suggested she had no doubt as to its veracity. The thing I enjoyed about this book is the reading it rather gives the senses of hearing the book... as though one were ensconced in a comfy chair in front of a fire with a hot cup of cocoa, listening to a long rambling story by an aging relative which is not quite believable but cozily entertaining nevertheless. It was a pleasant, easy read.

Inevitably, there is not a shred of actual evidence against Sickert, even if one accepts the second hand hearsay at face value. The so-called clues in Sickert's paintings are a stretch at the very best and the supposed motive and manner of execution is just not beleiveable. Still, although novice Ripperologists should read a few more mainstream works first, many collectors will wish to have this one. In this newest edition in particular,Overton discusses the Cornwell book and has some interesting things to say.