Update on my book about Chapman

[Steven Russell]

Hello, Helena.
I must disagree with Roy: Southwark Poisoner is not difficult to pronounce at all!

I think I see your problem. Your book will be a treatment of Chapman and will mention the JtR connection but not significantly (I think you said 5%). So to mention Jack in the title, while it would probably help sales, would be a bit dishonest - or at least misrepresent the content. Your reticence does you credit.

As to how to proceed, I'm sure I'm in the majority who would love a full-length book but it's you who have to do the work so follow your own instincts.

What about: "The Southwark Poisoner". Then, below his picture, in much smaller type, "Being an account of the serial wife-killer and Jack the Ripper suspect George Chapman"?

Good luck,
Steve.

[HelenaWojtczak]

Maybe you could use Abberline's famous quote in the title:

"You've got Jack the Ripper at last!" - The Lives and Deaths of George Chapman

Thanks for that idea Boris. Still very long. But it is extremely clever in that it get the words JtR in the title without claiming that (a) he was JtR or (b) that I am presenting a book full of weighing up whether he is or he isn't JtR.

Also, I don't think Abberline ever said that.

I will sleep on it!

Ripperphiles .... I prefer "Ripperati" as -phile means lover of.

Helena

[bolo]

What about something like "George Chapman: Southwark Serial Killer and Abberline's choice for Jack the Ripper"

Bloody long, though!

Yes, that would be a bit too long...

Maybe you could use Abberline's famous quote in the title:

"You've got Jack the Ripper at last!" - The Lives and Deaths of George Chapman

(The plurals of "Lives" and "Deaths" is a reference to his aliases and the lifes he took as a serial poisoner).

I guess this would appeal to Ripperphiles and people new to the case as well.

[HelenaWojtczak]

I think it is best to stick to just one name/alias, my pick would be George Chapman.

About a JtR reference in the title or subtitle, well, puff is part of the trade!

What about "In The Shadows Of Jack The Ripper: George Chapman, Southwark Poisoner"?

What about something like "George Chapman: Southwark Serial Killer and Abberline's choice for Jack the Ripper"

Bloody long, though!

[HelenaWojtczak]

Roy - he was known as "the Southwark Poisoner" - like JtR, it was the name conjured up by the press and used at the time. He was also known as "the Borough Poisoner" but Southwark as a name is much more famous as an historical area (Shakespeare, Dickens, Marshalsea, Winchester Geese, etc) .

That doesn't mean I have to use it, of course! I am 100% open to hearing suggestions as to a better title!

[Roy Corduroy]

But when I decided to publish nationally, the title won't do.

I have a problem with the phrase Southwark Poisoner. It doesn't roll off the tongue easily. Try saying it three times.

Southwark Poisoner
Southwark Poisoner
Southwark Poisoner

I'm sure you'll think of something, Helena. Best of luck. I kinda like that "in the shadow of" thing. Its mysterious.

Roy

[HelenaWojtczak]

As I said before.......

'DID JACK THE RIPPER LIVE IN HASTINGS?'

A question there, not a statement

When I started writing this, that is almost exactly what I was going to call the book! "The Demon Barber of George Street: Did Jack the Ripper live in Hastings?" The reason I was happy with that was that it was going to be a much shorter book, and so the discussion of whether he was or was not the Ripper took up a bigger proportion of the book, say 30% instead of 5%.

But when I decided to publish nationally, the title won't do.

Maybe there is some way of incorporating this into the national book?

[HelenaWojtczak]

Rubyretro: That is an incredibly lofty and sweeping remark. How do you know ?

I think he is right. I lived in Southwark for 15 years and never took any interest in local history. Came to Hastings and hey presto, wrote four local history books!

Must be something in the water!

I think that this book would appeal to the legions of people like me.


Oh don't get me too excited!

[Rubyretro]

there still is Abberline's interest in him, that is why I think it is valid to put the JtR name in the title of a book on him.

[/QUOTE]

I agree with you bolo. It's not dishonest, and it will draw in readers who are not all 'suspect' orientated.

[bolo]

Boris: "In The Shadows Of Jack The Ripper". That sounds nice, but what does in the shadows mean?

It is meant as a reference to the connection between the JtR and Chapman cases. Chapman was not a contemporary suspect but there still is Abberline's interest in him, that is why I think it is valid to put the JtR name in the title of a book on him.

[Stephen Thomas]

I agree I need JtR in the title, just need to find a way of doing it without misleading or disappointing anyone.

As I said before.......

'DID JACK THE RIPPER LIVE IN HASTINGS?'

A question there, not a statement

[Rubyretro]

.

I don't imagine there are many people in Southwark who are remotely interested in Local History

.[/QUOTE]

That is an incredibly lofty and sweeping remark. How do you know ?

Maybe people would be more interested in local history if they had more information about it, easily available ?

As for 'the Southwark Poisoner' -I've never taken Chapman seriously as a Ripper suspect and I'm interested in the Whitechapel Murders as an 'entry point' to social history of the late 19th Century ; Judging by all the participants and readers of Casebook, I am far from unique (that's not locally, that's across the World).

I think that this book would appeal to the legions of people like me.

Obviously we need to be able to come across/find the book on the net with the name 'Jack the Ripper' -but we don't need a suspect based book, to be interested.

[HelenaWojtczak]

Hi Stephen and thank you so much for contributing to my thread!

this would work better as a Hastings and area local book/booklet which I believe is your business.


Well, the book DID start out as a local history booklet.

I don't imagine there are many people in Southwark who are remotely interested in Local History.


I'm intrigued to know why you think Southwark people won't be remotely interested in murders that took place in Southwark, but Hastings people will be interested although he didn't kill anyone here.

Helena

[Stephen Thomas]

Helena,

As you know I'm supportive of your efforts but I must say that I think this would work better as a Hastings and area local book/booklet which I believe is your business. I don't imagine there are many people in Southwark who are remotely interested in Local History. The only way a mainstream publisher would want it would be if it were a JTR 'suspect' book and it seems that your heart would not be into creating such a thing. However, a carefully researched Local History book about an infamous character who lived where you live could be a steady seller in that area and also be a desirable internet purchase for our companions here

[HelenaWojtczak]

So maybe you could 'turn' the title ? 'The Southwark Poisoner -the Jack the Ripper Suspect Who Never Was' sort of thing..

The Southwark Poisoner -Was He Jack The Ripper ?
(at least it doesn't let them down before they start reading !)

Maybe you don't need his name in the title. People who know about Chapman will understand 'The Southwark Poisoner', and if they don't know him, the name will mean nothing.

This is all good thinking, thank you!

I love "The Southwark Poisoner -Was He Jack The Ripper?" except for one tiny thing: 95% of the book tells the story of the poisonings, and only 5% -- the final chapter - - weighs up whether he was the Ripper or not. As I am always striving never to mislead or disappoint, in my books or in my titles, I am a bit worried that people might expect the whole book to be an evaluation of whether he was the Ripper or not and be irritated by having to wade through 95% of the book before getting to the bit they want, then being disappointed that it's only a small proportion of the book.

Boris: "In The Shadows Of Jack The Ripper". That sounds nice, but what does in the shadows mean?

I agree I need JtR in the title, just need to find a way of doing it without misleading or disappointing anyone.

I/we will have to brainstorm this a bit more.

Thanks, and keep the ideas coming!