Patricia Cornwell

[Iain Wilson]

I'm keeping her book also. Just because I always keep books on this subject. Heck - I even kept Murder and Madness and that was pure hocum.

I bought a "spare" copy of it from a charity shop with the intention of going through it and scoring out every statement that was an assumption, speculation, crammed in to fit the theory or just plain made-up.

But ultimately I can't vandalize books so it's just sitting on my shelf staring maliciously at me

[Flagg]

I'm sure I've commented on Walter Sickert and her claims and here's another. I will edit with more detail later.

The biggest hole in her case against him,in my opinion, is when she states that Sickert was afraid of diseases and compulsive about hygiene. Killing people and killing them how the Ripper killed them is about the last thing a germ and disease conscious person would do, I think.

[DamonRathe]

I don't think it could be viewed as that. If you read the book, THE WHOLE BOOK, I think she has some pretty good evidence. Not saying she is right or wrong, but she has some good information

[BTCG]

I'd have to disagree, a solid alibi (like "he was in France at the time of the murders") goes a long, long way towards proving 100% that he wasn't the ripper.

It's happened for Ostrog.

You'd be right if Sickert had one... but letters written during this time period on his stationary from his home have been discovered, to go along with those written on his mother's stationary..

An advantage of Kindle over a printed book: you get the updates a printed book cannot offer.

[HelenaWojtczak]

If PC is so interested in this subject, how come she's not on here contributing to this thread?

I followed that link to the Youtube video http://youtu.be/CXSheBgPO4w and was interested in these comments left:

"I think it's pretty reprehensible to try to ruin the reputation of a person who is dead and not able to answer the charges of deffend him self. She seems to have apointed her self judge and jury and detective all at the same time, when she is in fact of course a writer of fiction and sensational fiction at that."

and

"I do think that she is besmirching his character and I stick to my view, that I think it to be wholly wrong. If he were alive today such comment would constitute very serious slander. It seems to me people think that if something happend along time ago its perfectly fine to make such statements."


Comments on this aspect of the book, anyone?

[Lechmere]

She is probably too busy to go on forums and probably put off from coming on this one by the hatred (not too strong a word) shown to her on here. There is a bullying aspect to it.
She has popularised this field even if her theory isn't much cop - but then most theories aren't much cop.

[Monty]

Hoe do you know she doesn't post on this thread?

Johnny Depp does.

Monty

[Bridewell]

Johnny Depp

Hoe do you know she doesn't post on this thread?

Johnny Depp does.

Monty

Monty, if you're Johnny Depp's sock-puppet, my daughter would like your/his signed photograph!

Regards, Bridewell.

[mariab]

Hoe do you know she doesn't post on this thread?
Johnny Depp does.

Did, as in, not anymore.

[Monty]

No, does.

As in still does.

Monty

[Monty]

Monty, if you're Johnny Depp's sock-puppet, my daughter would like your/his signed photograph!

Regards, Bridewell.

Sure Colin.

Yeah, right, you're Daughter wants my/Johnnys autograph.

Don't worry, I'll put your name in too.

Monty

[John Wheat]

Maybe Cornwell's more intelligent than she's given credit. Maybe she doesn't even believe Sickert was the Ripper but has come up with Sickert to sell books. She is a crime writer after all.

[miss marple]

Oh she believes it alright. I think she has a monomania. I saw her inteviewed after the book came out. She was obsessed, it was almost personal. Very strange woman.

Miss Marple

[London Fog]

Maybe Cornwell's more intelligent than she's given credit. Maybe she doesn't even believe Sickert was the Ripper but has come up with Sickert to sell books. She is a crime writer after all.

Actually, she is not the one to come up with Sickert as a suspect. Why is she given credit for it?

[Ausgirl]

I think there are a lot of people who are obsessed with their particular Ripper suspect, and for them too, it gets very personal. People here on this forum have devoted how many decades apiece to the case? Are they all a bit potty as well?

I don't think she's any more obsessed than any other person with a die-hard suspect theory. Plus, she invested millions of dollars in it. Had I done that, I'd do my best to avoid feeling like it'd all been a waste, too.

I don't particularly believe Sickert was the Ripper, but a great many of his paintings absolutely repulse me, and it's obvious he did explore murder themes in his art - perhaps even enjoyed putting himself about as someone 'in the know' to his wealthy friends who daren't slum it themselves. Patty's revulsion toward the man is perfectly understandable, in my opinion.

But yeah. Dunno about the whole Ripper thing.