Patricia Cornwell

[Patrick S]

That BBC documentary was very well made but Cornwell's "Armericarrn" "Why isn't that cheeseburger here now?!?!?!" Approach to a history she could buy with the comparative ease we all buy a burger was nauseating. I *know* that John Wayne Gacey was convicted and guilty but I'd still treat his artwork with kid gloves. The only viable "ripper" on show was the maniacal Cornwell as she had at Sickert's canvasses. Deplorable. However I do think she was, figuratively speaking, an American being sold Tower Bridge by canny local researchers and never stood a chance of even stumbling upon the truth.

Sickert, a customer of many ladies of the night I believe, "loved" women too much - look at his empathetic paintings of nudes - to mutilate and uglify with wounds.

Well, first I'd suggest that "loving" women, figuratively or literally, doesn't necessarily mean that someone could not have been a serial killer of women. In my view, we simply don't know enough about what motivated the individual(s) responsible for the Whitechapel murders, what compelled him, drive him, disorders from which he suffered, triggering events, etc.

Second, Cornwell is indeed a piece of work. Initially I found her mania very odd indeed. Yet, now, it seems somewhat more typical of theorists, researches, Ripperololgists, et al. NOTHING can divert them from their convictions. It's quite bizzare.

[Fantomas]

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

That BBC documentary was very well made but Cornwell's "Armericarrn" "Why isn't that cheeseburger here now?!?!?!" Approach to a history she could buy with the comparative ease we all buy a burger was nauseating. I *know* that John Wayne Gacey was convicted and guilty but I'd still treat his artwork with kid gloves. The only viable "ripper" on show was the maniacal Cornwell as she had at Sickert's canvasses. Deplorable. However I do think she was, figuratively speaking, an American being sold Tower Bridge by canny local researchers and never stood a chance of even stumbling upon the truth.

Sickert, a customer of many ladies of the night I believe, "loved" women too much - look at his empathetic paintings of nudes - to mutilate and uglify with wounds.

[BTCG]

Cornwell most definitely was out on a ledge. The fistula? She was scrambling for a motive; making it up as she went along. To make the conclusions she makes.... silly.

But the Ripper letters, coming from the same quire, cannot be argued with. The members here HATE to acknowledge this, their heads buried in the sand.

Now, one as a joke? Sure, I can see that. But not multiple letters: that's a confession.

Interesting thing about burying your head in the sand: ask yourself... what part of your body is exposed when you do this?

[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.

[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?

[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

[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.

[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

[Monty]

No, does.

As in still does.

Monty

[mariab]

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

Did, as in, not anymore.

[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.

[Monty]

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

Johnny Depp does.

Monty

[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.

[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?

[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.