Jack the Ripper for Dummies

[Simon Wood]

Hi Christine,

May I commend "Jack the Priper", written for bad spellers who are completely fed up with the load of old horse-feathers and assorted nonsense which has bedevilled the subject for 120 years.

Regards,

Simon

[Robert]

Christine, you meant Jack the Ripper for Eggheads.

[Christine]

Obviously what I need is "Jack the Ripper for Bad Spellers!"

[Simon Wood]

Hi Christine,

You'll get no argument from me about that. But try telling it to the "For Dummies" people, who have made a fortune out of the franchise.

There is an old saying in marketing—

"Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the public".

Sad but true.

Regards,

Simon

[Sam Flynn]

Why not "Jack the Ripper for Smart People who are Simply Uniformed but Genuinely Wish to Learn?"

..."simply uniformed", like fast-food workers and janitors? Bit of a niche market, Chris

[Christine]

Hi All,

For all the importance that appears to have been attached to it, "From Hell", both in comic book and movie formats, might be considered "Jack the Ripper for Dummies".

Regards,

Simon

I never understood the appeal of the "For Dummies" line. Why not "Jack the Ripper for Smart People who are Simply Uniformed but Genuinely Wish to Learn?"

[Simon Wood]

Hi All,

For all the importance that appears to have been attached to it, "From Hell", both in comic book and movie formats, might be considered "Jack the Ripper for Dummies".

Regards,

Simon

[Robert]

Do it as a "Sun"-type comic. Have a drawing of Jack killing Annie and a bubble from Annie's mouth containing the words "Jigger me. You must be Jack the Ripper." Have a bubble from Jack's mouth saying "No I'm not because the nickname hasn't been invented yet."

[Scott Nelson]

.. does anybody else here think that such a book would make a useful (if not valuable) addition to the Ripper non-fiction canon?

No, it wouldn't. Besides it's already been done. All a dummy needs to do is get Phil Sugden's little 1996 primer, "The Life and Times of Jack the Ripper."

I keep one copy at home and another at work - hidden of course.

[Mike Covell]

If you set up a new thread there is an option to have a poll, it also gives you the option on how many answers etc.

[John Bennett]

Lie on your back in Durward Street, pretending to be a tarpaulin

Arrgh. Guess I should have seen that one coming.

[Mike Covell]

OK, but how does one do a poll?

Lie on your back in Durward Street, pretending to be a tarpaulin

[John Bennett]

Yes, I know that. Do the poll!

OK, but how does one do a poll?

[Celesta]

Celesta:

I was warm to the idea a while ago! I've used a few of them too (I've got a good one about art) and it seems there are several books in the series that have more obscure subject matter than JTR, believe me.

I think it would be a good idea, personally.

Regardless of the A-Z, Sourcebook, Sugden etc, what do others think?

Yes, I know that. Do the poll!

[Brenda]

How would it be presented? Would it be the basic facts of the case summarized throughout the book and then maybe an index of suspects at the end?

I think its an excellent idea. When I first decided to check out the case, I just happened to get lucky and choose Sugden.

A-Z is great, but I don't think it can be appreciated properly by a beginner, who may not know anything about the case at all.