New book - 'The Five' by Hallie Robenhold.

[Ozzy]

I got HR's book for my kindle when it had just came out. I had a couple of other books on the go at the time and by the time I'd finished the other 2 books (and HR's book was next in line) I'd also read a lot of forum posts as well as listened to Jonathan's podcast on the book and was put off of reading it.
As things stand now I still haven't read it as I'm sure I won't like it and it will just anger me. On the flip side I feel that as I haven't read the book I'm not in a position to comment on it. Not that I make many posts anyway.
I wonder if Amazon refunds ebooks? Would I have to prove I haven't read it? Is that recorded somehow within the kindle? Actually, I think I did (virtually) open it. Maybe to look at the contents/chapter titles. I can't recall really.

[Herlock Sholmes]

The concept of a conscience is obviously a foreign one to her. As is the concept of evidence.

[Robert]

There is nothing to stop HR writing a rejoinder to Ripperologist magazine. But of course, Ripperologist magazine doesn't have the circulation of the Guardian.

[PaulB]

The fact is that nobody has compared Hallie Rubenhold to David Irving, there is no justification for Rubenhold to say so, and Rubenhold, who has heard the podcast and read my review, must know that she's not telling the truth. But it makes for good copy and as long as the media doesn't bother checking the facts, she's safe from being called out.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Yeah, my first reaction was similar to yours Herlock, but sometimes the zen approach is the right one.

It's easier if you're an old hippie.

I’m trying to train myself to a more chilled approach Barn. I slip into ‘attack mode’ too easily. It’s bloody annoying when you read some of the crap that she’s coming out with though. And all because of her blatant agenda and self importance.

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10

Its ok.....I’m fine

Another glass of Laphroaig methinks.

[barnflatwyngarde]

Hello Paul,

You could be right of course. I’d have gone straight into ‘rottweiler’ mode.

Yeah, my first reaction was similar to yours Herlock, but sometimes the zen approach is the right one.

It's easier if you're an old hippie.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Hi Herlock,
I agree that Hallie Rubenhold shouldn't go unchallenged, but unfortunately a response would be playing into her hands as she's clearly after the publicity. The fact is that very little she complains about is real, and she'll quickly crash as soon as people realise that. which I'm sure they will.

Hello Paul,

You could be right of course. I’d have gone straight into ‘rottweiler’ mode.

[PaulB]

Hi Herlock,
I agree that Hallie Rubenhold shouldn't go unchallenged, but unfortunately a response would be playing into her hands as she's clearly after the publicity. The fact is that very little she complains about is real, and she'll quickly crash as soon as people realise that. which I'm sure they will.

[Herlock Sholmes]

I wrote in my a recent Ripperologist review which Rubenhold read, 'On a recent podcast, Mark Ripper pointed out that in a book called Telling Lies About Hitler the very distinguished historian Richard J Evans listed a series of things that he says 'reputable and professional historians do not do', and topping that list is that they do not 'suppress parts of quotations from documents that go against their own case...’ Evans‘s book was about the Holocaust denier David lrving, and Mark Ripper was obviously at pains to make it clear that he wasn't drawing any comparisons between lrving and Rubenhold, the former being in an altogether different league!'

There seems no excuse for repeating this claim.

https://amp.theguardian.com/uk-news/...llie-rubenhold

Paul, can I ask if you intend to write a response to The Guardian? If a newspaper is interested in ‘fairness’ a response should be allowed. This is a terrible article and the public shouldn’t accept it unchallenged.

[PaulB]

I wrote in my a recent Ripperologist review which Rubenhold read, 'On a recent podcast, Mark Ripper pointed out that in a book called Telling Lies About Hitler the very distinguished historian Richard J Evans listed a series of things that he says 'reputable and professional historians do not do', and topping that list is that they do not 'suppress parts of quotations from documents that go against their own case...’ Evans‘s book was about the Holocaust denier David lrving, and Mark Ripper was obviously at pains to make it clear that he wasn't drawing any comparisons between lrving and Rubenhold, the former being in an altogether different league!'

There seems no excuse for repeating this claim.

[Sam Flynn]

It should come as no surprise to find out that this supposed comparison to David Irving is untrue.

As that podcast clip you posted makes abundantly clear.

[jmenges]

In today's Guardian:

A historian who has told the true story of Jack the Ripper’s victims has spoken of the “offensive”, “stupid” and almost “laughable” trolling she has received from Ripperologists.

Hallie Rubenhold said she had even been compared to Holocaust denier David Irving for her book, in which she challenges the traditional narrative that the murdered women were all sex workers.

It should come as no surprise to find out that this supposed comparison to David Irving is untrue. But she does like repeating it every chance that she gets.

Here is what was really said about David Irving and Hallie Rubenhold on Rippercast's review of 'The Five'.

http://www.rippercast.com/mp3/Histor..._Rubenhold.mp3

JM

[MrBarnett]

As I noted earlier, this author appears to want to take a romantic approach to these women who were living the lives of the lowest of the low.

And it doesn't work... although I suspect she will hoodwink some readers into thinking what she has written about the five is true. It is not.

.

Where exactly does she get this stuff --

.

The victims "lived on country estates, they breathed ink-dust from printing presses and escaped people-traffickers." (Quoted in the blurb on her from today's event in Hay-on-Wye http://www.hayfestival.com/p-15405-h...rubenhold.aspx.)

This is sheer fantasy, Ms Rubenhold! It in no way corresponds to the lives of the victims under discussion.

Chris,

Have you finished the book?

It would be great to hear the specific issues you have with it.

Gary

[ChrisGeorge]

As I noted earlier, this author appears to want to take a romantic approach to these women who were living the lives of the lowest of the low.

And it doesn't work... although I suspect she will hoodwink some readers into thinking what she has written about the five is true. It is not.

.

Where exactly does she get this stuff --

.

The victims "lived on country estates, they breathed ink-dust from printing presses and escaped people-traffickers." (Quoted in the blurb on her from today's event in Hay-on-Wye http://www.hayfestival.com/p-15405-h...rubenhold.aspx.)

This is sheer fantasy, Ms Rubenhold! It in no way corresponds to the lives of the victims under discussion.

[ChrisGeorge]

Aaaaaaaargh!

HMH Books @HMHbooks

“By restoring “the five” to humanity and dignity," @HallieRubenhold's THE FIVE "becomes a passionate indictment of the true-crime genre, with its fixation on the minds of murderers & its shallow, glancing sympathy for the dead.” @JC_Scutts @washingtonpost

wapo.st/30Z9aBI