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The Dead Shall Be Raised: A Journey into Murder, Crime, and the Book that Gripped Victorian Society

Kurt Vonnegut

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Published in The Dead Shall Be Raised And The Murder Of A Quack (British Library Crime Classics)

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In the murky depths of Victorian London, where poverty and crime ran rampant, a sensational murder case captivated the nation. The victim was a quack doctor, a man who preyed on the desperate and unsuspecting. His killer was a young woman, driven to desperate measures by his deceit and cruelty.

The Dead Shall be Raised and The Murder of a Quack (British Library Crime Classics)

by George Bellairs

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	486 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
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Print length	:	365 pages

The case became the inspiration for a gripping novel, "The Dead Shall Be Raised," which became a sensation upon its publication in 1863. The book was a scathing indictment of the quackery and social injustice that plagued Victorian society. It was also a gripping tale of murder, mystery, and suspense that kept readers on the edge of their seats.

Now, in a new edition from the British Library Crime Classics series, "The Dead Shall Be Raised" is available to a new generation of readers. With an by crime historian Martin Edwards, this edition provides a fascinating glimpse into the true crime that inspired the novel and the social context in which it was written.

The True Crime: The Murder of Dr. John Jones

The real-life murder that inspired "The Dead Shall Be Raised" occurred in 1860. The victim was Dr. John Jones, a notorious quack doctor who had been accused of poisoning his patients. His killer was a young woman named Harriet Lane, who had been his patient and had grown desperate after his treatment left her in chronic pain.

On the night of the murder, Lane went to Jones's house and shot him in the head. She was arrested and charged with murder, and her trial became a sensation. The public was fascinated by the details of the case, and the trial was covered extensively in the newspapers.

Lane was ultimately found guilty of murder and sentenced to death. However, her sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. She served 15 years in prison before being released in 1875.

The Novel: "The Dead Shall Be Raised"

"The Dead Shall Be Raised" was written by Wilkie Collins, one of the most popular and prolific writers of the Victorian era. Collins was known for his gripping plots, his complex characters, and his social commentary. In "The Dead Shall Be Raised," Collins used the true crime of the murder of Dr. Jones as the basis for a gripping tale of murder, mystery, and suspense.

The novel tells the story of Miriam Catherick, a young woman who is driven to murder after being mistreated by a quack doctor. Like Harriet Lane, Miriam is a victim of the quackery and social injustice that plague Victorian society. However, Miriam's story is more complex and nuanced than Lane's. She is a sympathetic character, and her motives for murder are understandable.

"The Dead Shall Be Raised" was a critical and commercial success when it was first published in 1863. It was praised for its gripping plot, its complex characters, and its social commentary. The novel has remained popular ever since, and it is considered one of the classic works of Victorian crime fiction.

The British Library Crime Classics

The British Library Crime Classics series is a collection of classic crime novels from the Victorian and Edwardian eras. The series includes works by some of the most famous and acclaimed crime writers of the period, including Wilkie Collins, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Agatha Christie.

The British Library Crime Classics are beautifully produced and feature s by leading crime historians. They are essential reading for anyone interested in the history of crime fiction and the social history of the Victorian era.

The Dead Shall Be Raised is a fascinating journey into the dark underbelly of Victorian society. It is a gripping tale of murder, mystery, and suspense, and it is also a valuable historical document that provides a glimpse into the social context in which it was written.

The British Library Crime Classics edition of The Dead Shall Be Raised is a must-read for anyone interested in crime fiction, Victorian history, or true crime.

Free Download your copy of The Dead Shall Be Raised from the British Library.

The Dead Shall be Raised and The Murder of a Quack (British Library Crime Classics)

by George Bellairs

4.6 out of 5