Have you ever wondered what kinds of crimes have permeated history? Did serial killers exist? Who were history’s most notorious jewel thieves? What about grave robbers or highwaymen? These are all examples of the types of crime and criminals that existed before society developed into what it is today. This article dives into historical true crime and some book suggestions to get started reading about it.
What is True Crime?
True crime is a genre of nonfiction that focuses on true and detailed accounts of crimes that have occurred in the world. Often written by professionals in the criminal justice field or investigative reporters, true crime aims to provide detail and ask questions about crime and why people commit it.
The genre spans many different styles of books – from multimedia accounts of crime that include interviews, news clippings, and social media posts, to memoirs and even novel-style accounts of crime. What makes a true crime book fit into the genre is that it discusses a real event.
What Makes Historical True Crime Stand Out?
Historical takes on true crime are unique and interesting because they look at time periods when society was different than it is now. Whether it looks at a crime from 40 years ago or 100 years ago, society changes rapidly, and historical true crime looks at how our modern world was impacted by historical events.
Thanks to historians who specialize in criminal history, we have a basic understanding of the events of the past that influenced the true crime genre itself. People have been fascinated by killers and crime for hundreds of years. Newspapers, gossip columns, and radio shows had dedicated segments to talk about recent crimes committed – to inform members of society and keep them safe, but also to entertain them.
Humans have a morbid curiosity when it comes to the darker parts of humanity. Think about how notorious Jack the Ripper is – a serial killer from 1888. There have probably been hundreds of serial killers in big cities throughout history, but the crimes that stand out are held onto because, for some reason, society cares.
Now, let’s take a look at some book recommendations that talk about historical crime.
The Icepick Surgeon by Sam Kean
Spanning two thousand years of history, The Icepick Surgeon looks at the history of different crimes committed in the name of scientific discovery. It looks at Cleopatra in ancient Egypt, Thomas Edison and his support of the electric chair, and the lobotomy trend in the 1950s that was the standard procedure for mental health care.
Hell’s Princess by Harold Schechter
Many novels about serial killers are about men – but what about one of the most shocking series of murders committed in the early 1900s by a woman who was known as “Lady Bluebeard”? Hell’s Princess is an in-depth look at the murders by Belle Gunness who lured men to her “murder farm” in Indiana. If you’re interested in stories like Jack the Ripper’s, Belle Gunness might be another serial killer you’d like to learn about.
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
In 1893, the Chicago World’s Fair launched “with such drama” that readers might find themselves double-checking that The Devil in the White City isn’t a fiction novel. This novel tells the story of the architect in charge of the fair and a serial killer pretending to be a doctor. The story alternates stories of the architect and the killer in every other chapter, weaving together a chilling tale of the true events of the fair.
The Five by Hallie Rubenhold
Almost everyone knows the name “Jack the Ripper”. One of the world’s most notable serial killers who was never identified but gained notoriety for the way he brutally murdered 5 women in London, England in 1888. The Five is the story of the women he killed – a unique take on true crime aiming to give the women back their stories.
Conclusion
There are so many more books in this category that I’d love to go into detail about, but the list is too long to do so. True crime is a category that is ever-expanding and will probably always be popular. Historical true crime is just a niche within the subject that adds to the thrill and chills that the genre provides a reader. I hope this article helps you find something new to read.
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