Product Description

Extensively researched, this superb double-sided map vividly brings to life the district of Whitechapel where Jack the Ripper silently and swiftly slaughtered his victims. Meticulously produced for the historian and enthusiast alike, this definitive map identifies every sordid street, doss-house, public house and official institution directly associated with the murders.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #488671 in Books
• Published on: 2004-01-10
• Format: Folded Map
• Original language: English
• Binding: Map

Stephen P. Ryder, Editor Casebook: Jack the Ripper, Nov 2003
A completely "new" map of Whitechapel - it is an excellent map indeed

From the Inside Flap
In the Autumn of 1888, Jack the Ripper brutally murdered five prostitutes in a single square mile within the East End of London, England. Although the killings occurred over a period of only ten weeks, they have both haunted and fascinated people for more than a hundred years.

Extensively researched, this superb map vividly brings to life the district of Whitechapel where Jack the Ripper silently and swiftly slaughtered his victims. Meticulously produced for the historian and enthusiast alike, this definitive map identifies every sordid street, doss-house, public house and official institution directly associated with the murders.

A closer look at the five individual murder sites will undoubtedly prompt the question who was Jack the Ripper? We will probably never know. But the labyrinth of streets shown within this booklet may indicate why he was never caught.

Excerpted from Jack the Ripper: Whitechapel 1888 Map Booklet by Gordon William Punter, Geoffrey Lawson Cooper. Copyright © 2003. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Introduction:

Jack the Ripper – a person known but unknown. A person of almost mythical stature who still haunts us today. And what of Whitechapel, his killing ground? The squalid streets, alley-ways, doss-houses, public houses and official institutions that have almost disappeared today.

We knew that lifting the veil of time and mapping Whitechapel 1888 was never going to be easy. Yes, major streets and roads are still in existence and could be used as a guide. But what of a deceptive description like – Workhouse Infirmary Mortuary, Old Montague Street? In fact, the mortuary was traced to Eagle Place off of Old Montague Street (Page 21, Map Ref N48). Another was Crossingham’s doss-house, Dorset Street. In actual fact, there were two, one opposite Miller’s Court (P23, P17), and the other at 35 Dorset Street (P23, P15), beside Little Paternoster Row.

The movements of Mrs. Long, who testified at Annie Chapman’s inquest, would have looked decidedly odd had she lived in Church Street (P20, M22) as some authors have erroneously indicated. Church Street would have led her straight to Spitalfields Market (P19, K16), her intended destination. In fact, she lived in Church Row, Bethnal Green (Indicated at P20, B26), which meant walking down Brick Lane and turning right into either Hanbury Street (P20, H26) or Church Street to get to Spitalfields Market.

We admitted defeat in trying to place Dr. Llewellyn’s Surgery at 152 Whitechapel Road, but were delighted when we placed The Working Lad’s Institute (P22, L63) on the correct side of Whitechapel Station (P22, L62). All in all, we feel that this map booklet will further the understanding of the Whitechapel area and allow the reader to ponder the five individual sites where five destitute women met with death.

Customer Reviews

Nicely Impressed
Not being a Ripperologist I was nicely impressed by this book. I think it should appeal to all true crime fans, ripperologists and general fiction readers alike.

For general fiction fans the first third of the book might be a little hard going as it contains factual documents and memos relating to the police investigation (I e-mailed the authors to confirms their authenticity, sad I know) but in hindsight they give you a wonderful understanding of the total helplessness of the police force and authorities at the time.

The book describes in vivid detail the dark, seedy world where these poor women were stalked and includes maps to stop you getting lost and to provide you with an idea of how easily "Jack" could have escaped in the warren of back streets and courtyards.

On reaching the last pages of the book you will be left feeling as if you had actually sat in the same room with the Ripper, the theories and motives behind the crimes all seem more then beliveable and although you might feel a misplaced sympathy for Jack you will feel also feel cheated at not seeing him swing from the end of a rope or lynched by a mob.

All in all an excellent read and has already become Xmas presents for two other friends.

Interesting but not worth 5 stars
If you are a Ripperologist clearly you need this item. I bought it because I work in Whitechapel and I wanted to establish once and for all where all the murders took place. This map does do that, but...

The 'but' is that for some reason, on the main map, the location of the murders are not indicated. Instead, there are blow up sections on the back showing where the murders took place. I then spent the best part of half an hour turning the map over and over trying to relate the blow-up sections to the street map. A small point, perhaps but it annoyed the heck out of me at the time. In fact, I have now put my scrawl on the main map - so I don't have to go through the exercise again.

If your purpose is to see the original 1880s street plan, and it is very interesting indeed to see it, then this is for you. I discovered that where I work was the site of a manure factory in the 1880s. Kinda explains a lot, really!

Very pleased to be the first buyer to review
First of all let me say that I am from the U.S.A., and I have been unable to find this item in the states, but in talking with the publishers, hopefully it will not be long. If you love to read about the unsolved Mystery of Jack The Ripper, and like most of us Ripper wanna-be detectives, we have several Ripper books ( and some of you I'm sure have hundreds of Ripper books) - Anyway, the point ( and I'm not going to list any Ripper books ) While reading some of the best works, you are given in some of the better books, a few good maps. However, I have never seen such a well constructed map that goes back to the year 1888. I believe if your really wanting to study about Jack the Ripper, you need a good well researched map of the period that shows where everything happend. I cannot praise this enough. Ok, the only thing is that these fine people offer 1. the map booklet, and 2. A blown-up map. The question I had to decide - was which one to get, as there are +'s to each. If I was reading in bed or in the car, I would want the booklet, but for the full picture, I'd like to study the map as a whole. To be honest, I couldn't make up my mind (still can't) as which I like the best. The booklet does add commentary which is very interesting. At first, I thought those foxes, they have found a way to get you to buy both.... However, the truth being is that I believe a lot would want the booklet and broken up maps instead of a full size map....... However, others would want the large map. If your really into Ripper books and intend to do more reading, I would get both. It wasn't the cheapest of items, because I had to have it shipped to the U.S.A. for a total of about 26 pounds. Of course if your in the U.K., it would be cheaper to get both. The maps are of good quality and fine paper, and you can tell a lot of work and pride went into making these items, so I don't believe it was a money thing. I hope perhaps a future addition could come out with the booklet map, and in the back a pull out large map to foldout.... for about 15 pounds. Anyway, I wouldn't dare read another Ripper book without one of these maps handy. One final note... In October I had the honor of being in the U.K for a few days, and was able to go on "Thee" Ripper walking tour. U.K is great place... great people. Hope to return one day.