Product Description

Sweeney Todd, the notorious Demon Barber, has been called 'the greatest mass murderer in English history'. With the aid of an ingenious revolving chair and a cut-throat razor, he is said to have robbed and butchered over 160 victims in his barber shop in Fleet Street, before taking the remains to nearby Bell Yard, where his accomplice, Margery Lovett, cooked their flesh for her meat pies. Despite being as infamous in London's history as Jack The Ripper and Dr Crippen, Todd's story has been almost completely ignored by historians. In this definitive biography, Peter Haining delves into the grim underworld of London 150 years ago to expose the man behind the myth. Separating fact from fiction, he reveals a gruesome and bizarre story with a unique criminal heart. It will certainly give pie-lovers food for thought.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #41441 in Books
• Published on: 2007-09-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 191 pages

About the Author
Former journalist, magazine editor and publishing executive Peter Haining has written extensively on unique and little-known aspects of World War II. He is the author of 'The Chianti Raiders' (1861058292), 'The Jail That Went to Sea' (186105727X), 'Where the Eagle Landed' (1861057504) and 'The Mystery of Rommel's Gold' (1861056842). He lives in Sudbury, Suffolk.

Customer Reviews

Spel Chcek, Accuracy and Substance? Never heard of them.
I recently purchased this book on the Demon Barber, and was so disappointed within the first four chapters that I'm afraid I'm not prepared to read on. Perhaps that disqualifies me from reviewing it. Then again, perhaps four chapters was plenty.

Aside from the multiple typing errors ('candies' flickering in the window, apparently! What a mood killer! - and yes, I know this is not likely to be down to the author)the book very quickly shows itself as being void of even basic research. Charles II, for example, reigned from 1660 - 1685; a fairly easy one to remember as it marked the start of the Restoration period. Not according to the author. He enjoyed a much longer reign, and stayed admirably below Cromwell's radar. This is not me picking holes or trying to sound clever; this is important history, and people learn from books. There is, I would strongly argue, a responsibility there somewhere. And as for Todd's parents? Mr and Mrs Todd - no forenames; I didn't have time, the movie is out soon! Please.

And then there's the prevarication. George III was the contemporary monarch, to be sure; but is it really necessary for Mr Haining to drift off and starts hammering on about the Mad King to the extent that he does? I say 'drift off' as it comes just as Sweeny Todd is being portrayed as a factual character. We are given a birthplace, a year and even a door number (well, three actually. You'll have to take a guess). And just as it appears as though the book might be getting to the flesh of something, Mr Haining breaks off, and stays off for far too long. Not so much tantalising as GCSE essay, and a mediocre one to boot.

Overall, I found the reasoning specious, the style provincial and the substance wanting.

I could go on, but I fear people will find this as interesting as I did the book. And I'd sooner have my throat cut in a barber's chair than inflict that on anyone.

Right, I'm off for a meat pie.

Innacurate and very thin on the ground with facts... if there are any!
I was expecting a historical book looking into the real life crimes which helped the original Penny Dreadful writers to create their FICTIONAL character.

Unfortunately this book takes a few small facts and then embarks upon making a fictional charcter into a real person. There has never been a birth or death certificate found to prove his existence (there is an urbal legend he was hanged at several places but no real evidence has ever been uncovered there). It is generally accepted that the story is possibly influenced by some french crime and story... but nobody knows what the influences for thw work of fiction are.

I love Sweeney Todd, the character is fantastic and the book is brilliant. I do not need an author who cannot even get right his historical dates (as other reviewers have noticed).

Buy 'Sweeney Todd: a string of pearls' and there is a far better introduction and accurate history of the origin of the character than this book... and at least you'll geta great story rather than a bad history.

Absolute total false rubbish
Erm...people...people. Sweeney Todd is a work of fiction. He is not a real person. Sweeney Todd was a piece of fiction published in 1846-1847 in a penny dreadful (which is a really good read by the way). He was not ever real, and so any book researching him as a real person are totally invalid. He was not even inpired by a real character. You may as well research the real sex life of Mickey Mouse. I say again...the character is made up; this book is talking absolute and total bollocks.