The identity of Jack the Ripper has consumed public curiosity since he first tormented the East End of London in 1888. Numerous theories have been offered as to his identity, but he remains in the shadows where, it seems, only imaginative literature has been able to elucidate his meaning to the modern world. This work surveys the literary, film, television, and radio treatments of Jack the Ripper and his crimes. The works of fiction are thoroughly analyzed, as are the major nonfiction works that have offered various theories about the Ripper’s identity. Works whose narratives are obviously inspired by Jack the Ripper and his crimes are also discussed.

Gary Coville and Patrick Lucanio are also the coauthors of Smokin’ Rockets: The Romance of Technology in American Film, Radio and Television, 1945–1962 (2002) and American Science Fiction Television Series of the 1950s (1998), both from McFarland. Coville lives in Dallas, Oregon, and Lucanio lives in Springfield, Oregon.

Gary Coville and Patrick Lucanio

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 203
Bibliographic Info: 57 photos, appendix, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2008 [1999]
pISBN: 978-0-7864-4045-0
eISBN: 978-1-4766-0737-5
Imprint: McFarland

Preface      1

I. The Carnival of Blood      7

II. Order Out of Chaos      19

III. Brother to the Darkness      57

IV. Ripper Redux      85

V. Apocalypse: Sherlock Holmes Against Jack the Ripper      109

VI. Jack the Ripper in America      133

VII. Post Mortem      155

Appendix: Media Representations of Jack the Ripper      161

Bibliography      177

Index      181

• “Recommended”—Public Library Quarterly
•  “The text is closely and logically argued, well-presented and offers a comprehensive view of impact of these murders on society and its literature…an excellent index”—Reference Reviews
• “Examines the treatment of the Victorian murderer on screen, radio, and television”—Classic Images
• “This work surveys the literary, film, television, and radio treatments of Jack the Ripper and his crimes”—Communication Booknotes Quarterly
• “Worthy”—VideoScope
• “Packed with information of interest not only to the dedicated ripperologist but also to the reader of history, the supernatural, the horror genre, and crime fiction…an important contribution to studies of the various media and their interpretation of real and fictional events…analyzes in laudable detail every imaginable work related to the Ripper story…the style is clear and it is a book easily read by both the academic and the lay reader. The authors’ research is impressive…this book’s approach is new and different…valuable insights…a revealing study…nothing short of overwhelming…eminently readable”—Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts.