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A review by loureader
Murder: The Biography by Kate Morgan
4.0
This was a fascinating book about how the UK law on murder and manslaughter has developed over the centuries.
Kate Morgan looks not only at the law but also how perceptions have changed. Duels that resulted in death were, for many, not regarded as a crime, despite what the law might have said. There is also the curious tale of some sailors who ate a crewmate and then told the authorities with the full expectation they would walk free because, in their view, such things were entirely acceptable at sea. But this book isn't gruesome or voyeuristic, it's a really interesting and very readable overview of the law and how and why it has evolved over time.
It also looks at issues, such as the effect on murder convictions when the death sentence was the penalty. Even the part on corporate manslaughter, which might sound a touch dry, was really interesting, including gaining an understanding of why it took so long for it to become an offence, the lack of prosecutions for some really major disasters and why, even now, prosecutions are still very rare. It was all really fascinating and a surprising page turner.
Kate Morgan looks not only at the law but also how perceptions have changed. Duels that resulted in death were, for many, not regarded as a crime, despite what the law might have said. There is also the curious tale of some sailors who ate a crewmate and then told the authorities with the full expectation they would walk free because, in their view, such things were entirely acceptable at sea. But this book isn't gruesome or voyeuristic, it's a really interesting and very readable overview of the law and how and why it has evolved over time.
It also looks at issues, such as the effect on murder convictions when the death sentence was the penalty. Even the part on corporate manslaughter, which might sound a touch dry, was really interesting, including gaining an understanding of why it took so long for it to become an offence, the lack of prosecutions for some really major disasters and why, even now, prosecutions are still very rare. It was all really fascinating and a surprising page turner.