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Fingerprints: Murder and the Race to Uncover the Science of Identity
 
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Fingerprints: Murder and the Race to Uncover the Science of Identity [Paperback]

Colin Beavan (Author)
3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Fourth Estate; New Ed edition (3 Feb 2003)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1841157406
  • ISBN-13: 978-1841157405
  • Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.6 x 2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 768,854 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Colin Beavan
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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

Some ideas, like Plaster of Paris or tarmacadam, are so simple yet brilliant they go on being used centuries after their conception; Fingerprints is an analysis and history of just one such Victorian "invention": the use of fingerprints as criminal evidence.

Beaven, a journalist and trained physicist, tells his story through the prism of a particular turn-of-the-century East End murder, the first case where fingerprints proved absolutely crucial to detection and conviction. Using this springboard, Beaven dives into the history of criminal investigation, surfacing with such pearls as the 19th century Scottish missionary who discovered prints on ancient Japanese pottery, the Victorian geneticist Francis Galton who thought certain kinds of prints indicated intellectual prowess, and the scandalous 1896 jailing of "con artist" Adolf Beck--a man who would have been proved innocent had the value of fingerprint evidence been more widely acknowledged at the time.

If that list infers the book is narrowly focused on the late Victorian age, it shouldn't. Beaven is, if anything, a historical jackdaw: he also sees fit to include the "supernatural ordeals" of Medieval justice, the establishment of investigating juries way back in 1215, the Italian innovations in law and criminology that came with the Renaissance, and much, much else. The result is a witty, readable, concise, informative, lucid, highly entertaining bouillabaisse of history, anecdote, criminal lore and truly popular science. --Sean Thomas --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

'As entertaining as it is well-researched and informative.' Scotland on Sunday

'Full of such fine small stories. Beavan has added another splendid book to the canon of non-fiction classics.' Dea Birkett, Independent

'As gripping as any crime novel.' Simon Singh, Sunday Telegraph

'By sparse intelligent use of detail Beavan has created an engrossing, tight drama spanning the latter part of the 19th Century. His research is impressive and he seems to have a genuine feel for the period.' Daily Telegraph

• ‘Beavan skilfully interweaves an absorbing tale with a fine cast of colourful and eccentric characters to provide a compelling account of the origins of forensic science.‘ Deborah Cadbury, author of THE DINOSAUR HUNTERS

Some ideas, like Plaster of Paris or tarmacadam, are so simple yet brilliant they go on being used centuries after their conception; Fingerprints is an analysis and history of just one such Victorian "invention": the use of fingerprints as criminal evidence…The result is a witty, readable, concise, informative, lucid, highly entertaining bouillabaisse of history, anecdote, criminal lore and truly popular science.’ Sean Thomas, Amazon.co.uk

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Customer Reviews

2 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
3.5 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Fingerprints, 28 Feb 2002
This review is from: Fingerprints: Murder and the Race to Uncover the Science of Identity (Astrolog Complete Guides) (Hardcover)
A good introduction to the history of fingerprinting and the crimes that brought the science of fingerprint identification to the fore. The book explores the work of the major players such as Galton, Faulds, and Henry. The book is only let down by its poor choice and presentation of diagrams.
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4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, 15 Nov 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: Fingerprints: Murder and the Race to Uncover the Science of Identity (Paperback)
This book was ideal for an inquiring 17 year old such as myself. It had many facts intertwined with a story. It was not too complicated and the only critiscm I have is that it throws too many dates at you. A good book.
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