- Paperback: 260 pages
- Publisher: Robson Books Ltd; New edition edition (30 Oct 1998)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1861051638
- ISBN-13: 978-1861051639
- Product Dimensions: 21.2 x 13.8 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 2.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,304,597 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Synopsis
Peter Haining''s definitive biography exposes the man behind the Sweeney Todd myth. Based on careful rese arch of both fact and fiction accounts, Haining''s book revea ls a gruesome yet fascinating character. '
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First Sentence
The lowering grey clouds over London had been causing a fine drizzle ever since dawn and were now growing heavier with the possibility of a storm as evening drew in. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
The lowering grey clouds over London had been causing a fine drizzle ever since dawn and were now growing heavier with the possibility of a storm as evening drew in. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
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.
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.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is not "the real story" - it is sensationalist, hack journalism of the very worst kind. Haining tries to convince the reader that Sweeney Todd was a real person, while offering NOTHING AT ALL in the way of evidence. The simple truth is that the story of "Sweeney Todd" is entirely fictional and this book is entirely rubbish.
18 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
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.
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A Fascinating Read
This is the REAL story of Sweeney Todd.
Long thought to be fictional, he was, according to Peter Haining, a real, (pardon the expression), flesh-and-blood person. Read more
Long thought to be fictional, he was, according to Peter Haining, a real, (pardon the expression), flesh-and-blood person. Read more
Published on 1 Oct 2009 by Grasshopper
Poorly structured
I have just read the 1993 version of this book and was very disappointed that it had no bibliography, or end notes and that references within the text were scant. Read more
Published on 2 Aug 2009 by David
no sign of proof reading
I haven't yet finished this book, because the total lack of proof reading - leading to at least one mistake on almost every page of the book - is so utterly distracting. Read more
Published on 15 April 2009 by Helen
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... Read more
Published on 27 April 2008 by Dr. S. J. Haynes
A splendid read!
Just a few words - Firstly, like it says, this book was first published in 1997 so there simply no justification in saying that Peter Haining is simply trying to cash in on the... Read more
Published on 1 Feb 2008 by ANGRY BRIT
Fascinating Life Story of Mass Murderer
Peter Haining's little volume on Sweeney Todd lifts the lid on the real mass-murderer, as well as highlighting his more familiar fictional incarnations. Read more
Published on 2 July 2000
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