Douglas Starr
Autore di The Killer of Little Shepherds
Opere di Douglas Starr
Opere correlate
Omni Magazine October 1989 — Collaboratore — 1 copia
Etichette
Informazioni generali
- Altri nomi
- Starr, Douglas A.
- Data di nascita
- 1949
- Sesso
- male
- Nazionalità
- USA
- Luogo di residenza
- Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Attività lavorative
- Assoc. Professor of Journalism, Boston University
news reporter
field biologist - Breve biografia
- Douglas Starr is a veteran science, environment and medical writer. His most recent book, The Killer of Little Shepherds: A True Crime Story and the Birth of Forensic Science (Knopf, 2010), tells the story of the 19th century pioneers of forensic science and the notorious serial killer they caught and convicted with their new scientific techniques. Winner of the Gold Dagger award in the U.K. and a finalist for the Edgar Allen Poe award in the U.S., the book was named to the “Editor’s Choice” list the New York Times Book Review and the True Crime bestseller lists of the Wall Street Journal and Library Journal. Starr’s previous book, BLOOD: An Epic History of Medicine and Commerce (Knopf, 1998), tells the four-century saga of how human blood became a commodity. The book was published in seven languages, won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize (science and technology category) and was named to the “Best Books of the Year” lists of Publishers Weekly, Booklist and Library Journal. A PBS series based on the book, Red Gold, aired on more than 300 PBS stations in the U.S. and internationally. Prof. Starr’s writings about science, medicine, public health and the environment have appeared in a many venues, including The New Republic, Discover, Science, Smithsonian, Public Television, National Public Radio, The Los Angeles Times, and the Boston Sunday Globe Magazine.
http://www.bu.edu/com/about-com/facul...
Utenti
Recensioni
Blood: An Epic History of Medicine and Commerce di Douglas Starr
Fantastic. The early history of blood transfusion was interesting, but I was afraid I 'd lose interest when he started talking about blood as a commodity. I was wrong. Thoroughly engrossing and important
A little known but interesting account of a late 19th century French serial killer and the development of modern criminal investigation and forensics.
The authors is a journalist so has an easy writing style. I also appreciated that the author did not inject his own value system while reporting on both the criminal and the views expressed by both the authorities and investigators.
I would have ranked this work higher but for the fact that it seemed to be longer than necessary. Still, recommended reading as it is both a good story and informative.… (altro)
The authors is a journalist so has an easy writing style. I also appreciated that the author did not inject his own value system while reporting on both the criminal and the views expressed by both the authorities and investigators.
I would have ranked this work higher but for the fact that it seemed to be longer than necessary. Still, recommended reading as it is both a good story and informative.… (altro)
I enjoyed this well researched and totally readable account of the serial killer, Joseph Vacher, (Vacher admitted to killing 11 people during the late 1800's across the French countryside), and the Forensic scientist who helped convict him, Alexandre Lacassagne.
The book is told in alternating chapters between Vacher's history and killing spree, and Lacassagne's history, prior cases, and ultimately how he concludes whether or not Vacher is legally responsible for actions.
Not only does Starr recount the personal histories of each man, but he puts everything in historical context, for example giving background about French economics and why there were so many vagabonds roaming around the countryside during this time. He also tells us about other scientific forensic theories i.e. "natural born criminals" based on certain physical characteristics, and of the first "database" of criminals' physical features and measurements used to track down and apprehend criminals across the country.
Each man's story is fascinating, Vacher's killings and his reasoning for his innocence, and Lascassagne's use of forensic evidence, way before fingerprinting, DNA evidence, and ultraviolet light became the norm, to convict criminals.
I recommend this to anyone interested in forensics or serial killers; historical true crime at its best.
… (altro)
The book is told in alternating chapters between Vacher's history and killing spree, and Lacassagne's history, prior cases, and ultimately how he concludes whether or not Vacher is legally responsible for actions.
Not only does Starr recount the personal histories of each man, but he puts everything in historical context, for example giving background about French economics and why there were so many vagabonds roaming around the countryside during this time. He also tells us about other scientific forensic theories i.e. "natural born criminals" based on certain physical characteristics, and of the first "database" of criminals' physical features and measurements used to track down and apprehend criminals across the country.
Each man's story is fascinating, Vacher's killings and his reasoning for his innocence, and Lascassagne's use of forensic evidence, way before fingerprinting, DNA evidence, and ultraviolet light became the norm, to convict criminals.
I recommend this to anyone interested in forensics or serial killers; historical true crime at its best.
… (altro)
fascinating subject matter and very well-written
Liste
True Crime (1)
Premi e riconoscimenti
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Autori correlati
Statistiche
- Opere
- 2
- Opere correlate
- 2
- Utenti
- 845
- Popolarità
- #30,259
- Voto
- 3.9
- Recensioni
- 34
- ISBN
- 22
- Lingue
- 3
