The Trial Of Mrs. Duncan

By Helen Duncan and C E Bechhofer Roberts

Book Overview

A spare, unsparing account of a courtroom that would not let readers look away. The courtroom held its breath. The Trial of Mrs. Duncan records a real-life court case in 1920s England, the Annie Hilda Duncan case, and stands among classic accounts of early 20th century crime. Part courtroom drama book, part contemporary dossier, Helen Duncan's narrative lays out testimony, argument and public reaction with forensic clarity. Its tone is forensic rather than lurid: the prose privileges sequence, evidence and cross-examination over sensationalism, offering a clear window on how crime, class and gender were negotiated in public and in law at the time. Readers who seek a true crime classic will find the measured, document-like approach reveals as much about social attitudes and legal culture as it does about the alleged events; the result is valued by historical crime readers and prized as a piece of vintage crime literature. This volume matters to students of British legal history as well as to casual readers hungry for an engrossing courtroom drama: its focus on procedure and evidence makes it useful for a legal studies collection, while its preserved immediacy appeals to collectors of British true crime. Republished by Alpha Editions in a careful modern edition, this volume preserves the spirit of the original while making it effortless to enjoy today - a heritage title prepared for readers and collectors alike. Suitable as both reference and reading, the book bridges scholarship and storytelling; libraries of early 20th century crime, fans of courtroom drama book, and those compiling vintage crime literature will all find a place for this title. Its documentary style offers a near-primary source feel and continues to be useful to scholars examining crime and court in Britain, while remaining immediately readable for newcomers to vintage crime literature. For anyone drawn to an infamous murder trial, The Trial of Mrs. Duncan remains a lucid, unembellished record that rewards close attention.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9354210848
• ISBN13: 9789354210846
• Release Date: November 2020
• Publisher: Alpha Edition
• Length: 366 Pages
• Weight: 1.18 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"