1: Deadly elements
2: The history and the chemistry
3: One man's medicine is another man's murder weapon
4: Arsenic and adultry
5: Off the wall poison
6: Insidious antimony
7: Requiem for a metal
8: Deadly lead
9: When the Empire struck lead
10: Mercury in the Tower
11: Mad cats and mad hatters
12: Young and deadly
13: Driving you hairless
Glossary
John Emsley won the Science Book prize in 1995 for his Consumer's
Good Chemical Guide, and followed this with a series of popular
science books: Molecules at an Exhibition, Was it Something You
Ate? (co-authored with Peter Fell), The Shocking History of
Phosphorus, Nature's Building Blocks, and Vanity, Vitality, and
Virility, all of which have been translated worldwide.
John spent 20 years as a researcher and lecturer in chemistry at
London University before becoming a freelance popular-science
writer and a Science Writer in Residence, first at Imperial College
London and then in the Chemistry Department of the University of
Cambridge. In 2003 he was awarded the German Chemical Society's
Writer's Award.
`Review from previous edition A readable anecdotal history of
killing. This book will be enjoyed by those who like good detective
stories, intriguing snippets of history, popular science and murder
most foul.'
Chemistry World
`...authoritative and meticulously researched... Emsley knows what
he is talking about. This is a lovely book.'
Roger P Smith, Nature Vol 436
`A delightful potion of chemical erudition, forgotten science
history and ghastly murder schemes Along the way, the bodies pile
up as Emsley relates spectacular case histories of poisonings,
accidental and criminal...Reading ''The Elements of Murder'' is
like watching a hundred episodes of ''CSI,'' but without having to
sit through the tedious personal relationships of the
characters.'
New York Times Book Review
...fascinating, wide-ranging and, let's not mince words, macabre
new history of poison...a truly guilty pleasure
`Fascinating brew of academic research and titilating murder
mysteries...vivid and anecdotal history of poison'
Daily Mail
`He describes the chemistry with a light touch that makes the book
accessible to non-chemists and, indeed, non-scientists. There is
much here to fascinate a broad readership.'
THES
`a fascinating ancedotal history of killing. With something of
interest on almost every page, it combines the satisfaction of a
detective story, intriguing snippets of history, popular science,
unsolved mysteries and murder. A powerful brew.'
Telegraph
`Meticulously researched, this book reads like a novel and a reader
could pick up enough colourful anecdotes on which to dine out some
time. Just be careful what, or whom, you eat.'
Lancet
`Meticulously researched, this book reads like a novel and a reader
could pick up enough colourful anecdotes on which to dine out for
some time.'
The Lancet
`Endlessly fascinating book...Every page reveals delights and
horrors...It is the perfect book to take on a long-haul flight'
Telegraph
The Elements of Murder is full of such intriguing nuggets...Emsley
must have been an outstanding chemistry teacher.
 |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
