The Elements of Murder by John Emsley
What killed Charles II? Who thought he had discovered the perfect poison? Why did hatters go mad? This is an account of murderous chemical elements. Through stories of innocent blunders, poisoners of various hues - cold, cunning, desperate - and deaths that remain a mystery, it uncovers the dark side of the Periodic Table.
Review from previous edition A readable anecdotal history of killingThis 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.
...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.
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.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780192806000 |
| ISBN 10 | 0192806009 |
| Title | The Elements of Murder |
| Author | John Emsley |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press |
| Year published | 2006-07-13 |
| Number of pages | 432 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |