The Royal Art of Poison: Filthy Palaces, Fatal Cosmetics, Deadly Medicine, and Murder Most Foul

Uno de mis libros favoritos sin duda. Gran cantidad de historia y referencias a libros curiosos de la edad media.

Life at Versailles during the reign of King Louis XIV or in a Florentine palazzo during the Renaissance seems glamorous to our eyes, but if somehow we were transported back to such a place and time our senses would be assaulted by the brutal realities of filth, odors, and violence. Eleanor Herman, well known for her so-called "pop history" books (which are nonetheless as competently researched as many more highly rated but dryer works), provides an entertaining, if sometimes stomach-churning, look at the realities of life and death in some of the best known European palaces and castles.Herman begins with a survey of the many hazards of life for the medieval and early modern royal families and their courtiers, from filthy palaces reeking with human and animal waste, to cosmetics which gradually poisoned their users, and to medical care which often did far more harm than good. She then examines a gallery of notable Europeans who had nasty deaths, chronicling their sufferings, listing any contemporary conclusions as to the causes of their deaths, and then (most interestingly) giving modern medicine's best explanations for what really happened to them. The time period runs from roughly the High Middle Ages up to the early nineteenth century. A concluding section examines more modern cases of suspicious deaths, including the vast number of people who happened to run afoul of Vladimir Putin.Herman's sense of humor serves her and her readers well here. A subject which could have made for some grim reading is instead handled deftly, amusing without detracting from the tragic events she chronicles.

I enjoyed reading this, especially the accounts of medical mismanagement. It did get a little tedious at times, when the author got into the life stories of lots of royals (many of whom I had never heard of) who may or may not have been poisoned. The narratives tend to be liberally spiced with gossip and innuendo, much of it from people who hated the royals in question, and there was a tendency to describe people as raving maniacs who were just acting like typical kings of the era (Ivan IV gets an especially bad rap). And an editor was needed: Mozart was diagnosed with miliary fever, not "military fever." And Napoleon was First Consul, not "First Counsel." The letter from Oldenburg to van Leeuwenhoek seemed to be too good to be authentic (especially the description of the Royal Society giggling), but I could be wrong.

HIlarious book in many ways. Whenever you hear someone talk about the good old days, you need to hand them this book. It isn't just about the many ways people found to poison rivals. The sheer dirtiness of life before the 1800's is appalling, and people are very quick to forget the infectious diseases that regularly killed people. I'd like to hand this book to the many idiots I come across when teaching pathophysiology and physiology, who refuse to get vaccinations! I'm so tired of arguing about the need for specific chemicals that will kill a chemical that will kill a chemical being (us) if we don't use it.Herman wrote pretty well, and I like the snide comments she made. Many people don't realize how prevalent certin heavy metals were both in constructing homes, use on daily materials and dishes, in medications that really did more harm. I can guarantee if someone asked me if I would like to live in the past, they'd get a big resounding "NO!" HOwever, if people do not read and understand science, and quit listening to the many unscientific idiots out there like our current president, we may end up in the Dark Ages again, sooner than we think!

Fast service, good price, would buy from again

A great read, especially if you have any interest in botany or history. Herman also has a way of writing with both wit and compassion that I found highly enjoyable!

I thank the Author and NetGalley for allowing me the privilege of reading this book early and have preordered my own hardcover copy. This historical nonfiction book reads as easily as fiction. As a medical professional the title and blurb immediately interested me. The Royal Art of Poison reveals so much more than what I thought of as poison. The author delves into poison for murder, accidental poisoning, poison in medical treatments, poisons in daily skin care and poisons in clothing. Death by deplorable heath care, poor hygiene, putrid water and sewer systems. A must read book for anyone who loves history, mysteries, and medicine. Eleanor Herman is an excellent author and I look forward to reading more of her books.

Accidentally or no, people with access to poison sure used to use a lot of it. This book provides entertaining and in-depth explanations as to exactly how. It's very focused on the how without too much emphasis on context, which would have been nice to a bit more detail on. However, it's engagingly written and informative enough to make a great addition to a forensic or pre-med curriculum.

This is more of a history book than one principally focused on forensic science, although the latter does play a prominent role in several chapters. The period covered in the book is from the thirteenth century up to modern times. The book is divided into three main parts. The first (about 30% of the book) deals with the filthy conditions in which people lived centuries ago, e.g., living quarters, personal hygiene, medical techniques, etc. The second part (almost 60% of the book) briefly recounts the lives of about twenty people who ended up dying of what could have been poisoning. Each such case includes a contemporary medical analysis at the time of death, usually based on an autopsy, as well as a modern opinion based on whatever forensic information is available. And the third part contains discussions of new poisons and poisonings in the modern era.I thoroughly enjoyed this fascinating book and found it almost impossible to put down. The author writes in a prose that is clear, friendly, lively, witty, occasionally tongue-in-cheek and quite captivating. The book should be of interest to history enthusiasts as well as to anyone who loves murder mysteries.

This is a very readable compendium of stories of kings, queens and other historical figures who may have been poisoned, and how it happened or didn’t. Includes snippets of medical history and chemistry, etc. Fascinating popular history.

I learned a lot about who died how in the easy to read book.

Book was great, wonderfully written and many compelling stories to keep your interest.

Acquistato per regalo. Chi lo ha ricevuto ne è stato entusiasta.