The Royal Art of Poison cover art

The Royal Art of Poison

Fatal Cosmetics, Deadly Medicines and Murder Most Foul

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The Royal Art of Poison

By: Eleanor Herman
Narrated by: Joan Walker
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About this listen

The story of poison is the story of power....

For centuries, royal families have feared the gut-roiling, vomit-inducing agony of a little something added to their food or wine by an enemy. To avoid poison, they depended on tasters, unicorn horns and antidotes tested on condemned prisoners.

Servants licked the royal family’s spoons, tried on their underpants and tested their chamber pots. Ironically, royals terrified of poison were unknowingly poisoning themselves daily with their cosmetics, medications and filthy living conditions.

Women wore makeup made with lead. Physicians prescribed mercury enemas, arsenic skin cream, drinks of lead filings and potions of human fat and skull, fresh from the executioner.

The Royal Art of Poison is a hugely entertaining work of popular history that traces the use of poison as a political - and cosmetic - tool in the royal courts of Western Europe from the Middle Ages to the Kremlin today.

©2018 Eleanor Herman (P)2019 W. F. Howes Ltd Europe Great Britain History & Commentary Medicine & Health Care Industry Politics & Activism Royalty Middle Ages England

Critic Reviews

"A macabre and entertaining romp...Herman writes vividly and with great humor, combining detailed research with easy narrative, making her book both enthralling and sinister." (The Washington Times)
All stars
Most relevant
If you have an interest in toxicology or medical history (or anything else) you'll thoroughly enjoy this book. Each poisoning case has been researched in-depth and beautifully written. The author touches on mediaeval kings, to well known poisoning cases in the present. Each case is concluded with a modern scientific review, including any archaeological discoveries. I was sad when it ended!

Informative & entertaining

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Absolutely fascinating. The story is well told and I love how they do a modern take and discuss what they actually died of.

Fascinating.

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Recommended for those with interest in history and medical exploration
A great listen and at times smirk worthy
Great narration and an easy listen

Loved it

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Lots of interesting stuff as well as an easy listen. The author knows their subject. I don’t usually write reviews but I had to with this one. Well worth the time to listen.

Informative and entertaining!

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This book writes about poisoners by century, from the 12th to the 20th, discussing historical people who would be well known to many readers. The structure of the book kept me interested all the way through, the most enjoyable aspect is the writer discusses the doctor's opinions at the time of the deaths after the victims had been autopsied, and contrasts their findings with modern day doctor's interpretations. Detailed and excellent.

Well written in an unusual and interesting format

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A topic that should have been interesting mostly sounded like someone reading out a looong list of ingredients. It might get better as it goes on but I really couldn’t persevere.

First book I’ve exchanged

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