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| Mark R. Vogel talks about Jack the Ripper |
Jack the Ripper is one of the world’s most infamous serial killers whose identity remains a mystery. Mark R. Vogel, a clinical psychologist and self-confessed Ripperologist, captivated his audience at the Warren Township Library Wednesday night with an in-depth look at the Ripper murders. The program was made possible by the Friends of the Warren Township Library.
With photos from the time period, Vogel gave attendees a glimpse into the gritty world of 1880s London where women living in the slums of the East End were often forced into prostitution to feed themselves and where some unlucky ones were prime targets for the Ripper. He also gave detailed accounts of each murder and how the police of the 19th Century vainly tried to catch the killer.
He also touched on how some other authors have addressed the case, some in sensational ways, including Patricia Cornwell’s Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper - Case Closed and the recently released Naming Jack the Ripper by Russell Edwards, which claims the author obtained a scarf from one of the Ripper victims.
Vogel didn’t feel Edwards’ book substantiated its claims and quipped, “He sells Jack the Ripper lip balm on his website.”
He did recommend Philip Sugden’s The Complete History of Jack the Ripper, for anyone who wanted a comprehensive and balanced look at the case.
Vogel became interested in the Ripper and studied the case to the point of visiting the murder sites in London. “I’ve always been fascinated by forensics,” he said.
His interest in the Ripper goes deeper; he’s currently working on a fiction novel about a history professor who tries to go back in time to save one of the victims.
To see more photos from the Jack the Ripper talk, visit the Friends of the Warren Library Facebook page.
