Carroty Nell-- John Keefe

[How Brown]

Trevor Bond's appearance on the latest Rippercast covered the Frances Coles story.
Trevor's discussion was enlightening and one you won't want to miss.

During the discussion, Trevor mentioned John Keefe's book, Carroty Nell, which I somehow forgot to mention before.

Along with Loretta Lay's bookstore, it can be found on Amazon and other internet sources.

http://laybooks.com/detail.asp?b=13320


http://i908.photobucket.com/albums/ac287/HowieNina/2011%20Forums/cn.jpg

[SirRobertAnderson]

Mr. Keith was kind enough to update/edit the Wiki article on Frances Coles yesterday.

You can find it here :

http://wiki.casebook.org/index.php/Frances_Coles

If anyone wants to make further additions, please chime in. I can be reached here at the Forums or at Wiki@casebook.org if you need access.

One thing we'll be wanting is a review/reviewers of Carroty Nell as well. Jack has informed me an updated edition is due out early next year.

[George Hutchinson]

It's pedantic, but I think it's important (given it's the author's name!) but it's JOHN KEEFE.

'The other place' had a few people who couldn't bring themselves to be nice (as is usual with some people) and the work has largely fallen off the radar. Well done, How, for flagging it up. I hope it gets more attention here. John's one of the 'good guys'.

PHILIP

[Chris Scott]

Hi How
"Trevor Bond's appearance on the latest Rippercast covered the Frances Coles story.
Trevor's discussion was enlightening and one you won't want to miss."
Can you tell me where to find the new Rippercast as it is not on the Rippercast page on Casebook?
Many thanks
Chris

[SirRobertAnderson]

It's pedantic, but I think it's important (given it's the author's name!) but it's JOHN KEEFE.



Not at all ! My only defense is I am reading Keith Richard's autobiography and had Keith on my mind. Of course, given he's Keef I have no real excuse at that.

Thank you.

[How Brown]

Dear Phil:

My apologies...I usually don't make mistakes like that without catching myself and correcting them.... Glad you were paying attention.
I also misspelled "Carroty" to start the thread off.
Batting a thousand over here, Phil..............

It is,obviously, Mr. John Keefe.

This is a review of his work from Amazon :

Before that though.....Chris:
JMenges will probably have the podcast ready this week sometime. The guys got together yesterday afternoon...so its not ready yet,amigo.

********************************

It's been almost 125 years since Jack the Ripper launched his reign of terror on the streets of London, and authors still churn out book after book on just about every aspect of his crimes except one - the unfortunate women who became his victims. Carroty Nell begins to fill that void, and does it well. It tells the story of Frances Coles, supposedly the last of the Ripper's victims. Despite the book's assertive sub-title, some controversy surrounds that claim, and some Ripper enthusiasts are convinced that she was the victim of a copycat killer.

Almost the first third of the book is given over to providing the reader with background information. Mr. Keefe is a gifted writer with a knack for story telling, and while his concise accounts of the other Whitechapel murders might be "page turners" to those who aren't familiar with Jack the Ripper, more experienced readers may feel that perhaps a little too much of the book is spent going over already-familiar ground.

The middle part explores the life of "Carroty Nell". Here's where we find that the author has done his homework, and done it well. His book dispels much of the misinformation about her that continues to find its way into print and onto the Internet. He provides an almost hour-by-hour account of her activities during the days and hours leading up to her murder in a desolate underpass. It makes for compelling reading.

The book ends by exploring the gradual shift in public opinion, from the widely held belief at the time of her death that she was a Ripper-victim to the doubts that are often expressed today, and shows how much of that change in attitude came about because of a tendency on the part of the public to readily accept any comments made by anyone connected with the investigations - statements that are more likely to be seen today as merely self-serving.

Carroty Nell is well researched and well written, and Mr. Keefe makes a good case for Frances Coles being Jack the Ripper's final victim. I found it to be both interesting and enjoyable.

[SirRobertAnderson]

Dear Phil:

My apologies...I usually don't make mistakes like that without catching myself and correcting them.... Glad you were paying attention.
I also misspelled "Carroty" to start the thread off.


I did the Double Event as well, at three sites. :brick:See, this is like when the Beatles broke up. Their solo work was never the same.........

[How Brown]

Finally picked up a copy of Mr. Keefe's book....

Does anyone else have the book, Carroty Nell ?

[George Hutchinson]

Me! He insisted on sending me a copy at his own cost simply because I said he could use one of my photos. We're still in occasional contact and he continues to be an absolute gentleman.

PHILIP

[How Brown]

Phil:

Didn't feel well last night, so I cuddled up with it in the sack early and read some of it. Glad I did, buddy....
Its well written and his recreation of the night leading up to her death is very well done, if I may say so.
Maybe we could get Mr. Keefe to chat with us on this thread...if anyone in contact with him might be up to asking him.

[Paul]

It's an excellent book, Howard, in which a lot is skilfully weaved from very little core material. It's one that's almost slipped by unnoticed, which is a great shame.

[George Hutchinson]

Maybe we could get Mr. Keefe to chat with us on this thread...if anyone in contact with him might be up to asking him.

Done. :becky:

PHILIP

[How Brown]

Paul;

Thanks for bringing up how the book almost slipped through the cracks.
Trevor Bond talked about it on one of the last Rippercast programs with Jon and myself...and I meant to get it then, but didn't.
I'll be reading it tonight...

Phil:

You is the man, brudda....thanks for taking the time to contact Mr. Keefe.;)

[George Hutchinson]

It took me all of two minutes, How. I charge by the second, like the high-class prostitute I am.

PHILIP

[Paul]

Paul;

Thanks for bringing up how the book almost slipped through the cracks.
Trevor Bond talked about it on one of the last Rippercast programs with Jon and myself...and I meant to get it then, but didn't.
I'll be reading it tonight...

Phil:

You is the man, brudda....thanks for taking the time to contact Mr. Keefe.;)

I'd have missed it altogether if Trevor hadn't alerted me to it.
Paul

[Nemo]

I just realised there is a slim chance I am related to Frances Coles - I'll have a word with some family in regard to this as I don't think we have a family tree constructed

My surname is the same as her mother's and the Irish side of my family are from Armagh, same as her

Anyone searching for her mother under the name Carney may like to try Kearney with which it is interchangeable

[How Brown]

Bump up for two reasons...

1. Neems...have you found out whether you're related to Coles ?

2. Has anyone else done the right thing and either purchased or read the book by Mr. Keefe ?