Hallie Rubenhold’s The Five has been praised for its meticulous research and compassionate portrayal of Jack the Ripper's victims, bringing their stories and the socio-economic struggles of Victorian women to light. However, some readers found its focus on social history over true crime disappointing. Overall, it's a thought-provoking and empathetic work that reclaims the victims' identities.

Readers fascinated by social history and women's stories will enjoy The Five by Hallie Rubenhold. This book is ideal for those who appreciated The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot or Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly, as it meticulously reconstructs the lives of Jack the Ripper's victims, emphasizing their humanity over their deaths.

The Five by Hallie Rubenhold focuses on the lives of five women, often overshadowed by their association with Jack the Ripper. The book humanizes Mary Ann "Polly" Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly, highlighting their personal stories, backgrounds, and the societal challenges they faced in Victorian London.

Informative / Mysterious / Dark / Melancholic / Contemplative

- The Five by Hallie Rubenhold won the 2019 Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction, which celebrates the best in non-fiction writing, making Rubenhold the first female winner in three years.
- The book shifts the narrative focus from Jack the Ripper to the lives of his female victims, providing a feminist perspective and challenging long-held myths about them.
- Hallie Rubenhold's extensive research for The Five uncovered numerous historical documents and personal records that had been overlooked for over a century, offering fresh insights into the lives of the women she profiles.

**Hallie Rubenhold**  
A British American historian and author specializing in the social history of women in the 18th and 19th centuries. Her work often sheds light on the lives of women marginalized by society.

**Mary Ann “Polly” Nichols**  
The first "canonical" victim of Jack the Ripper, she grew up in a working-class family in London and faced hardships, including an alcohol dependency.

**Annie Chapman**  
Known as the second "canonical" victim of Jack the Ripper, she experienced a fall from a lower-middle-class life into poverty, struggling with alcohol dependency.

**Elisabeth Stride**  
The third "canonical" victim associated with Jack the Ripper, originally from Sweden, whose life in London involved working in domestic service and facing challenges such as syphilis and an abusive relationship.

**Catherine “Kate” Eddowes**  
The fourth "canonical" victim of Jack the Ripper, who dealt with economic hardship, family violence, and alcohol dependency, originally hailing from Wolverhampton.

**Mary Jane Kelly**  
The last "canonical" victim of Jack the Ripper, a young woman whose history is the most ambiguous, mainly known for working as a sex worker and being murdered in her own home.

**Jack the Ripper**  
An unidentified serial killer active in London's Whitechapel area in 1888, marked by a series of brutal killings of women now known as his "canonical" victims.

Hallie Rubenhold

Adult

Biography

Nonfiction

Guide

Study Guide

Before You Read

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Before You Read The Five | SuperSummary

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Overview

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The Five Summary and Study Guide

Background

The Five Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Introduction

The Five Introduction Summary & Analysis

Part 1: “Polly, August 26, 1845-August 31, 1888”

Part 1 The Five Part 1 Summary & Analysis

Part 2: “Annie, September 1841-September 8, 1888”

Part 2 The Five Part 2 Summary & Analysis

Part 3: “Elizabeth, November 27, 1843-September 30, 1888”

Part 3 The Five Part 3 Summary & Analysis

Part 4 The Five Part 4 Summary & Analysis

Part 5: “Mary Jane, c. 1863-November 9, 1888”

Part 5-Conclusion

The Five Part 5-Conclusion Summary & Analysis

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Key Figures

The Five Key Figures

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Themes

The Five Themes

Index of Terms

The Five Index of Terms

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Important Quotes

The Five Important Quotes

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Essay Topics

The Five Essay Topics

The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper

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