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The Royal Art of Poison
- Fatal Cosmetics, Deadly Medicines and Murder Most Foul
- Narrated by: Joan Walker
- Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins
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The Royal Art of Poison
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Summary
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.
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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)
What listeners say about The Royal Art of Poison
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- The ERM
- 12-07-24
A good listen
Really enjoyed this book, the narration was good and the history of it all was told really well and it's engaging throughout and does get too 'booged down' with historical facts. Would definitely listen again.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- David
- 08-06-24
So interesting!
People have been devious as long as we have existed! Poisoning each other for power, hate and love. Very interesting history and study of poisonings or suspected poisonings.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- IP
- 30-10-19
Fascinating history, beautifully narrated
I absolutely loved this book. Fascinating in its details, well structured and perfectly narrated.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anna
- 30-09-19
Brilliant!
Absolutely amazing listening. Glimpse of historical hygiene and deathly instincts.
Written with humour, amazingly narrated. Enjoyed every moment of this book (even the gross parts)
I'm considering buying printed copy now.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Franklymydarling
- 04-09-19
A history buffs delight- with some nasty bits
A great listen for any history buff. It doesn’t just cover royals but also we’ll other well know people from history. From Caravaggio to Mozart and countless other personalities it’s well worth a listen!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lilith Grandeur
- 22-06-21
Horrible Histories for Grownups
This is a wonderful book full of interesting historical stories performed with a fluid, charming and well-enunciated voice.
I made the mistake of listening to it while eating and became quite nauseous. If you're looking for cheerful history that will make you squirm, you have found it. I have seldom been so entranced by descriptions of gore. I recommend this book.
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- Ke Donn
- 23-08-19
Very enjoyable
Really enjoyed this book and the format of it works well. lots of thought and hard work has clearly gone into putting this book together
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 11-03-21
surprising, interesting and funny.
A great exploration of intentional and unintentional poisoning through history. Full of really interesting and well-researched information or a range of common-place practices and medical recommendations that would definitely be avoided (perhaps not 'like the plague') today. Great case studies and reasoned observations. I would definitely recommend this book.
Very clear reading and structure, the only minor issue is that sometimes the jumping about through historical periods was occasionally confusing.
Definitely worth listening to.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jill Desborough
- 02-07-20
Really interesting read
Really enjoyed this informative book, packed with stories that are sometimes grim, sad or bizarre. A canter through the changing history of poisons bringing us up to the present. If you enjoy history and maybe it's darker side, you should enjoy this book.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Hannah
- 13-07-21
I took a star off because
at the end of the book, the writer advises autism is up there with dementia as a disease of our age that we contribute to with modern living. Sounds like BS to me, I am certain Autism was a common condition throughout history, and has served a great many people to the good. Otherwise a very intriguing and entertaining book.
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