Crime

The real female Victorian detectives were every bit as bold as their fictional counterparts – and far more prevalent than we might assume.

Misfit, Old West villain or tragic hero of the O.K. Corral: who was the real Doc Holliday?

As rude rhymes and rumours threatened reputations, the Elizabethan government attempted to regulate barbed language.

In The Writers’ Castle: Reporting History at Nuremberg, Uwe Neumahr discovers that it wasn’t just the men in the dock who had scandalous social lives and hidden agendas.

Uruguay was the only nation where fighting a duel in defence of honour was perfectly legal for most of the 20th century. Why?

US law requires a stay of execution for pregnant women on death row. In practice, however, this once only applied to mothers considered ‘good enough’.

The devastation and chaos inflicted on London by wartime bombing raids provided an opportunity for murderers to conceal their crimes.

Highwaymen’s reputations plummeted in the 17th century. Once praised as heroes in the manner of Robin Hood, the media now lauded the brave bystanders who resisted them.

When a priceless altarpiece was stolen from a Belgian cathedral it sparked a 90-year hunt. The crime remains unsolved.

Jack the Ripper was a media sensation. The press frenzy surrounding him made the sites of his murders tourist destinations, attracting thousands of visitors.