Pros: Stylish, fascinating, horrible, a great read.
Cons: While atmospheric, art occasionally leads to problem in following narrative
The Bottom Line: If you're a fan of Moore, you know what to expect. Otherwise, if you're a horror, crime, or Forteana/esoteric fan, you'll probably love it.
oceanclub's Full Review: Alan Moore et al - From Hell: Being a Melodrama in...
I'm a fan of Alan Moore ever since the days of Watchman, and eventually got around to buying "From Hell". It's a fictionalised account of the tale of Jack the Ripper, the murderer of several prostitutes in Victorian London, who was never captured. Various theories as to who was the Ripper have been put forward over the years, from the mundane to the sensational. Moore uses the theory that the Ripper was actually a surgeon to the Royal Family, Sir William Gull. Why would an eminent doctor be reduced to killing East End prostitutes? According to the theory, it was because Queen Victoria's son Edward had a dalliance with a prostitute that ended in her becoming pregnant, and she, along with several friends, tried to blackmail the prince.
The graphic novel fictionalises this theory, throwing esoterica about Freemasonery and its origins in ancient religions into the mix. It's a great read, especially if like me you have an interest in Forteana and all things weird and unexplained. While the black and white art did capture the feel of the novel, it did however lead to confusion; some of the characters looked very alike, which led to points where I had to re-read to follow the narrative. However, a minor point. The footnotes are well researched, witty, occasionally scathing and wonderfully written in Moore's self-deprecating style, so don't leave them out. In fact, they led me to further reading, and right now I'm about to start Peter Aykroyd's "Hawksmoor" (you'll understand the connection once you've read "From Hell").
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