The Royal Art of Poison

A fun but of pop history.

Eleanor Herman takes us on a tour of one of the areas in history that are talked about, yet not. While that sounds a little weird - it is. Poison is something that we read about it books, suspected deaths and uses, but not really discussed and brought to the forefront.

From germs that were unknown and illnesses that today could be cured with simple remedies - life was not that simple back in the medieval ages. Doctors killed as many patients as they saved. Dirty hands and instruments were some of the leading killers, yet, their concoctions were just as unsafe. Now, there are going to be times within this book, that you might not want to eat before, during, or after... these “recipes” for medicines were NASTY. I have a very strong stomach, and there were a few times that I felt a tad queasy just reading through the ingredients that would go into a balm or drink for a cure.

Doctors though were not the only ones to blame. Cosmetics were also a leading cause of death. Women have always been very vain about their looks, and it was no different 600 years ago. Lead-based products, mercury, arsenic... the list goes on and on. Arsenic was used in just about everything! From clothing, cosmetics, fruit washes, and more. There was no test to see how deadly the many uses were at the time, and these were seen as agents that could “help” and “preserve” items. Little did they know that they were killing themselves slowly.

Mercury was used as a medicine, although in small doses. One of the main uses was for the treatment of syphilis, yet it would kill you just as quickly as the actual disease. It could be used though to kill someone if that was your intent. The Medici family perfected the art of poison and used it most effectively to eliminate many of their rivals. Yet, they were not the only ones to do so. While they are most commonly associated with poisoning - it was used on a far wider scale than many realize. England, France, Germany and many of the other world powers at the time had their own ways of poisoning a rival. Lady Francis Howard was convicted of murder in England, after removing a rival for her lover's affections.

Kings, queens, ambassadors, and many others were liable to fall victim to poison, just as easily as they could fall victim to the many germs that were rampant. Cleanliness was not as prevalent as it is today, and bathing was seen as opening the pores of your body too bad humor. They would bathe just a few times per year (depending on the person, they might never bathe). King James I was known to boast that he had never bathed in his life, and the smell that his body emanated certainly backed up that fact.

I absolutely LOVED this book! From murder to daily products that could kill you, ancient to more modern times, I was hooked! I love a good mystery, and these cases draw you in. Eleanor Herman really draws you in and takes you down the many facets that made up the known world at the time, from famous figures to some lesser known ones as well. You can read about Napolean, Mozart, and so many more.

This book is now available! You can search for it at your local library or favorite book spot! I give this book 4/5 stars!

I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

It takes a lot for a nonfiction book to truly capture me and this one did it. It grossed me out too, but I took needed breaks :)

This book is written really well, in my opinion. It is educational, but not dull. I also like the inclusions regarding when the doctors and researchers were taken by surprise or interested in a potential poisoning case. It felt like the author was also still interested in the work and that helped keep me interested.

The first part can be a bit dry, but it has to set the stage and explain things, such as living conditions, hygienic practices, and the most common poisoners. The beginning is background information yet still plain cool to read, but the most interest part of the book (to me, anyhow) is Part II when each chapter goes over a specific poisoning case – gives background, the pronouncement of the time, and then the modern findings. Knowing that people can tell from bones or hair is someone was poisoned is crazy. Super interesting.
The third part is about poisonings in the modern world which... mostly involve the Russians in some way. Poisoning is totally making a comeback, apparently.

I read this book in one day– but three different sittings, and is the fastest I've ever read a nonfiction book. If you are interested in the weird or dangerous side of the past and don't mind reading about exploding diarrhea, projectile vomiting, skin swelling and bloating up, or any other potentially disgusting thing bodies can do, then you should totally read this!! Not sure who I will recommend this book to, but I am so ready to recommend it!