... What has been needed for quite some time is a book that dispassionately looked at the evidence that has formed the basis of the cases against [J.K. Stephen and Prince Eddy]. And that is exactly what Deborah McDonald has done - and she has done it very well indeed.
I confess that I almost read this book in a single sitting, which itself is a testimony to its holding power, especially as some of the content … was already very familiar to me. But the examination of Stephen’s life and his relationship with and probable influence over Prince Albert Victor was fascinating and refreshing reading.
Stephen’s life is set against a background of ‘Socratic love’, homosexuality, and paedophilia prevalent in English public schools, and McDonald has gone back to original sources, most of which have apparently never before been used in association with Stephen, and most importantly among this information was his mother’s diary that charts the course of his fatal illness.
Paul Begg, renowned Ripper author. Review in ‘Ripperologist’ 84, October 2007
‘In the very first serious chuck of writing in this book, (p 7), McDonald announces that this book will ‘redress’ previous errors surrounding the perplexed life that was James Kenneth. This, I have to say in all my Jack Ripperological heart, McDonald does brilliantly. This book reads as a well researched biography … Highly recommended.
Adrian Morris, Editor of ‘The Journal of the Whitechapel Society 1888’ Edition Eighteen/ February 2008
I confess that I almost read this book in a single sitting, which itself is a testimony to its holding power, especially as some of the content … was already very familiar to me. But the examination of Stephen’s life and his relationship with and probable influence over Prince Albert Victor was fascinating and refreshing reading.
Stephen’s life is set against a background of ‘Socratic love’, homosexuality, and paedophilia prevalent in English public schools, and McDonald has gone back to original sources, most of which have apparently never before been used in association with Stephen, and most importantly among this information was his mother’s diary that charts the course of his fatal illness.
Paul Begg, renowned Ripper author. Review in ‘Ripperologist’ 84, October 2007
‘In the very first serious chuck of writing in this book, (p 7), McDonald announces that this book will ‘redress’ previous errors surrounding the perplexed life that was James Kenneth. This, I have to say in all my Jack Ripperological heart, McDonald does brilliantly. This book reads as a well researched biography … Highly recommended.
Adrian Morris, Editor of ‘The Journal of the Whitechapel Society 1888’ Edition Eighteen/ February 2008
It is a superbly researched biography and history book about one of the suspects.
Glynn Garlick, Newsshopper, October 24, 2007
What McDonald has given us are well written, well researched biographies of three men whose names have become connected through the Ripper murders. The first and most impressive biography is of writer, editor, poet, tutor and layer James Kenneth Stephen. Using hitherto unseen letters, documents and even the diary of Stephen’s mother, the author is able to give an in depth look at the lives of the well-connected Stephen family and in particular, the life of J.K. from birth to his tragic death.
… ‘The Prince, His Tutor and the Ripper’ is an impressive work of research into the lives of three men, rightly or wrongly, connected with the Whitechapel murders. The author offers us much new and fascinating information about these three suspects, about their lives and their untimely deaths, and clears away much of the fog left by earlier writers to give us a clearer and unbiased picture of their candidacy for wearing the Ripper’s mantle.
This is a book for anyone who wants a better understanding of the cases made against J.K. Stephen, Prince Eddy and M.J. Druitt or who just wants to know more about their lives. It is also written for anyone who wants an enjoyable, well written read. Highly recommended.
Wolf Vanderlinden, Review in ‘Ripper Notes’ No. 28 pp 103-05