Poisonous Tales Av Hilary (University Of Lincoln Uk) Hamnett

<p>Dangerous, dark and difficult to detect, poisons have been a common character in literature from ancient times to the modern day. Their ability to perform deadly deeds at a distance is a common device for creating dramatic tension and playing on our real life fears. But what is fact and what is pure fiction?</p><p>From Shakespeare and Dickens to Hugo and Poe, the macabre world of literary poisonings is as large as it is fascinating. Utilising real forensic science <strong>Poisonous Tales</strong> explores the real science inspiring the toxins and tinctures in our favourite works. Could a poison really mimic death in <em>Romeo and Juliet</em>? What is the cause of the mad Hatter’s malady in <em>Alice in Wonderland</em>? And could a stone from the stomach of a goat really have been used as an antidote in <em>Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince</em>? Through these and many more ‘cases’ we discover the captivating truth in the texts and how real-life tragedies can replicate themselves in fiction.</p>