The Five

Polly, Annie, Elisabeth, Catherine, and Mary Jane are famous for the same thing, though they never met. They came from some of London’s wealthiest and poorest neighborhoods, from the factory towns of middle England, and from Wales and Sweden. They wrote ballads, ran coffeehouses, lived on country estates; they breathed ink dust from printing presses and escaped human traffickers.

What they had in common was the year of their murders: 1888. The person responsible was never identified, but the character created by the press to fill that gap has become far more famous than any of these five women. Now, in this gripping work of social history, Hallie Rubenhold finally sets the record straight, giving these women back their stories and painting a vivid portrait of Victorian London.

By moving the focus away from the killer, The Five uncovers the real stories behind the headlines:

• The Five Lives: Meet Polly, Annie, Elisabeth, Catherine, and Mary Jane. For the first time, their full biographies are revealed, from their childhoods and careers to their loves and losses.
• Beyond the “Prostitute” Myth: This landmark investigation challenges the long-held, misogynistic assumption that all the victims worked as prostitutes, giving these women back their dignity.
• A Portrait of Victorian Poverty: Journey into the workhouses, lodging houses, and hidden corners of 19th-century London, where the struggle for survival was a daily reality.
• Gripping Narrative Nonfiction: A compelling and compassionate read that combines deep research with powerful storytelling to finally set the record straight.