In addition to being an excellent reference, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of criminal investigation. It is beautifully designed and a joy to thumb through. Chock-full of tidbits and ephemera, it offers a new way to view old cases.
Situated on the busy Grand Canal, the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni was unfinished in 1750 but it finally became a central society location when it was owned by three independent women.
How interesting can a book about wallpaper be? Extremely. Lucinda Hawksley has written a brief, approachable history of the use of wallpaper and arsenic in the Victorian era. While Regency decoration favored more muted color palettes, the Victorians embraced bright, gaudy and electric hues. This included the rich fabrics used to make women’s ball gowns…