The royal art of poison : fatal cosmetics, deadly medicines, and murder most foul
Herman, Eleanor, 1960-2019
Books
The story of poison is the story of power. For centuries, the royal families of Western Europe have feared the gut-roiling, vomit-inducing agony of a little something added to their food or wine by an enemy. To avoid poison, they depended on tasters, unicorn horns and antidotes tested on condemned prisoners. Servants licked the royal family's spoons, tried on their underpants and tested their chamber pots. Ironically, royals terrified of poison were unknowingly poisoning themselves daily with their cosmetics, medications and filthy living conditions. Women wore makeup made with mercury and lead. Men rubbed faeces on their bald spots. In this book, Eleanor Herman tells the true story of Europe's glittering palaces: one of medical bafflement, poisonous cosmetics, ever-present excrement, festering natural illness and, sometimes, murder.
Main title:
Author:
Herman, Eleanor, 1960-, author
Imprint:
Richmond : Duckworth, 2019.
Collation:
xiii, 286 pages ; 20 cm
Notes:
Originally published: 2018.Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN:
9780715653142 (pbk. :)
Language:
English
BRN:
2267075