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The Royal Art of Poison

Fatal Cosmetics, Deadly Medicines and Murder Most Foul

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The Royal Art of Poison

By: Eleanor Herman
Narrated by: Joan Walker
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About this listen

The story of poison is the story of power....  

For centuries, royal families 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 lead. Physicians prescribed mercury enemas, arsenic skin cream, drinks of lead filings and potions of human fat and skull, fresh from the executioner. 

The Royal Art of Poison is a hugely entertaining work of popular history that traces the use of poison as a political - and cosmetic - tool in the royal courts of Western Europe from the Middle Ages to the Kremlin today. 

©2018 Eleanor Herman (P)2019 W. F. Howes Ltd Europe Great Britain History & Commentary Medicine & Health Care Industry Politics & Activism Royalty Middle Ages England

Critic reviews

"A macabre and entertaining romp...Herman writes vividly and with great humor, combining detailed research with easy narrative, making her book both enthralling and sinister." (The Washington Times)
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Fascinating stuff and at times hilarious; can also be slightly nauseating too!!🤢🤢🤢. Don't miss this !!!. xxx

WOW!

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I warmed to this. At the start I was concerned it was just going to be having a good laugh at how ignorant and superstitious our forebears were when it came to the body and all things medical. I think that part did go on for a little too long but, as I say, stick with it because it moves on to a more forensic analysis of poisoning and was quite well done.

Stick with it!

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A great listen for any history buff. It doesn’t just cover royals but also we’ll other well know people from history. From Caravaggio to Mozart and countless other personalities it’s well worth a listen!

A history buffs delight- with some nasty bits

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I was doubtful at the start, but this book was very informative and entertaining. I’d recommend it especially to anyone who enjoys dark history.

Interesting!

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Royal Poison an interesting narrative on our noble families plans to further their plans so thanks Eleanor for a most interesting listen

Poison an interesting summery into an old solution

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