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Books

The Wicked Boy is finally redeemed

Kate Summerscale rediscovers a sensational case of juvenile matricide in Victorian London — and an adult life spent making atonement

30 April 2016

9:00 AM

30 April 2016

9:00 AM

The Wicked Boy: The Mystery of a Victorian Child Murderer Kate Summerscale

Bloomsbury, pp.351, £16.99, ISBN: 9781408851142

During the heatwave in the summer of 1895, the Gentlemen v. Players match at Lords Cricket Ground on 8 July attracted more than 12,000 spectators. Among the crowd that sunny day were two little boys from the East End of London, brothers Robert and Nattie Coombes, aged 13 and 12.

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