In the second episode of this season, Gracie introduces one of the more popular theories of the Whitechapel Murderer’s identity, Jill the Ripper. After briefly establishing the historical context for this theory, we talk about Victorian gender ideology and what a female serial killer means for a mythology like the Whitechapel Murders using a dime novel from 1889 called “The Whitechapel Murders; Or, An American Detective in London.” Use the links below for references, content notes, etc.

Images from left to right: Mary Pearcey, cover of Jack the Ripper: A New Theory by William Stewart

Works Cited