{"title":"Kathryn Harkup","description":"Kathryn Harkup is a former chemist turned author. She writes and gives regular public talks on the disgusting and dangerous side of science. Her first book was the international best-seller A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie, which was shortlisted for a Mystery Readers International Macavity Award and a BMA Book Award. Her other books include Death by Shakespeare: Snakebites, Stabbings and Broken Hearts and Superspy Science: Science, Death and Tech in the World of James Bond.","products":[{"product_id":"v-is-for-venom-agatha-christies-chemicals-of-death-hardcover","title":"V Is for Venom: Agatha Christie's Chemicals of Death - Hardcover","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSHORTLISTED FOR THE 2026 EDGAR ALLAN POE AWARDS (\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eBEST CRITICAL\/BIOGRAPHICAL)\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e'Hugely entertaining and informative' \u003cb\u003eMARK ALDRIDGE\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Harkup balances the macabre with the scientifically intricate' \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNEW SCIENTIST\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eFourteen stories. Fourteen more poisons. Just because it's fiction doesn't mean it's all made-up ...\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAgatha Christie is renowned for her captivating plots and creative ways of killing off ill-fated victims. And what better way to add intrigue to a story than poison? The surreptitious ways they can be administered and the characteristic symptoms they produce make these killer chemicals the ideal method of murder in a 'whodunit'. Christie perfected the use of poisons in her plots; her deft and varied use of toxic substances is one of her great strengths as a writer. But how is it that some compounds prove so fatal, and in such tiny amounts? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe follow up to Kathryn Harkup's best-selling \u003ci\u003eA is for Arsenic, V is for Venom\u003c\/i\u003e is a compelling exploration of fourteen more poisons from the works of Agatha Christie and her extensive chemical knowledge. This book investigates the science behind the deadly substances, the history of their use in real-life murder cases, and how feasible was it to obtain, administer and detect these poisons in Christie's time and today. Combining Christie's murder mysteries, chemical science and true crime\u003ci\u003e, V is for Venom\u003c\/i\u003e is a celebration of the use of science by the undisputed Queen of Crime.","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51376795091167,"sku":"9781399413077","price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0813\/8958\/4607\/files\/fagg2ByA5u9781399413077.webp?v=1789225356"},{"product_id":"making-the-monster-the-science-behind-mary-shelleys-frankenstein-paperback","title":"Making the Monster: The Science Behind Mary Shelley's Frankenstein - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA thrilling and gruesome look at the science that influenced Mary Shelley's classic Gothic novel, \u003ci\u003eFrankenstein.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe year 1818 saw the publication of one of the most influential science-fiction stories of all time. \u003ci\u003eFrankenstein: Or, Modern Prometheus\u003c\/i\u003e by Mary Shelley had a huge impact on gothic horror and science fiction genres. The name Frankenstein has become part of our everyday language, often used in derogatory terms to describe scientists who have overstepped a perceived moral line. But how did a 19-year-old woman with no formal education come up with the idea for an extraordinary novel such as \u003ci\u003eFrankenstein\u003c\/i\u003e? The period of 1790-1820 saw huge advances in our understanding of electricity and physiology. Sensational science demonstrations caught the imagination of the general public, and newspapers were full of tales of murderers and resurrectionists. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIt is unlikely that Frankenstein would have been successful in his attempts to create life back in 1818. However, advances in medical science mean we have overcome many of the stumbling blocks that would have thwarted his ambition. We can resuscitate people using defibrillators, save lives using blood transfusions, and prolong life through organ transplants--these procedures are nowadays considered almost routine. Many of these modern achievements are a direct result of 19th century scientists conducting their gruesome experiments on the dead. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eMaking the Monster\u003c\/i\u003e explores the science behind Shelley's book. From tales of reanimated zombie kittens to electrical experiments on human cadavers, Kathryn Harkup examines the science and scientists that influenced Mary Shelley and inspired her most famous creation, Victor Frankenstein. While, thankfully, we are still far from being able to recreate Victor's \"creature,\" scientists have tried to create the building blocks of life, and the dream of creating life-forms from scratch is now tantalizingly close.","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51379365806303,"sku":"9781472933768","price":18.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0813\/8958\/4607\/files\/louDmK5_vK9781472933768.webp?v=1789272419"}],"url":"https:\/\/blackandbarhe.com\/collections\/kathryn-harkup.oembed","provider":"Black \u0026 Barhe Bookstore","version":"1.0","type":"link"}