The Case of Madeleine Smith is a case I'd already read about in two of the books from Mr. Geary's bibliography: Crimes of Passion and Victorian Murderesses. As I recall, those books concentrated mainly on the romance, the poisoning, and the trial. This book is divided into several parts: Death by Poison, Madeleine and Emile, A Forbidden Romance, An Attachment Severed, The Trial of Madeleine Smith, and The Rest of Her Life.

The first five parts are a very good introduction to the case, but it was the last part that really fascinated me. I hadn't known she'd reverted to her childhood nickname of 'Lena'. She and her brother Jack moved to London, where she married her art teacher (yes, he knew who she was), and became a leading hostess in London's artistic and intellectual circles. She was also a Socialist. Some of their friends knew who she had been (loved George Bernard Shaw's comment).

Madeleine had two children by her first husband and they both grew up to be radicals. Her first husband died in 1910. The widow moved to her son's place in New York city during World War I. Her second husband was more than 10 years younger than she was. (I also loved the way she treated some movie guys who tried to blackmail her into getting involved in a film they were making of her life.)

She actually lived through most of the Roaring Twenties, which I did not expect. I'm glad I added this book to my collection. ( )

Madeleine Smith became notorious in 1850s Scotland when she stood trial for murdering her lover, Emile L’Anglier. The two had been corresponding and meeting in secret for nearly two years at the time of L’Anglier’s death. However, there were signs that Smith was tiring of the affair and planned to marry another man. Geary’s graphic novel succinctly presents the facts of the case, the details of the affair leading up to L’Anglier’s death, the trial and verdict, and Smith’s life after the trial. The illustrations and the text work well together. Some of the lurid details are mentioned in the text, but the drawings are tasteful. ( )

A very interesting murder case. I really do wonder whether she committed it or not. ( )

A very interesting murder case. I really do wonder whether she committed it or not. ( )

A very interesting murder case. I really do wonder whether she committed it or not. ( )