Description
ISBN: 9781789149401
Year: 2024
Publisher: Reaktion Books
Description:
The explosive history of weaponised mail over hundreds of years.
This book unfolds the gripping history of weaponised mail, offering the first-ever comprehensive exploration of this sinister phenomenon. Spanning two centuries, Murder by Mail unveils the history of postal bombs, describing the evolution of both explosives and the postal services that facilitated their deadly use. From an eighteenth-century incident involving Jonathan Swift to modern acts of terror by groups like the IRA, Suffragettes, and lone actors such as the Unabomber, it uncovers the surprising ubiquity of mail bombs.
This chronological account meticulously covers each decade, from early anarchists and world wars through the Cold War to the rise of the serial bomber. Astounding in scope, this book sheds light on the psychopathy, motivations, and political implications behind murder by mail.