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Who Killed Jane Stanford?

A Gilded Age Tale of Murder, Deceit, Spirits and the Birth of a University
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( 1,848 ratings, 282 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The book Who Killed Jane Stanford? by Richard White delves into the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of Jane Stanford, co-founder of Stanford University. Set against the backdrop of turn-of-the-century San Francisco, it explores the intricacies and intrigues within the university's early administration and the broader societal tensions, while examining the possibility of foul play in Stanford's demise. It is an engaging tale of power, influence, and the quest for truth in historical investigation.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this intriguing exploration if you are fascinated by true crime mysteries within historical contexts. This book delves into the mysterious death of a prominent figure, offering a gripping mix of investigation, historical analysis, and rich character portraits that bring late 19th-century America to life.

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A premier historian penetrates the fog of corruption and cover-up still surrounding the murder of a Stanford University founder to establish who did it, how and why

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

In 1885, Jane and Leland Stanford cofounded a university to honour their recently deceased young son. After her husband's death in 1893, Jane Stanford, a devoted spiritualist who expected the university to inculcate her values, steered Stanford into eccentricity and public controversy for more than a decade. In 1905, she was murdered in Hawaii, a victim, according to the Honolulu coroner's jury, of strychnine poisoning. With her vast fortune as the university's lifeline, the Stanford president and his allies quickly sought to foreclose challenges to her bequests by constructing a story of death by natural causes. The cover-up gained traction in the murky labyrinths of power, wealth, and corruption of Gilded Age San Francisco. The murderer walked free.

Deftly sifting the scattered evidence and conflicting stories of suspects and witnesses, Richard White gives us the first full account of Jane Stanford's murder and its cover-up in Who Killed Jane Stanford?. Against a backdrop of the city's machine politics, rogue policing, tong wars, and heated newspaper rivalries, White's search for the murderer draws us into Jane Stanford's imperious household and the academic enmities of the university. Although Stanford officials claimed that no one could have wanted to murder Jane, we meet several people who had the motives and the opportunity to do so. One of these, we discover, also had the means.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Who Killed Jane Stanford? by Richard White is praised for its fascinating and vivid portrayal of Jane Stanford and her entourage, with a convincing revelation of her killer. The book offers a rollicking narrative of her last years and death, amid the backdrop of San Francisco's dynamic culture. It is also noted for its thorough research and engaging account of the early years of Stanford University.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781324064428

Publisher: WW Norton & Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 October 2023

Country: United States

Imprint: WW Norton & Co

Illustration: 8 pages of illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 25.0mm

Width: 140.0mm

Height: 211.0mm

Weight: 305g

Pages: 400

About the Author

Richard White is the author of many acclaimed histories, including the groundbreaking study of the transcontinentals, Railroaded, winner of the LA Times Book Prize and a Pulitzer Prize finalist. He is Margaret Byrne Professor Emeritus at Stanford University, and lives in Los Angeles, California.

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