Description
Book SynopsisFifty years after the Moors Murders and 15 years since Myra Hindley died in prison, after one of the longest sentences served by a woman, The Monstering of Myra Hindley raises some delicate and searching questions.They include: "Why was Hindley treated differently?", "Why do we need to create demons?" and "What impact does this have on our whole notion of crime, punishment and justice?" Set against the political backlash of one of the most noto-rious cases in English criminal history, this is a perceptive, first-hand portrayal of the most talked-about and maligned of women. The Monstering of Myra Hindley is written by one of the closest people to her, Nina Wilde. Wilde not only sets the record straight on certain matters, she also provides new insights about one of the most infamous women in Britain. It contains until now private information, 'home-truths' and describes a journey charting a special relationship. Everyone, the author included, recognises the plight of the victims but this should not be allowed to mask other wrongs that, with hindsight, become increasingly apparent in Hindley's case.
Trade Review'I think she became a national scapegoat for that part of the social mind that is cruel and has contempt for vulnerability'-- Dr Gwen Adshead; 'The book has two main arguments. Hindley was treated as she was first because she was a woman and consequently what she did was worse because she was a woman. Second the unfairness she experienced was because the press would not leave her alone and continually brought up the story and the evil nature of her character... I think Wilde is right on both counts... the book is written well and makes the above arguments well. It thus serves as a reminder that tariff decisions on life imprisonment should be decided upon by the judiciary and that they should be carried out without political bias or influence.'-- Prison Service Journal.
Table of ContentsForeword; Introduction; Timeline; 1.Cookham Wood; 2.The Outsider; 3.The Nature of Myra's Injustice; 4.Public and Political Involvement; 5.Reputation, Retreat and Remorse; 6.The Media and the Press; 7.Myra As Public Property; 8.Constant Threat and Observation; 9.Hypnosis and Other Distractions; 10.I'd Like to Help You, But...; The Prisoner; Select Bibliography; Index.
