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With the assistance of several friends, Dumas wrote an eight-volume collection of essays on famous criminals and their crimes. This is the fourth volume, Karl Ludwig Sand, Urbain Grandier and Nisida, €detailing three well-known murderers and murder cases.

Alexandre Dumas, author of The Three Musketeers and so many sequels, all but invented the action adventure novel, and certainly he has few peers in all the years since. His stories are thrilling works of derring-do, foul deeds, close escapes, and glorious victories. In this third volume of his Celebrated Crimes, Dumas tells the tale of Mary Queen of Scots, a woman who suffered a violent death, and around whose name an endless controversy has waged. Dumas goes carefully into the dubious episodes of her stormy career, but does not allow these to blind his sympathy for her fate. Mary, it should be remembered, was closely allied to France by education and marriage, and the French never forgave Elizabeth the part she played in the tragedy. This book was not written for children. Dumas has minced no words in describing the violent scenes of a violent time. In some instances facts appear distorted out of their true perspective, and in others the author makes unwarranted charges. The careful, mature reader -- for whom the books are intended -- will recognize and allow for this fact.

Alexandre Dumas' 'Celebrated Crimes' is a captivating collection of historical non-fiction narratives recounting some of the most infamous criminal cases throughout history. Written with Dumas' signature flair for storytelling and meticulous attention to detail, each chapter immerses the reader into the political intrigues, scandals, and tragedies that shaped the course of history. Dumas' vivid descriptions and engaging narrative style make this series a must-read for lovers of both history and true crime. The historical accuracy of the accounts is remarkable, giving the reader an insight into the darker side of human nature and the consequences of ambition and greed. Alexandre Dumas, a renowned French author best known for his novels 'The Three Musketeers' and 'The Count of Monte Cristo,' drew inspiration for 'Celebrated Crimes' from his fascination with historical events and characters. His tireless research and dedication to storytelling shine through in this series, cementing his legacy as a master of historical fiction. Recommended for readers interested in delving into the dark corners of history and exploring the criminal minds behind some of the most notorious cases, 'Celebrated Crimes' is a gripping and enlightening read that will leave you pondering the complexities of human nature long after you turn the final page.

As dusk fell on a misty evening in 1521, Martin Luther - hiding from his enemies at Wartburg Castle - found himself seemingly tormented by demons hurling walnuts at his bedroom window. In a fit of rage, the great reformer threw at the Devil the inkwell from which he was preparing his colossal translation of the Bible. A belief - like Luther's - in the supernatural, and in black magic, has been central to European cultural life for 3000 years. From the Salem witch trials to the macabre novels of Dennis Wheatley; from the sadistic persecution of eccentric village women to the seductive sorceresses of TV's Charmed; and from Derek Jarman's punk film Jubilee to Ken Russell's The Devils, John Callow brings the twilight world of the witch, mage and necromancer to vivid and fascinating life. He takes us into a shadowy landscape where, in an age before modern drugs, the onset of sudden illness was readily explained by malevolent spellcasting. And where dark, winding country lanes could terrify by night, as the hoot of an owl or shriek of a fox became the desolate cries of unseen spirits.Witchcraft has profoundly shaped the western imagination, and endures in the forms of modern-day Wicca and paganism. Embracing the Darkness is an enthralling account of this fascinating aspect of the western cultural experience.