JACK THE RIPPER, AT LAST? THE MYSTERIOUS MURDERS OF GEORGE CHAPMAN

Excuse me. But can you tell me who 'Mack the Dipper' was please? No. Not 'Mack the Dipper'. Doesn't sound right. What about 'Zack the Zipper' then? Nah! That sound right either. I know. Why don't I ask my good friend, Helena Wojtczak. She might know. Cause she did write that book entitled...


Jack the Ripper at Last? The Mysterious Murders of George Chapman


1) What are your own origins, Helena? Plus what path did you take in life to get to where you are today?   I'm a working class daughter of a Polish-born man and English mother. I studied as an adult and gained a university degree at age 39. Then I lost my blue-collar job on the railways owing to an accident on duty and this led me to take up academic work.

2) What inspired you to devise the research book, ‘Jack the Ripper, at last?’?   It started as a local history project, because George Chapman lived here in Hastings, England, for a while.

3) In your own words, how would you describe this story?   It's a gruesome tale of three pointless, mysterious murders, with a twist in the tail because while on Death Row the policeman who had charge of the Jack the Ripper murders stated publicly that he thought Chapman was the Ripper.

4) If ‘At Last’ was a song, what song would it be and why?   Papa Roach "Getting Away with Murder", for pretty obvious reasons.

5) If you could get a celebrity – either living or dead – to promote your wares, what person would you get, and why would you want to choose this particular person?   Chief Inspector Abberline, because he thought Chapman was Jack the Ripper, and this would be pretty good for sales!

6) What have you learned about yourself during this venture?   That I am an incurable perfectionist.

7) During your time in this field, what is the one thing that has kept you in good stead?   My natural drive to root out every source and then to root out every typo!

8) If your book had a credo, what would it be?   Don't drink the brandy. Ha!

Ohhhh! What an enigmatic note to end on! In fact, this note's so enigmatic, dear readers, I'd encourage you to check out ‘Jack the Ripper, at last?’ today! Go on. Chop-chop. Before Jack decides to stab back.