Title: An infuriating book
Product review: The author claims to have discovered evidence that Sweeney Todd was real person, yet never once offers any documentation--not even footnotes, in a book purporting to be an investigative work of non-fiction! Todd was "born in 1756"--how do we know this? No idea. We get "we are told" this, and "evidence shows" that, but no cites of sources, leaving us to conclude that the author is pulling this stuff out of his, umm, hat. He quotes 15th-century accounts of the demon barber and his pie-making associate, then claims Todd worked in the 18th century?The frequent typos ("candies" burning in windows, Dickens writing in the 18th century) are pretty funny, though not enough to nudge this over to the humor shelf.Haining actually claims to have been a working Fleet Street journalist--the downfall of the newspaper is a little less mysterious now.
Would you say this review depicts the product in a flattering or unflattering light?
