THE POISON PRINCIPLE -
a memoir about family secrets and literary poisonings
by Gail Bell
reviewed by Mike Crowl
Gail Bell, an Australian author, begins her book by telling us that in the 1920s, her grandfather poisoned two of his sons. (These were her father's older brothers.) Not surprisingly, family members generally avoided talking about this dark piece of history, and it was only when Bell began to investigate the story that relatives cautiously opened up about it.
This unusual book shows the results of Bell's investigations into the family
'secret' but teases the facts out amidst a series of intriguing digressions
and discussions on the subject of poisons, of poisoners and on the way people
react to both of
these.
At first I wondered who this book was aimed at, and why people would want to read about the chilling character of various poisoners, the often gross results of being poisoned (none of your easy sudden deaths here) and the herbal, chemical and sinister issues Bell relates to her main topic.
But the author knows her audience, and knows we are more fascinated with poison and poisoners than we care to admit. Indeed it is easy to see that we are little different to the people who went along to witness the executions of various famous poisoners.
Bell ranges wide and far in her discussions, and is able to retain our interest even when writing about somewhat arcane chemical details. The book is full of anecdotes and stories about intentional and unintentional poisonings, and leaves the reader with the understanding that we live in a more 'chemical' world than we care to admit.
For example, Bell herself almost died of poisoning when she made a cup of tea out of an old tea-bag that had been hidden away at the back of a cupboard for many years. And to my surprise, I discovered green, red and yellow arsenics are used in the production of the various pigments for wallpapers, paints, prints and aniline dyes. More than one person mentioned in this book dies as a result of arsenic flaking off wallpaper.
The author also shows how throughout history people have chosen to drink and take as medicine mixtures that were primarily poisonous. Sometimes these were beneficial; most often, especially in the long-term, they were not. Absinthe, for instance, in its 19th century form contained the herb wormwood, and caused a huge addiction amongst those who drank it regularly.
Bell covers her topic in detail, with a seeming enjoyment in the torments and agonies of those who have been poisoned and in the flamboyant and venal nature of the poisoners.
In a few places she lapses into philosophising about her subject. She is always a stylish writer but I found these chapters less successful. The final uncovering of the family mystery is also a little disappointing; nevertheless it would be unfair of me to tell you what actually happened.
Overall the book was far more readable than its subject matter first indicated.