A Cruel Love

The Real Ruth Ellis Story

Carol Ann Lee

$24.99

Paperback

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English

Mainstream Publishing
17 March 2025

Biography: historical, political & military; True crime; Ethical issues: capital punishment; Gender studies: women; Crime & criminology

The shocking true story of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be executed in Britain - now a major ITV drama.

Soon to be an ITV drama starring Lucy Boynton, A Cruel Love is the definitive story of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be executed in Britain. Previously published as A Fine Day for a Hanging.

'A forensically researched book that casts a haunting new light on the last woman to be hanged in Britain.' -DAILY MAIL

In 1955, former nightclub manageress Ruth Ellis shot her lover, David Blakely, dead. A two-day trial followed, but despite huge public outcry, she was found guilty and sentenced to death. At 28, Ruth became the last woman executed in Britain, her hanging one of the most notorious under prolific hangman Albert Pierrepoint.

Carol Ann Lee examines the facts behind the headlines surrounding this infamous case, which many believe led to the dismantling of the death penalty a decade later. Drawing on interviews and in-depth research into the full range of sources, she reveals the woman behind the crime.

Previously published as A Fine Day for a Hanging, this is the acclaimed biography that inspired the ITV drama,

A Cruel Love - a portrait of 1950s club life in all its seedy glamour, and a tragic true tale of murder, class, love and betrayal.

'Wonderful . . . it will become the standard reference on Ruth Ellis' Stewart P. Evans, crime historian

By: Carol Ann Lee
Imprint: Mainstream Publishing
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 198mm, Width: 130mm, Spine: 28mm
Weight: 316g
ISBN: 9781910948316
ISBN 10: 1910948314
Pages: 464
Publication Date: 17 March 2025
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , General/trade , Primary , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Carol Ann Lee is an acclaimed biographer and has written extensively on the Holocaust and on the crimes of Moors Murderers Myra Hindley and Ian Brady.

Reviews for A Cruel Love: The Real Ruth Ellis Story

A forensically researched book [that] casts a haunting new light on the last woman to be hanged in Britain. * Daily Mail * Worthy of Truman Capote -- Laurence Marks, playwright and screenwriter Wonderful . . . it will become the standard reference on Ruth Ellis -- Stewart P. Evans, crime historian A brilliantly researched epilogue of the doomed relationships that produced two children and one divorce and Ellis's catastrophic final days . . . All the compelling detail is here in Lee's overwhelming story, which puts Ellis's life into perspective * Camden New Journal *