Eat Thy Neighbour : A History of Cannibalism

Cannibalism is unquestionably one of the oldest and deepest-seated taboos. Even in an age when almost nothing is sacred, religious, moral and social prohibitions surround the topic. But even as our minds recoil at the mention of actual acts of cannibalism there is some dark fascination with the subject. Appalling crimes of humans eating other humans are blown into major news stories and gory movies: both Hitchcock's 'Psycho' and 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' were based on the crimes of Ed Gein, who is profiled, along with others, in this book. In 'Eat Thy Neighbour' the authors put the subject of cannibalism into its social and historical perspective. In Eat Thy Neighbour the authors put cannibalism into its social and historical perspective. Even in an age when almost nothing is sacred numerous prohibitions surround the subject. However, there is some dark fascination with the subject. Characters include Sweeny Todd, Jeffrey Dahmer, Armin Meiwes and much to the pleasure of Boris Johnson the inhabitants of Papua New Guinea. All tastes are catered for in this hugely compelling book which is always vivacious but never salacious. This study puts cannibalism into its social and historical perspective. Even in an age when almost nothing is sacred, numerous prohibitions surround the subject, and yet a dark fascination with the subject remains. Characters include Sweeny Todd, Jeffrey Dahmer, Armin Meiwes, and much to the pleasure of Boris Johnson the inhabitants of Papua New Guinea. All tastes are catered for in this hugely compelling book that is always vivacious but never salacious.