On Wednesday 12 May, we were privileged enough to be joined by historian, Hallie Rubenhold, to discuss her most recent book ‘The Five’, winner of the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-fiction in 2019 and Sunday Times bestseller, that tells for the first time in 130 years the untold individual stories of Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly.

Hallie discussed her belief that the popular notion that all five women were involved in ‘prostitution’ meant people did not care enough to uncover their stories or to understand the cruel, unforgiving life, many women faced in the 1800s. Hallie spoke passionately about her role as an social historian in overturning the narratives handed down to us.

Hallie spoke with us about how the ordinary lives of women and men are often the most thought-provoking and it is our job as historians to bring a voice to those marginalised in history.  It was a brilliant lecture which has confirmed my interest in pursuing social history at undergraduate level.