The String of Pearls
by UNKNOWN ( - )
The tale of Sweeney Todd has had many incarnations, most famously the stage and movie musical by Stephen Sondheim. But it all started in 1846 with a serialized telling of the story titled “The String of Pearls” in the weekly magazine “The People's Periodical and Family Library”. Called by some a romance, by others a horror story, it is one of the earliest murder mysteries. In “The String of Pearls”, Sweeney Todd is less sympathetic than in some of his later incarnations – a perfect villain, totally self-seeking with no redeeming qualities. How the deeds of Todd are uncovered and how he is brought to justice make a most intriguing tale, but one probably not suited for the very young and certainly not for the squeamish. (Summary by John Lieder).
Listen next episodes of
The String of Pearls:
02 - The Spectacle Maker's Daughter ,
03 - The Dog and the Hat ,
04 - The Pie-shop in Bell Yard ,
05 - The Meeting in the Temple ,
06 - The Conference, and the Fearful Narration in the Garden ,
07 - The Barber and the Lapidary ,
08 - The Thieves' Home ,
09 - Johanna at Home, and the Resolution ,
10 - The Colonel and His Friend ,
11 - The Stranger at Lovett's ,
12 - The Resolution come to by Johanna Oakley ,
13 - Johanna's Interview with Arabella Wilmot, and the Advice ,
14 - Tobias's Threat, and its Consequences ,
15 - The Second Interview between Johanna and the Colonel in the Temple Gardens ,
16 - The Barber Makes Another Attempt to Sell the String of Pearls ,
17 - The Great Change in the Prospects of Sweeney Todd ,
18 - Tobias's Adventures During the Absence of Sweeney Todd ,
19 - The Strange Odour at St. Dunstan's Church ,
20 - Sweeney Todd's Proceedings Consequent upon the Departure of Tobias ,
21 - The Misadventure of Tobias. The Mad-House ,
22 - The Mad-House Cell ,
23 - The New Cook to Mrs. Lovett's Gets Tired of his Situation ,
24 - The Night at the Mad-House ,
25 - Mr. Fogg's Story at the Mad-House to Sweeney Todd ,
26 - Colonel Jeffery Makes Another Effort to Come at Sweeney Todd's Secret ,
27 - Tobias Makes an Attempt to Escape from the Mad-House ,
28 - The Mad-House Yard, and Tobias's New Friend ,
29 - The Consultation of Colonel Jeffery with the Magistrate ,
30 - Tobias's Escape from Mr. Fogg's Establishment ,
31 - The Rapid Journey to London of Tobias ,
32 - The Announcement in Sweeney Todd's Window. Johanna Oakley's Adventure. ,
33 - The Discoveries in the Vaults of St. Dunstan's ,
34 - Johanna Alone. The Secret. Mr. Todd's Suspicions. The Mysterious Letter ,
35 - Sweeney Todd Commences Clearing the Road to Retirement ,
36 - The Last Batch of the Delicious Pies ,
37 - The Prisoner's Plan of Escape from the Pies ,
38 - Sweeney Todd Shaves a Good Customer. The Arrest ,
39 - The Conclusion.