The History of Burke and Hare, And of the Resurrectionist Times: Free Audiobook and Listening Guide

The History of Burke and Hare, And of the Resurrectionist Times, credited to George MacGregor, is available as a LibriVox volunteer audiobook. This guide identifies the recording, its source summary and its audio tracks.

About the work

The LibriVox catalogue summary, preserved with the recording, reads:

LibriVox recording of The History of Burke and Hare, And of the Resurrectionist Times by George MacGregor. Read in English by Michele Fry; Colleen McMahon; John; William Allan Jones; Maeve; Greg Giordano; Ciufi Galeazzi; Mairi Patterson; Catherine Emerson; KevinS; Larry Wilson From the preface: ".....of all the criminal events that have occurred in Scotland, few have excited so deep, widespread, and lasting an interest as those which took place during what have been called the Resurrectionist Times, and notably, the dreadful series of murders perpetrated in the name of anatomical science by Burke and Hare. In the preparation of this work the Author has had a double purpose before him. He has sought not only to record faithfully the lives and crimes of Burke and Hare, and their two female associates, but also to present a general view of the Resurrectionist movement from its earliest inception until the passing of the Anatomy Act in 1832, when the violation of the sepulchres of the dead for scientific purposes was rendered unnecessary, and absolutely inexcusable."

Recording facts

• Recording title: The History of Burke and Hare, And of the Resurrectionist Times
• Author credits: George MacGregor
• Language: English
• Original MP3 tracks: 48
• Listed recording duration: 12:27:39

Catalogue topics

• Ireland
• hare
• dissection
• graverobbers
• gravedigging
• anatomical science
• irish law
• burke

Opening tracks: first 24 of 48

1. 00 - Preface and Introduction. The Resurrectionist Movement—Its Contributing Causes and Results — 11:25
2. 01 - Ch.1 Early Prohibition of Dissection—Shakespeare’s Tomb—The Progress of Anatomy—Curious Incident in Edinburgh—An Old Broadside Ballad on Body-Snatching—Tumults in Edinburgh and Glasgow—Female “Burkers” — 20:59
3. 02 - Ch.2 Tales of the Resurrectionists—The Students at Work — 18:15
4. 03 - Ch.3 Tales of the Resurrectionists—What the Doctors did — 11:15
5. 04 - Ch.4 Tales of the Resurrectionists—The Professional Body-Snatchers—A Dundee Resurrectionist Ballad—A Strange Experiment in Glasgow — 23:14
6. 05 - Ch.5 The Early Life of Burke and M‘Dougal—Their Meeting with Hare and his Wife—Some Notes Concerning the Latter — 19:29
7. 06 - Ch.6 Death of Donald the Pensioner—Hare’s Debt—Negotiations with the Doctors—A Bargain Struck—Sale of Donald’s Body — 7:04
8. 07 - Ch.7 New Prospects—Description of Hare’s House—The Murder of Abigail Simpson, the Old Woman from Gilmerton—The Two Sick Men — 14:56
9. 08 - Ch.8 Qualms of Conscience—The Murder of Mary Paterson, and Escape of Janet Brown—Preservation of the Fallen Beauty — 18:32
10. 09 - Ch.9 Unknown Victims—The Two Old Women—Effy the Cinder Raker—“A Good Character with the Police”—Burke and Hare Separate—The Murder of Mrs. Hostler — 12:31
11. 10 - Ch.10 Old Mary Haldane—The End of her Debauch—Peggy Haldane in Search of her Mother—Mother and Daughter United in Death — 11:08
12. 11 - Ch.11 A Narrow Escape—The Old Irishwoman and her Grandson—Their Murder—Hare’s Horse rising in Judgment — 8:42
13. 12 - Ch.12 Jealousy—An Undeveloped Plot—Hare Cheats Burke, and they Separate—The Foul Work Continued—Murder of Ann M‘Dougal — 17:02
14. 13 - Ch.13 James Wilson, “Daft Jamie”—Some Anecdotes concerning him—Daft Jamie and Boby Awl — 18:59
15. 14 - Ch.14 Daft Jamie Trapped into Hare’s House—The Murder—The Body Recognised on the Dissecting Table—Popular Feeling — 12:46
16. 15 - Ch.15 The End Approaches—Proposed Extension of Business—Mrs. Docherty claimed as Burke’s Relative—The Lodgers Dismissed—The Murder of Mrs. Docherty — 13:33
17. 16 - Ch.16 An Ill Excuse—Strange Behaviour—Discovery—The Threat—Unavailing Arguments—The Last Bargain — 10:20
18. 17 - Ch.17 The Arrest of Burke and M‘Dougal—Discovery of the Body—Hare and his Wife Apprehended—Public Intimation of the Tragedy—Burke and M‘Dougal give their Version of the Transaction — 15:26
19. 18 - Ch.18 Public Excitement at the West Port Murder—The Newspapers—Doubts as to the Disappearance of Daft Jamie and Mary Paterson—The Resurrectionists still at Work — 15:44
20. 19 - Ch.19 Burke and M‘Dougal amend their Account of the Murder—The Prosecution in a Difficulty—Hare turns King’s Evidence—The Indictment against Burke and M‘Dougal — 17:04
21. 20 - Ch.20 Public Anticipation of the Trial—Appearance of Burke and M‘Dougal in the Dock—Opening of the Court—The Debate on the Relevancy of the Indictment — 15:38
22. 21 - Ch.21 The Trial of Burke and M‘Dougal—Circumstantial Evidence—Hare’s Account of the Murder of Docherty—What he Declined to Answer—Mrs. Hare and her Child — 14:47
23. 22 - Ch.22 The Trial—Speeches of Counsel—Mr. Cockburn’s Opinion of Hare—The Verdict of the Jury — 14:33
24. 23 - Ch.23 The Last Stage of the Trial—Burke Sentenced to Death—The Scene in Court—M‘Dougal Discharged—Duration of the Trial — 12:10

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