That’s the question asked and answered by British author Roger Jarman in his latest novel, simply titled The Book.
Exploring the deaths of 19 notable statesmen, monarchs, political activists and scholars over two centuries, Jarman weaves a fascinating tale of magic, mystery and murder. From the shooting of Sweden’s King Gustav III in 1792 to the assassination of Anwar Sadat in 1981, The Book keeps us wondering whether there is more to the story than what was recorded in the annals of history.
Who killed them and why?
The question itself is a bit of a mystery since only 12 of the 19 cases were ever verified as assassinations. Victor Cazalet, a member of the British Parliament, and UN Secretary Dag Hammarskjold died in plane crashes. William Huskisson was the world’s first railway casualty.
Nathan Mayer Rothschild, British financier, and Chilean poet Pablo Neruda succumbed to illnesses while King Gustav III and Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, survived assassination attempts and then later died.
The cast of characters also includes US Presidents William McKinley and John F. Kennedy.
Who killed them and why?
The story is so riveting that readers have to keep reminding themselves that this is fiction, although it seems to go one step further. Speculation perhaps?
The Book, scheduled for a spring 2014 release, is being funded through a Kickstarter campaign. Kickstarter is a Brooklyn, N.Y.-based organization that helps authors, artists, designers and other creative individuals finance projects that would not otherwise be undertaken.
Since its inception in 2009, Kickstarter has raised nearly $1 billion for creative projects around the world.
To view Jarman’s Kickstarter page, which includes a one-minute video teaser, visit Kickstarter. Donations are encouraged but voluntary. Thus far, he has raised about 20 percent of the funds needed to publish The Book. Should he fail to attain his goal of 4,000 pounds (about $6,600 US), Jarman is required to return all donations.
Thus there’s no guarantee that The Book will ever see the light of day. If you’re curious about “Who killed them and why?” you might want to visit Jarman’s Kickstarter page or The Book website.
The larger question might be: Why did Roger Jarman write this novel in the first place?
“It’s meant to be fun,” he explains. “None of this happened, really – it is a story. There are places and names and events and explanations and people and causes and consequences that you might recognize, or think you recognize, but I made this all up. It’s a story. Enjoy it, but don’t believe it is true."
