Customer Rating:  
Summary: Much to be desired
Comment:
2.0 out of 5 stars Much to be desired., 7 Mar 2007
It is a great shame, but this is a most disappointing book. The general paucity of material on Albert Fish has created a vacuum that 'Depraved' ought to have filled but does not.
From subject matter of this kind the reader may reasonably expect a faithful reproduction of all facts and testimony, a reasoned and informed discussion of the forces acting upon, and the mental attributes of this, admittedly, depraved individual, and a precise and keen dissection of the culmination and trial. This book provides none of these, and one is left to wonder as to how Mr Schechter won his professorship.
The book contains no source notes whatsoever, no bibliography, no chronology and at times reads like a wholly subjective horror story. It may be that there is a lack of first hand source material and testimony (we cannot tell and are not told), but this would be surprising given Mr Fish's enormous appetite for letter writing. Instead the author provides us with ever more irrelevant historical background information and a surfeit of press clippings that do nothing except remind us that the tabloid press are now and have ever been, the tabloid press.
The language and composition are average; occasionally they reach a phrasal peak, but just as frequently leave one saddened by their course ignominy.
It is a great shame, but I cannot recommend this book. Far from being the 'finest writer of his genre', this author must learn the art of research and award himself no more than two from ten for this effort.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Unbelievable, Shocking...... yet Boring (at times).
Comment: The story behind Albert Fish is unbelievable. He remains one of the most shocking serial killers of all time. The whole history surrounding his life is just incomprehensible. This book is definitely NOT for the weak hearted or anyone that may offend, not easily, but at all. Schechter really sets the scene of the times throughout this book, maybe a little too much in my opinion. As the reader you do feel the aura surrounding this era but I felt that Schechter went into too much detail of the times and not enough on Fish. The subject material is extremely interesting and is the only thing that kept me reading to be honest. There are chapters that seem to neglect Fish and focus merely on the period and other events. The first half of the book is all about the police hunt over the years for the man. Don't get me wrong, the hunt is very compelling, it is just that by the half way point of the book I felt that Schechter wasn't telling the story of Fish, more the story of the surrounding events. When Fish is eventually caught I can remember looking at how many pages were left and thinking that I hope the Fish story wasn't going to be rushed. Unfortunately, it was. I have read some other accounts of Albert Fish which deal with the character himself, which is what I wanted out of the book. The passages above each chapter I have to say were very good though. They set the chapter off and there were some very interesting quotes. If you want to read about as much of the time as of the man, then this is the book for you. If you want to learn about one of the most shocking killers of all time, and the analysis that should accompany that, well I would have to say that you should look for a different account.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Gripping and Thought Provoking
Comment: Schechter is magnificent!! The research and detail provided on this "psychiatric phenomenon" -- Albert Fish -- is outstanding. The book is exceptionally well written with fascinating detail of the pervert's capture and ultimate diagnosis. Having finished it weeks ago, the book is still keeping me awake trying to imagine that such a creature lived among, and took advantage of, families in NYC in the 1920s. Great read for any true crime fan.Mr. Schechter: Please keep them coming!!!
Customer Rating:
Summary: a shocking read
Comment: had me hooked from the first page, a well writen book. Fish must be the most deranged human ever to walk the earth.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Comment: Schecter is one of, if not THE finest writer of the genre
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