The Wonderful and Surprising History of Sweeney Todd: The Life and Times of an Urban Legend

If you are a Devotee of the legend/story/history/you-name-it of Sweeney Todd you should devour this book. Notice the capital "D". At times Mack gives us just a bit too much info, but then again it's all interesting. Of course, discourses on the general subject of cannibalism are a necessary part of the story. What's nice is that although it was published just before Johnny Depp added his interpretation for the benefit of the public at large, Mack touches on the story behind this latest film production...quoting Sondheim and Depp among others. A must-read starts on page 108 when the classic original story "The String of Pearls" is summarized.