No one knows for sure if Sweeney Todd actually existed, but this story,
taken from a serialization in a Penny Dreadful from 1846, was the first
official record of the terrible crimes committed by the Demon Barber of
Fleet Street.
Gory? No! What's particularly good about this adaptation is that none of
the horror is to be seen -- making this a truly wonderful version of a
brilliant book.
This story first appeared in serialized form in 1800s London and gripped
the nation. Although there is no explicit record of these events taking
place, there is overwhelming anecdotal evidence that Todd existed and
that he was the world's worst mass-murderer.
A gruesome tale, portrayed with a certain Victorian twee-ness that
borders on the comical.
With beautiful engaging artwork, the book features the entire novel,
unabridged (in the original British English), as well as an illustrated
Character List (Dramatis Personae), 156 pages of story artwork, and
fascinating support material -- all beautifully presented in color.
An alternative text edition with simplified US dialogue is available in
paperback enabling differentiation in the classroom.