Richard Neville and Julie Clarke – The Life and Crimes of Charles Sobhraj – First Edition – SIGNED by Herman Knippenberg
£975.00
A first edition, first printing of ‘The Life and Crimes of Charles Sobhraj’ published by Cape in 1979. A near fine book, aside from one to the reverse of the half-title page, For Bob/In friendship and admiration/Herman/New York, december 1979’ in a near fine unclipped wrapper with a little rubbing to the corners.
Charles Sobhraj, known as “The Serpent,” was a notorious French serial killer who preyed on Western tourists in Asia during the 1970s. Charming and manipulative, he drugged, robbed, and murdered travellers along the “Hippie Trail,” often assuming their identities. His crimes spanned several countries, making him difficult to track.
Herman Knippenberg was a Dutch diplomat working in Bangkok who became obsessed with Sobhraj’s case. After discovering inconsistencies in missing persons reports, Knippenberg began his own investigation. With the help of his wife and local authorities, he compiled evidence linking Sobhraj to multiple murders. His meticulous work was key in exposing Sobhraj’s network and eventually led to his arrest in 1976.
Their cat-and-mouse dynamic was dramatized in the 2021 Netflix/BBC series ‘The Serpent’, highlighting Knippenberg’s determination and Sobhraj’s ruthlessness. While escaping prison multiple times, he was ultimately recaptured and spent decades behind bars.
(We don't keep all of our stock in the shop, so send us an email if you're planning a trip to see a particular author or book.)
- Description
Description
A first edition, first printing of ‘The Life and Crimes of Charles Sobhraj’ published by Cape in 1979. A near fine book, aside from one to the reverse of the half-title page, For Bob/In friendship and admiration/Herman/New York, december 1979’ in a near fine unclipped wrapper with a little rubbing to the corners.
Charles Sobhraj, known as “The Serpent,” was a notorious French serial killer who preyed on Western tourists in Asia during the 1970s. Charming and manipulative, he drugged, robbed, and murdered travellers along the “Hippie Trail,” often assuming their identities. His crimes spanned several countries, making him difficult to track.
Herman Knippenberg was a Dutch diplomat working in Bangkok who became obsessed with Sobhraj’s case. After discovering inconsistencies in missing persons reports, Knippenberg began his own investigation. With the help of his wife and local authorities, he compiled evidence linking Sobhraj to multiple murders. His meticulous work was key in exposing Sobhraj’s network and eventually led to his arrest in 1976.
Their cat-and-mouse dynamic was dramatized in the 2021 Netflix/BBC series ‘The Serpent’, highlighting Knippenberg’s determination and Sobhraj’s ruthlessness. While escaping prison multiple times, he was ultimately recaptured and spent decades behind bars.
