Poison:The History of Potions, Powders and Murderous Practitioners

In Poison: The History of Potions, Powders and Murderous Practitioners, Ben Hubbard takes the reader on a dark and fascinating journey through history’s most insidious weapon: poison. From the courts of ancient Rome—where emperors employed subtle toxins to dispose of rivals—to the lavish banquets of the Renaissance, where a single goblet could conceal deadly intent, this book reveals how a seemingly innocuous substance became synonymous with intrigue and murder. 
What separates poison from medicine? Often the dose. Hubbard explains how the line between remedy and toxin has shifted over centuries, and how what was once mystical or arcane is today understood through the lenses of chemistry and toxicology. 
Through vivid anecdotes, historical case-studies and clear scientific explanation, the narrative shows how societies have feared, theorised and mastered the art of poisoning. Readers will meet shadowy figures who deployed poisons for ambition, vengeance or survival, and see how scientific advances exposed the mechanisms of lethal substances once regarded as magical.
More than a catalog of deaths, the book invites reflection on the power of knowledge and the responsibility of science. Whether you are intrigued by history, fascinated by true-crime or curious about the science behind toxins, this work offers both scholarship and readability. The hardcover edition spans 176 pages, published by Librero in October 2020 (ISBN 978-94-6359-416-5) in Spanish translation under the title Venenos.
A gripping examination of how the most silent of killers shaped empires, regimes and modern toxicology—this book holds a mirror up to the dark side of human ingenuity.