Death by Shakespeare Guest: Kathryn Harkup, chemist and author, “Death by Shakespeare: Snakebites, Stabbings and Broken Hearts” Shakespeare’s plays have inspired many of today’s films, books, and plays, but what inspired Shakespeare's plays? Kathryn Harkup talks about the real science and history behind the numerous deaths in Shakespeare. Find out more about Kathryn Harkup's new book here. How Victorian Poisonings Shaped Forensic Toxicology Guest: Linda Stratmann, author, “The Secret Poisoner: A Century of Murder” One of the defining fears of the Victorian age, writes Linda Stratmann, was the fear of being murdered by poison. In fact, the scandal and fascination surrounding publicized poisonings may have shaped forensic toxicology as we know it today.