Upcoming Science Pub Will Examine a Historical True Crime Story
November 15, 2021
By Dan Campbell
In recent years, stories of true crime have captured the attention of many people across the country. You may have listened to popular podcasts chronicling them.
Old Dominion University's next Science Pub will explore the assassination of French socialist politician Marx Dormoy in 1941. "Historical True Crime: Lessons from a Murder in Vichy France" is scheduled for 7 p.m. Nov. 18 at Smartmouth Brewing Co. in Norfolk. Folks are asked to register by Nov. 17.
Annette Finley-Croswhite, professor of history and director of the Center for Faculty Development, specializes in the history of sensational murders and what those crimes tell us about society at large. Unlike more popular books, however, Finley-Croswhite's work is based on years of meticulous archival research. Her most recent book, "Assassination in Vichy: Marx Dormoy and the Struggle for the Soul of France," co-authored with Gayle K. Brunelle, details Dormoy's killing and its connection to the French police and judicial officers of the Vichy regime during World War II.
Canadian historian Sean Kennedy calls the new book an "engrossing read" with a "sophisticated analysis."
"While researching the book I realized that beyond the story of Dormoy's gruesome murder that I hoped to solve lays a much more important lesson about moral integrity and the power of personal choice," Finley-Croswhite said,
She will discuss the development of far-right political movements, domestic terrorism and democracy under threat, topics that remain critically relevant today.
Science Pubs ODU is an opportunity for the community to engage with ODU researchers in an informal setting. Join us for a lively and engaging discussion; a curious mind is all that's needed.
