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Loading... The Life and Trial of Lizzie Borden: The History of 19th Century America's Most Famous Murder Case* (edition 2015)by Charles River Editors (Author)
Work InformationThe Life and Trial of Lizzie Borden: The History of 19th Century America's Most Famous Murder Case by Charles River Editors (Editor)
None No current Talk conversations about this book.  TheCelticSelkie | May 27, 2016 |    ) Canadian_Down_Under | Oct 21, 2015 | If you do not have any knowledge of this true crime story or only the very tiniest idea of the legend of Lizzie Borden, then this book is a great introduction into the facts surrounding the case. I am already familiar with the basics, so this book was nothing more than a recap for me , but I did find the recommended reading at the end of the book to be helpful, and after you finish this book, you will most likely want to read a more in depth study of the case. I admit I pulled the "one-click" stunt and didn't realize until it was too late the book was so short, because if I had been paying attention to the details I would have passed on this one, but while this is merely a summation, it is well organized and will give a researcher or true crime reader a place to start with the basic facts laid out for you. So, although the book was not of much help to me and I didn't learn anything I didn't already know, this book is good place start for the novice. Overall 3 stars (  ) gpangel | Jul 16, 2015 | no reviews | add a review
Today, cases are often referred to as the trial of the century, but few could lay claim in the 19th century like Lizzie Borden's in the wake of her parents' murders. After all, the story included the grisly axe murders of wealthy socialites and a young daughter as the prime suspect. As Trey Wyatt, author of The Life, Legend, and Mystery of Lizzie Borden, put it, "Women were held to strict standards and genteel women were pampered, while at the same time they were expected to behave within a strict code of conduct. In 1892, Fall River, Massachusetts wealthy society ladies were not guilty of murder, and if they did kill someone, it would not be with an axe." When questioned, Lizzie gave contradictory accounts to the police, which ultimately helped lead to her arrest and trial, but supporters claimed it may have been the effects of morphine that she had a prescription to take. Much like subsequent famous murder cases, such as the O.J. Simpson case or Leopold & Loeb, Lizzie Borden's trial garnered national attention unlike just about anything that had come before. The case sparked Americans' interest in legal proceedings, and as with Simpson, even an acquittal didn't take the spotlight off the Borden case, which has been depicted in all forms of media ever since. Lizzie became a pariah among contemporaries who believed she'd escaped justice, and she remains the prime suspect, but the unsolved nature of the case has allowed other writers to advance other theories and point at other suspects. The Life and Trial of Lizzie Borden: The History of 19th Century America's Most Famous Murder Case looks at the personal background of the Borden family and the shocking true crime that captivated America at the end of the 19th century. No library descriptions found. |
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 Google Books — Loading...GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)364.152Social sciences Social problems and services; associations Criminology Crimes and Offenses Offenses against persons HomicideRatingAverage: (2.67)
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Wikipedia in English
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This book concentrates on the morning of the murders and ends with her acquittal. But the book does raise more questions that one does wish had been dealt with further. For example, it states that Lizzy had attempted to buy cyanide a few days prior to the murders but had been denied by the pharmacist. It does not state what reason she had given the pharmacist to try to obtain it, however. It states that another reason she came under suspicion was because she had destroyed a blue dress, but nowhere was it stated what she had been wearing on the day of the murders (the dress had also been destroyed in the presence of witnesses that had told investigators they had not seen any blood on the garment).
The book does not assert that she was wrongly accused, but that she was believed guilty by her odd behaviour and inability to reply properly to questions during the investigation. It also brought up the question (but not the answer, unfortunately) why her sister or the servant, or the stranger lurking outside the house (observed by two people the week of the murders) were not investigated more throughly.
Over all this is a good starting get point if you want to know more about the case, but it is certainly not a full case record or biography. (