FORTY WHACKS: New Evidence in the Life and Legend of Lizzie Borden by David Kent


PUBLISHER:
Yankee Books, 1992 
GENRE: Nonfiction/True Crime 
AUTHOR PHOTO: link 
MY GRADE:

SYNOPSIS: The Fall River, Massachusetts, murders of well-to-do Andrew Borden and his wife, Abby, are as fascinating to the audience of today as they were to those who followed the trial of Lizzie Borden -- the daughter accused of the murders. This vivid account gives a detailed picture of the nightmarish murder scene, the suspects, and the frenzied days when the nation hungered for news of the trial. Combining newly released evidence and extensive court transcripts, the author shows why there was insufficient evidence to prove Lizzie's involvement -- and why her jurors had no choice but to free her. 







MY THOUGHTS: I don't have much to say about this. It's a well-written and very thorough account of the circus that was the Lizzie Borden trial in 1893, the year after the murders. It's comprised of a whole lot of trial transcripts, which I appreciate having in book form but I did get bored reading them. There are also newspaper transcripts from the time. Are are ten pages of photos of Lizzie's family, including her birth mother, and the crime scenes. This was published in 1992 and I don't know if all of these photos were available at the time but I'm sure they're all online now.

The author seems appalled that Lizzie was even arrested, let alone tried for two murders for which there's no evidence against her and set out to showcase the lack of evidence. Lack of evidence doesn't mean she's innocent, Mr, Kent! The author died before this could be published. I don't like him saying that Abby Borden was unattractive. It was very unprofessional.

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