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From My Phone

Some items to note about THE TRIAL OF LIZZIE BORDEN...

-it is true crime by a woman about a woman. And maybe that is rarer than it should be.

-it points toward a well reasoned conclusion...that the young lady is guilty.

-it is under 300 pages ...and surely this would be different if the author were a pompous man.

-it makes observations about prejudice with regard to class and gender. It points out that the title character might have really struggled in court if she had not been a wealthy white woman.

-it represents several decades of authorial obsession. The writer began her research when she was an undergraduate.

-it has a chance to examine folklore. The heroine walked free and yet she was semi convicted via nursery rhyme. Why was there apparent certainty outside the courtroom?

-I am so excited about this book. Just wanted to put it on your radar!

P.S. the Times gave this book a weekday review and called it enthralling. A rare achievement....
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