1. "What are the Best Lizzie Books?"
Posted by ross on Mar-12th-03 at 7:33 PM

Hi! I just discovered this board and am really enjoying reading the posts.  Forgive me if this question has been asked and answered before, but what Lizzie books would you suggest that I read?  I've already read all the primary source material (Witness Statements, Inquest, Trial, etc.).  But I'm awestruck by all the knowledge that the people on this board have regarding Lizzie and the case.  Where can I learn all the info that you know?  Should I buy the Leonard Rebello book, the Victoria Lincoln book?  What else?  I'd like to learn more about the background of the case; and I'm especially interested in learning more about Lizzie, her personality, and her life in the years before the murders and in the years after the murders. But I'm not interested in reading any fiction or any novels loosely based on Lizzie's story.  Thanks a lot for any suggestions.  -Ross

This is a question that probably has lots of answers.  You're right on the money with Rebello, though.  Unfortunately, a lot of the books are out of print (including his).  Sometimes they're offered on eBay or can be borrowed, using interlibrary loan.  We all think the primary sources are the best thing to read first, and then (imho) Rebello.  Lincoln's book is fun reading, but it is a novelized version, even if it wasn't advertised as such.  I like Masterton's "Lizzie Didn't Do It," even though I don't entirely agree with his theory of the case.  He's a wonderful writer!  Right now I'm rereading Porter's "Fall River Tragedy," the seminal book on the case.  Surprisingly, it's full of errors, even though its author was close to the case as it was unfolding.  It sounds as if you're on the right track.

Welcome Ross!

You might also enjoy the articles that were written on the case. You can find both Davis and Wigmore on my web site. Oh, and Porter, Pearson, Lunday, Phillips.

http://lizzieandrewborden.com/ResourcesPage.htm

I guess we all have our favorites, and all for different reasons. Lincoln reads like buttah but is so darn full of supposition pretending to be fact that you will want to scream---especially since you have already read the primary sources!

read all the well-known books, such as by lincoln and radin.  there is something worthwhile in all of them.  then take all your questions to the records.  then as your questions multiply, bring them here.

Hello Ross!

Have you read the Preliminary Hearing?  It is wonderful.  The people who do have it have read it 3 and 4 times.  Being close in time to the muders, and having a more lax atmosphere, it is like a fishing expedition, and guards are down, and it just seems more intimate.

Other books I like are anything Pearson (for pleasure at his writing), the Geary graphic novel, and Knowlton Papers.

Since you have started very properly with your good foundation in source documents, you really are ready for anything because you can then judge the veracity for yourself.

I did find out from Michael Martins early last week that Knowlton Papers would probably, after all, be published in paperback eventually.
It needs a grant proposal and that takes time for paperwork, approval, money, finding a printer etc.  He said there has been a large amount of requests for it so they probably WILL try to get that done.   HOWEVER, it is Bi-Centennial year in Fall River with all it's festivities and since they are VERY busy, the plan is on hold until the beginning of the next year.

I make a point of not quoting Mr. Martins but I feel some of the interest generated for a re-issue of Knowlton Papers might possibly be related in a small way with our Forum, and since this is a discussion of a book properly related to our Borden studies, that is why I have explained their new stance on the matter.

Hello and welcome, Ross!  The "Lizzie Borden Sourcebook" is a good one.  It reproduces newspaper articles in order from August 4th until Lizzie's death.  It makes you feel like you're in 1892 getting your newspaper and seeing what's going on with the Borden case today.

Rebello is top choice.  They had one on Amazon.com the other day for I think $48.  Good buy.

I understand what you're saying about fiction.  But don't totally discount it, because in the non-fiction books you get very little information about what any of the family members were like.  In a fictionalized work, at least they make a stab at what they could have been like and it gets your wheels working and thinking, "Hmm... Lizzie might have thought something like that..."  They can help get into the characters at least somewhat.  There is very little personal information about any of them recorded, and it's frustrating.

A subscription to the "Lizzie Borden Quarterly" is well worth it.
In the near future, the historical society is going to release "The Hilliard Papers" (Marshall Hilliard's private papers on the case).  That should give us some goodies to munch on.

I would read virtually anything on the case.  Except for Lincoln.  That book just confused me because so much of it turned out to be false, when I went around believing in it all for years.

There are only bits and pieces about Lizzie in her Maplecroft days.  No major non-fiction works. 

I recommend Forty Whacks, New Evidence in the Life and Legend of Lizzie Borden, by David Kent, 1992.  He says in his Preface, "If you are meeting Lizzie for the first time here, welcome to the enigma! There will be no attempt in this book to persuade you of either her innocence or her guilt, nor will you be distracted by innuendo or profitless chases after phantoms."

Also the book Lizzie Borden, Did She?...or..Didn't She, as recorded in the historic pages of The Evening Standard, New Bedford, Mass., 1892-1893.  This newspaper covered the trial and the book is a reproduction of the papers of the time, reduced in size, but you can blow them up at the photo shop.

Was Porter "full of errors"? How can this be? His book was based on the newspaper reports he wrote as the police reporter. It was NOT a scholarly work written with many footnotes and refereed.
AR Brown does include it as one of the references.
The best books are the ones you can read, in historical order.
Were there any magazine articles over the last 20-30 years?

Why can't this book be "published" in .pdf format on the I-net?

Hey everybody, thanks for your warm welcome and advice.  I just ordered the Rebello book today.  I'm going to order The Knowlton Papers tomorrow.  Then, after I've read those, I'm going to get the other books that you suggested.  (I'm drooling over the prospect of the release of The Hilliard Papers.) So thanks again for the help.  And Stefani, that's a great web site you've got there!  -Ross

I'm so sorry to dissillusion you.
The Knowton Papers are out of print and rare.
When Auguta got her's, used, she got lucky.  When I got Stef's for Christmas, I got lucky.

I happened to call the FRHS in April within the week of them having been donated a copy from a person's estate.  It was still shrink-wrapped & new and was selling for $150.  Too s'pensive, Lucy!

Then I phoned in December for a copy again and Martins happened to have a copy right then which was flawed.  It had 4 pages left unprinted.  That was OK because it was in the Glossary, and I have our first copy.
That flawed copy sold for $50 and shipping.

You practically need to be clairvoyant to find  a copy nowadays!
But good luck & you may try advertising for it in the Second Street Second Hand Shop, here on the Forum, and then later try the web-site Museum/Library "Wanted Items" section.

(Message last edited Mar-14th-03  1:01 AM.)

I made an inventory of my Lizzie books and will attempt to copy/
paste here from my word program.  There are of course many more
volumes I hope others will add to my list as I would also like
to have more books.  Amazon.com offers used books also when you
request a title so it is possible to get out of print used books
there. Good Luck,
Nancie
  Lizzie related books:

The Fall River Tragedy by  E. H. Porter

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts vs. Lizzie A. Borden, The Knowlton Papers 1892-1893 by Martins * Binette

Lizzie Borden the untold story by Edward D. Radin

Lizzie Borden the legend, the truth, the final chapter by Arnold R. Brown  (2 copies)

A Private Disgrace by Victoria Lincoln

Lizzie Borden by Elizabeth Engstrom

Forty Whacks by David Kent

Lizzie by Frank Spiering

Miss Lizzie by Walter Satterthwait

Murder in New England tales of passion, murder and detection by Sullivan & Dorbandt

The legend 100 years after the crime ­ A conference on the Lizzie Borden case by Ryckebusch

Murder Plus, true crime stories from the masters of detective fiction compiled by Marc Gerald

Mysterious New England By Yankee Books

Solved and Unsolved, classic true murder cases edited by Richard Glyn Jones

The Mystery Unveiled: the truth about the Borden Tragedy by Todd Lunday

Hi Kat.  Ouch.  Yes, I know it's out of print.  I found that out today when I called the Fall River Historical Society to order it.  (They still have it advertised on their web site as being for sale.)  And, of course, they told me that they don't have any.  But I seem to remember reading somewhere that The Knowlton Papers was going to come out in paperback at some point.  Did I read that or did I dream it?  I hope it's true.  -Ross

It was and it wasn't and now it was, again.  Next year?
As in a year from NOW...maybe?

njwolfe...what sign are you?
I just these last few nights made out my inventory of books and articles!
We had 95, plus all issues of LBQ (40) , and some FRHS quarterly reports = 141, not including video's!

Kat, I am Libra!  Wow do you have lots of stuff!
I just found more "stuff", the Fall River Daily Globe (copies) from
Aug. 5 and Aug 6, 1892, where did I get them? Probably from the
conference or I sent for them but they are so detailed with pix
and all; a copy of the NY times mag section July 26, 1992, a big
story in there with all the pix and layouts of the rooms..
a copy of NY times mag Feb. 16, 1992, special "50 years of crossword
puzzles" I saved with my Lizzie stuff,I'm remembering there was
an old puzzle in there regarding the Lizzie case.
  I have to get back into this now in my "old age" and do something
constructive with all this material!  Can you share your inventory
list here?  I bet you are a Virgo?
Nancie

No, not quite.  I am Cancer, one week earlier to the day than Lizzie.
Edisto implies all  Virgo's were probably conceived between Thanksgiving and Christmas!  She should know!

WE have that NY Times July, 1992 magazine supplement!
Stef found it at a flea market.
She's an Antiques Roadshow junkie and owns the book and goes to the major flea market/antique shows around here.

I don't know about disclosing all our sources...I wouldn't want to make anyone jealous.  We've been collecting for years, probably 20 years.  I was a frequent buyer of those sale priced compilation true crime picture books that mentioned Lizzie.  Most are British and you may know what that means!  The *facts* are almost always wrong!  But the pic's were cool.

I would suggest to anyone wanting to collect something that they contact the Lizzie Borden Quarterly for back issues if there are any left.

I've often wondered why so many of those crime compilation books that feature Lizzie came from the U.K.  Our Lady of Fall River seems to be quite popular there.

Do you think it's because the Borden murders occurred in the same time frame as the Ripper killings?

That's a really good question, and I don't know the answer.
I know the British liked sensational crimes, and throw into the mix a helpless female in Victorian times and that may be part of an answer.  They also seem to like reading about mysteries?

This one picture book, "Real Life Crimes...and how they were solved, Police Casebook", Great Britain,1994, has an article called "Lizzie Borden Took An Axe...", pg. 58-9:
"...The prosecution attempted to set the scene not just for disgusting behavior, but for parricide.  It depicted the sights and smells of the Borden home for those present in the courtroom.  Andrew Jackson Borden had not been fond of soap and water and refused to spend money on the newfangled indoor plumbing that Lizzie wanted.  Instead, he manfully emptied the slop buckets of human waste in the back yard, next to the pear tree, every morning.  Then he collected the fallen pears for breakfast.

FAMILY HOSTILITY
But the testimony showed that thicker than the stench in the house was the hostility.  Doors throughout the Borden house were locked or barricaded with heavy furniture and reinforced with the barbed wire of long silences and thinly veiled contempt.

Andrew and Abby pitted their wits against Lizzie and Emma.  Not only did they not talk together, they would not eat together either.  Bridget had to serve each meal twice, no doubt reconsidering the wisdom of having exchanged the poverty  of Ireland for the misery of the Borden house as she did so...."

In a side-bar, there is information called Unhappy families, and refers to rumors of improper family relationships, or Bridget as a victim of the upper-middle-class Victorian who "had his way" with the maid, or that Lizzie was Andrew's special daughter even in "all his dirt and miserly ways", or also promotes a theory of a "Boston marriage" between Bridget and Lizzie, an "intimate friendships between women."

--The photo's are GRAND.  But none we don't have now.  Are you jealous yet?
--BTW:  Our Tina-Kate may be able to shed light on this question...

(Message last edited Mar-15th-03  12:04 AM.)

Hey, Ross - I got my copy of "The Knowlton Papers" by putting a "wanted" ad on this website like Kat recommends.  Someone contacted me after many months and he had his copy for sale at Half.com.  I got it for $25. 

Browsing around on eBay is a good idea too.  Just type in "Lizzie Borden" in the search box and you'll get what's up for sale.  Often you'll see copies of Radin ("Lizzie Borden, the Untold Story") for a good price, sometimes even in paperback.  Radin's book was important because it was the next Lizzie book published after Pearson's books.  Radin's came out in 1960 or so, and he played devil's advocate with Pearson's views.  He talked to some people who were involved in the case that were still around then.  (I don't agree with his basic theory of whodunit, tho.)

A word of warning:  The "Proceedings" book that was published from the papers of the speakers of the 100th anniversary of the murders symposium (edited by Jules Ryckebush) is out of print but NOT unavailable.  People on eBay earlier and most recently secondary sellers on Amazon.com are selling this book for up to $500.  You can get it from the Historical Society for $30 - they still had "plenty" left as of this past September.

If you want Porter's reprinted book, I think there are not many left and one would be wise to get it now before the price really skyrockets.  Flynn Books offers it on eBay from time to time for around $50 (purchase price was like $32).  It's hardcover and a total reprint of the original.  GOOD stuff. 

The problem with Porter, some say, is that he believed wholeheartedly in Lizzie's guilt and he would sometimes slant his writing in that direction.  Most of it is trial coverage. 

"Goodbye, Lizzie Borden" is out of print but comes up on eBay now and then from various sellers.  A judge wrote it, and it's known for being the best Lizzie book from a legal standpoint.  It came out around the same time Victoria Lincoln's book did - late '60s or early '70s. 

(Message last edited Mar-20th-03  7:37 PM.)

Not sure if I can shed any light, only that the British DO seem to enjoy murder mysteries more than most.  My parents are both British citizens (& reside over there).  My father was/is the True Crime junkie (I was exposed to books with grizzly photos from a young age & no one attempted to censor any of my reading).  My mother was/is the Mystery junkie.  Perhaps it has to do with "British reserve" & the "stiff upper lip" thing...nothing like delving into the passionate, dark side of humanity for a bit of balance?

I also have a guess over why British accounts of the murders would tend to have errors; they're too far removed geographically to do thorough research (esp in pre-internet days).

The British are also fascinated with Americans.  They often pretend to distain them, but I notice over the past 30 yrs, the American influence over their own society has been considerable, probably has much to do with TV shows & movies.  They've even started celebrating Halloween in the past 20 yrs.

BTW, this puts me in mind of a dinner table conversation we had sometime in the 80s.  A British show had just come out (probably on PBS) called, "Murder Most English".  My Dad found this very amusing & it was decided that "Murder Most English" would have to be by poison, as it's more subtle & covert.  As opposed to "Murder Most American", which would be more passionate & violent, & most likely with a gun.

(Message last edited Mar-15th-03  11:04 AM.)

Does anyone know how many Lizzie Borden Quarterly's there are,
and when the last one was printed?  I am on a roll trying to
organize my Lizzie material.. .I have only found 9 copies, dated from
April 93 - April 96.. I'm wondering how many more I'm searching for
in other storage boxes here. Thanks, nancie

Nancie, Stefani has an almost current complete listing of all the LBQ's at the web site. Look here:

http://www.lizzieandrewborden.com/BibliographyLBQIssue.htm

In addition, 3 more issues have been issued since this listing, July 2002, October 2002 and January 2003.

You also get the content of each issue.



(Message last edited Mar-15th-03  2:40 PM.)

Thank you Harry!  I sure don't have very many, now I am wondering
if all the ones listed are Internet versions, not the hard copy?
Is the LBQ still printed and mailed out via US mail?  Sorry, I've
been away from Lizzie for awhile, just getting back into it....
Thanks, Nancie

It is still a thriving publication. Yes, by mail only. Comes out quarterly in hard copy.

The web site contains the necessary info for those wishing to subscribe:

http://www.lizzieandrewborden.com/LBQ.htm

(Message last edited Mar-15th-03  4:59 PM.)

Ross, there are many interesting and informative books and articles available for reading about the Borden case, as well as a number of primary source documents. I recommend the following three books for anyone who is just starting to learn about Lizzie and the Bordens. 

Forty Whacks by David Kent, published in 1992. A modern retelling of the story in which the author does not offer a final conclusion as to the killer's identity.

Lizzie Borden: The Untold Story by Edward D. Radin, published in 1961. This well written book identifies Bridget Sullivan, the only person other than Lizzie known to have been on the Borden premises at the time of the killings, as the murderer.

Goodbye Lizzie Borden by Robert Sullivan, published in 1974. The author analyzes the legal proceedings of the case, particularly the inquest and trial, and concludes that Lizzie got away with murder.

Thanks augusta.  I put an ad in the Second Street Second Hand shop last night after I read Kat's post.  And I have been checking eBay too, but I haven't seen anything good yet.  I'll keep checking.  But thanks for your tips and warnings.  Everybody has given me so many good suggestions that I'm almost getting "the fever".  I've got to have every piece of Lizzie material that I can get my hands on RIGHT NOW!!!   Must - get - grip - on - self.  Okay, I'm better now.  Anyway, I'm just going to methodically build my collection, and the advice from this forum is very much appreciated.

Thank you thank you, Tina-Kate!

I thoroughly enjoyed your post.
Thanks for the reply!

Oops!  In my post #19, I say that Radin's book came after Porter's.  I meant to say "Pearson".  I'll make a notation on the original post as well.  Thanks be to Doug for his sharp eye on this.

Since you brought that up, it reminds me that William would give gentle nudges off line to help a poster out without drawing attention to himself.
That's a real nice thing to do, and if Doug follows William's footsteps I'd say I'm proud to know ye!  And thanks for the help, both of you!

We're back from Key West!  While I was there, I bought a copy of SHOTS IN THE DARK, that collection of true-crime photos with the very clear (if too small) repros of a few of the Borden pix (including the very grisly, if fascinating, "Andrew/Autopsy" shot) for less than half-price at a used bookshop!  It was an unread, reviewer's copy, too.

Interestingly enough, during our strolls around the island I noticed, in my Bordenian mode that there was not only a "Southard Street" but a "Whitehead Street" as well.  The island architecture is a bit of a cross beween New England and the South, we were told.  BTW, we were there during record heat for the end of winter, but no hatchet murders were reported.  We did go on a Ghost Tour, and learned that a woman had hacked up her two children many years ago and buried the pieces in her garden - more or less in plain sight of her neighbors.  Not being as clever as our Lizzie, she plopped down upon her bed in the same blood-stained blue dress in which she committed the deed.  She was immediately set upon by an outraged populace, and hanged from a nearby tree.  They say her spirit still haunts the tavern next to where the tree still stands.   

(Message last edited Mar-22nd-03  11:42 AM.)

Thanks for that, Bob.

Isn't Key West a fascinating town!?  Did you do the sunset @ Mallory Square thing?

Oh, yes - twice, and even though there were no spectacular sunsets while we were there, it was still a lot of fun to be with all those people in one place watching the light fade.

Ooo, that sounds like a creepy and fun trip!  Welcome back! 

In the summer of 1965 I read a fairly new book on the Trial of Lizzie Borden. The conclusion of the author was: Lizzie did Abby while Bridget was outside, and Bridget did Andy while Lizzie was outside.
This is a logical conclusion based on the eyewitnesses and known facts. It explains why "Bridget was paid off and left the area."

Doesn't explain what happened to the hatchet and bloody dress(es).

AR Brown's book provides the best and final solution to the puzzle. Assume another unknown person there who does Abby and Andy. His identity and presence are hidden by the survivors. Then it all falls together as the "best evidence".

You can read them all and form your own opinion. Just get a bound notebook to take notes on the various topics:
1) what is this author's solution,
2) what evidence does he give,
3) how does it compare against other solutions,
4) etc. etc.

I agree Rays, re: the unknown person.  I think Lizzie had
Bridget and Emma under control and hired Uncle J to find someone
to do the deed.  In her mind it just had to be done and I think
she convinced all parties concerned of the unbearable situation
on 2nd Street. 

Ray, did I ever get a chance to tell you that I was given a copy of the Kunstler chapter on the Borden case, excerpted from that book?
It's not the one you remember from 1965, after all.

[Kunstler, William Moses. "Murder in Hatred: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Versus Lizzie Borden." First Degree. NY: Oceana Publications, 1960. 22-35.]-from LABVM/L

The aforementioned local used-book salesman was out on 37th Avenue today, and as I was scoping out his wares, I noticed a copy of the 1958-59 THEATRE WORLD, which is a famous yearly sum-up of B'way, Off B'way, national and regional productions.  I grabbed it eagerly, not really daring to hope what I was hoping.  I hurriedly checked the index, and there it was: THE LEGEND OF LIZZIE!

This edition (as I knew from perusing and xeroxing info from the reference copy a few years ago at the Lincoln Center library) has a full page devoted to the floppo play many of you may only know from Radin's book; he includes a picture of actress Anne Meacham, who portrayed Lizzie in this floppo (two performances!) play, taken on the staircase in the real Borden home.  The spendid photos in the TW volume show the large, elaborate set the show employed, which included two floors of the Borden house, a sidewalk, and a courtroom insert which was brought on in front of the main set, apparently for the courtrrom scenes which served as a framing device.

I haven't yet been able to find a copy of the play itself to sit on my Borden drama shelf with such other inferior pieces of work as MURDER TAKES THE STAGE and NINE PINE STREET, as well as the wonderful and well-written BLOOD RELATIONS, but I'll keep looking...       

(Message last edited Mar-26th-03  12:36 PM.)

Bob, there is some information on it at these sites:


http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=2073

http://awards.fennec.org/tony/T-1959.html

You come in here with some really cool stuff, Bob G.!

And Harry I tried those sites.
The second one had Legend losing the Tony for Best Scenic Design.
It was interesting to note, in another catagorey, Choreography, Fosse beat out de Mille, 1959!  I didn't know Fosse was around that long, AND winning Tony's!

Thanks to both of you.

(Message last edited Mar-26th-03  4:24 AM.)

Thanks, Kat, and thanks, Harry! 

Hey, Ray, we've all been searching for this book/chapter you mentioned (Bridget does one, Lizzie does another) for some time, haven't we?  It's really maddening how we Bordenians, of all people, can't find out exactly what it is and when it appeared. 

This is one missing book! I saw a reference in the Library of Congress for a 1963 (?) publication of the Trial of Lizzie Borden, by E Pearson edited G Gross. In like new condition. (As I remember it.)

Obviously a rejoinder to E Radin's book pointing the finger at the "disgruntled employee". (That's not uncommon, then or now?)

That is one logical solution to the crime. It didn't explain certain things, such as why they did it (Leopold & Loeb?). Or why they later separated.

I suspect Bridget knew or suspected, and was paid off to leave. Else she, like Ellan Eagan, would eventually add 2 + 2. AR Brown provides the perfect, logical solution that explains what would otherwise be a mystery.