Lizzie's library

[mbhenty]

Lizzie was a reader. But so were many others of her time period. With no TV, printed matter was the main past time of escape from everyday existence.

Many of Lizzie's books were marked, noted, or highlighted. It is interesting to point out that some of the lines and paragraphs Lizzie inscribed in pencil were interesting. Certain lines captivated her interest.

It is fun to try and ascertain why such passages interested her. Can we read between the lines? I for one think so. Specific lines which interested Lizzie may have a hidden identity fingerprint, one which tells us what she may have been thinking, what she liked, and what spoke to her temperament or makeup.

Here's one.

Lizzie appears to have regard for the fact that someone will not be caught. Why would this passage interest her?

It is taken from a book called Neil Gwyn - Comedian by F. Frankfort Moore. The book below was Lizzie's copy and it is signed by Lizzie, L.A.B

[mbhenty]

Here's another page from the same Novel.

Here we see that Lizzie takes notice of "Crockery—flying— "

In the books passage, dialogue, the talk is about being nimble and avoiding it. Apparently she thinks this is worth a memo in the way of casual parentheses.

It it simply humor she finds or does it speak to more sinister thoughts?

I couldn't tell you. But to the typical conspiracy theorist....eureka

[mbhenty]

And yet another....

This one more thoughtful.

It speaks to benevolence, duty, and obligation.

The concern is for "old soldiers" specifically "fathers" and "ending their days in warmth and comfort."

Is Lizzie expressing sincere compassion? And if so, is she thinking of her own father?

Much can be taken from this passage. One line says, "Are you King enough—are you man enough to do this?"

Who is the "King" or the "man" to Lizzie. Just a character in the story or something more?

Interesting, no-less

[twinsrwe]

Thanks for posting these interesting attachments, MB.

This book was published in 1901, when Lizzie was 40-41 years old, and 8-9 years after the murders of Andrew and Abby. I wonder if Lizzie purchased it the year it was published, or some time afterwards. Hmmm.

You posted some interesting questions to speculate on. I find the passages that she felt inclined to mark, difficult to get a handle on because we don't know if she was the actual killer of her father and step-mother, or not.

I would be interested in reading your thoughts on 'reading between the lines'.

[mbhenty]

Very true twins:

As you point out we don't know if Lizzie committed the crimes, so trying to interpret what she noted in her books and adapting it to the crime or a "guilty Lizzie" may be very speculative if not erroneous. But then again...

Like looking at clouds in the sky and seeing images that are not there. But that is what we see or want to see. Likewise we can bend and customize her words to fit a specific person, time, or event.

At one time I was thinking of going over Lizzie's library and taking note of everything she marked and try to mold a new Lizzie, one we don't know, or on the other hand, have come to know very well. But alas 2 books about her is enough and I have moved on to other literary endeavors.

But still I find it entertaining to study what she has penciled and try to discover some shrouded meaning.

An example is the passage which starts: "Bid your architect set up a home for those old soldiers... etc."

Here I find a compassionate Lizzie. Not a killer. Since the writing speaks of "fathers."

When I was a young man, and didn't know better, I use to underline and bracket lines all the time. Years latter in reading what I underlined I discovered that what I underlined spoke to my character, or what I was going through at the time, or had strong beliefs about.

Like me I believe that Lizzie probably did the same and what she noted in her novels was done with heart-felt conviction in the way of relating to the words she read. If true this will tell us more about Lizzie and what she felt about people and life, information that we retained in nonexistent quantity in historical reports such as Inquest, court testimony or newspaper accounts, all which tells us very little about Lizzie's subsidiary opinions on the little things, or hidden things in her life. The "other Lizzie."

Now here's another posting from the novel above. This little notation has lots of red meat. It speaks to Lizzie's desires and the appreciation of the good life and dare I note "love" itself.

Here we find that Lizzie has pressed the pencil hard onto the paper when compared to other notations, underlining, "first sweet draught of wine," and the word "love."

[mbhenty]

This is still another book from Lizzie's personal library. This copy sits in my own personal library and is signed by Lizzie. The title is Bud by Neil Munro. Munro was a newspaper man and Scottish author. I think it is safe to claim that Lizzie was very interested in many things Scottish.

The story is a about a ten year old from Chicago, who's parents die, and arrangements are made for Bud, the name of the young girl, to go to Scotland to live with her Aunt and Uncle. The tale revolves around the adventure of precocious youth and eccentric town's people.

On pate 51 n this novel Lizzie check's off a portion of a line where it states: "I'm a liker".

What was Lizzie thinking when she placed a line by the side of that declaration? What sort of liker? People, animals, objects, or just a likable person?

Interesting no less

[mbhenty]

And here's another form the novel, Bud.

Here we would be guessing in the affirmative if we surmise that Lizzie probably pointed out this line because she found humor in it. I know I do.

(click to make BIG)

[mbhenty]

And one more from Bud.

Can we say Lizzie is thinking of herself here?

[mbhenty]

And finally in BUD we have this.

Here Lizzie appears to make note of the entire page with a squiggly line along the margin as a highlight. (Difficult to see. Click on image to make BIG)

The author's writing here is beautiful, poetic, and very melodious in style. Eloquent and very descriptive in its telling.

I can only imagine that Lizzie found the same to be true, thus the reason she noted it. After all, she had been to Scotland. And perhaps she had similar memories when she visited.

[mbhenty]

And here's one last one on the subject of "Lizzie's jottings".

Here I find humor.

How did Lizzie digest this passage? Was her emphasis or accent on the the word "conscience or on "a good woman?" Or on the "objection" there of?

In any event, interesting.

[mspitstop]

I think it speaks more to Lizzie's sense of humor and fun and an appreciation of history. Barbara Palmer, Lady Castlemaine, was for many years, Charles II favorite mistress. She bore him children and was much like a wife to him - a very jealous wife. He took up with Nell Gwynne around 1665 and she soon became a regular in his bed and it pushed Castlemaine aside. Castlemaine complained loudly and often about how ill treated she felt and it only served to amuse Nell and annoy Charles. Nell was a notorious practical joker and a lot of her barbs were directed at the Countess. I think that is what is referenced in these passages, not some something sinister.

[mbhenty]

The wealthy and scandalous reading about the despicably scandalous and very wealthy. It titillates my funny bone and bores me at the same time.

I don't mean to imply that there is anything sinister behind what Lizzie noted.

But it leaves one with curiosity and wonderment to why Lizzie pointed out such lines or paragraphs. As with many things 'Lizzie,' we are left to speculate to why she penciled certain pages. Each of us are left to audit Lizzie's jottings with fun and speculation. Still others with critical inquiry or in search of something more. As you say mapitstop, it may be as simple as an appreciation of Lizzie's humor and respect for history.... and royalty. (for which, sadly, I have little to no interest.)

Of course the exploits of Lady Castlemine, Eleanor Gwyn, and Charles would shock Lizzie's contemporaries or those of the Progressive Era, but it only moves us today to yawn. And who knows.... Lizzie may have done her share of yawning when reading about such sultry behavior.

[camgarsky4]

MB - just read this thread from last year. Fascinating.

Was Lizzie's library widely dispersed or is much of it held together at a public library or the Historical society? Did you purchase your two books via open market? Were the examples you note above all in this particular book, or just a small sampling?

I agree with you, her markings meant something unique/special to her. Could be unique way to help understand what made her tick.

[mbhenty]

Yes

AS for Lizzie's Library it is scattered in "collecting world". I purchased my copies on eBay. I came in late so I missed a couple. Not certain how many were up for sale but I imagine it was nine or ten. Of course as the books began to disappear the later copies sold for a lot of money. I was able to win 4 of Lizzie's books. Three of them were signed by Lizzie and one was inscribed and gifted to her.

The largest known collection of signed books from Lizzie's collection, which is open to the public for viewing, is at the Fall River Historical Society. There are a hand full of books at the Charles Trafton House, or as the public have come to know it, number 92 Second Street.

If I could have come in earlier on the ebay auction I would have won a couple more since I was bidding very high.

I have one book that was inscribed to Lizzie. A children's book by Mrs. Huntington Smith. Mrs. Smith was very active in the saving of animals and was instrumental in starting the Boston Animal Rescue League around the turn of the last century. She wrote a book called Four Footed Friends, gifted it and inscribed it to Lizzie. You will find mention to this volume in Parallel Lives and it sits in my Borden collection. (Page 428 in Parallel Lives. I remember the page because I had a Mustang once with a 428 c.i. engine)

But the bulk of her books, a couple hundred of them, sits somewhere on some family member's shelf. This told to me by a source that would know and who has/or will be lobbying for it. He was reluctant to tell me who had it.

[mbhenty]

Here's an interesting piece I found on line about Mrs. Huntington, her early life, and here benevolent activities with animals. There is notation about Lizzie Borden. Mrs. Huntington started and was involved with the Dedham cemetery where Lizzie's pets are buried.


https://thehandmadehouse.wordpress.com/ ... usin-anna/

(My copy has crayon scribble on the cover which proves that Lizzie had children over the house.)



...

[camgarsky4]

That is very cool your book mentioned in that article. Did you buy the book before or after the article?

On the topic of Lizzie making doodles and notes in her books, do you think she did that in most of them or just random like your's? Do you see anything she noted in Four Footed Friends? A compilation of her book notations might make for an interesting book or in-depth article.

[mbhenty]

YES:

I did kick around writing a book about the doodles in her library books. But I am done writing about lizzie borden. A novel and play is enough.

One thing I can say about Lizzie's reading habits is that she probably started reading her books but never finished them. Many of the ones she doodled in she did so only in the first half of the book with no notations in the rest of the book. Which could be a sign that she never finished reading the entire volume.

I have five of her books. All have some notation. Most if not all the ones at the FRHS have doodling in them. I have never looked inside the ones at the Borden house on Second Street.

I have had Four Footed Friends for over ten years, so yes, before the article. As a matter of fact the article highlights some words in blue, which if you click on it takes you to the discussion of my copy. That is how the author of the article probably discovered that it existed. On the Lizzie Borden Forum.

Here is the forum link she highlights.

viewtopic.php?t=4048&p=67007


,,,

[Fargo]

Figuring out Lizzie's personality from her books.

[Jess_humandisaster]

Late to the party here, but I discovered the forum yesterday and by today I was so engrossed I made an account .

Thank you MB so much for posting these pictures from Lizzie's books! I'd go through every book she ever owned if I could. It's such an incredibly fascinating, and rare, insight into her mind.

I'm by no means an expert or anything but I love history and reading books/researching (obsessively, in many cases) topics that capture my interest is a major hobby for me. Lizzie Borden is definitely one of my favorite subjects.

Although impossible to know why she marked the places that she did, it's still fun to speculate.

Like the notation from Nell Gwyn--Comedian on the part where the king is being urged to provide shelter for the elderly who were once soldiers. The thing that caught my eye is what the king had said to yield that response.

"Tell me what to do to keep the soldiers at my side--to keep England at my side."

What if Lizzie, who spent so long desiring to be part of the wealthy, upper class society of her hometown only to be viewed as the town murderer, related to this because she too wanted to win her hometown, her "kingdom", over.

She didn't build shelters for old soldiers, but she donated to charities and generally seemed to be trying to make a new name for herself (and it was Lizbeth. Pun actually unintended, but I'm pretty pleased with it).

Also, maybe the paragraph about Scotland in Bud was also relatable to her. She didn't exactly get the life she dreamt of in Fall River but she still stayed, so maybe she could relate to the feelings of bitterness and nostalgia, feeling the same way about her own hometown.

Just my two cents!

[twinsrwe]

Hello, Jess_humandisaster, welcome to the forum!

[Jess_humandisaster]

Hello, Jess_humandisaster, welcome to the forum!

Thank you!

[twinsrwe]

You're welcome.

[mbhenty]

Yes Jess: Although impossible to know why she marked the places that she did, it's still fun to speculate.

Fun indeed.

I have a book in my Borden collection that once belonged to Lizzie and is signed (initialed) by Lizzie.

I call it the confession book.

(TITLE: The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Reinhart)

In it Lizzie underscores, with a bracket in pencil, a passage which speaks to guilt. Was she hinting to her guilt?

Without using the exact wording underscored I will paraphrase. It said " my first acquaintance with crime could have been my last and my last acquaintance with anything."

Chilling passage indeed. As close to a confession as I have ever seen. And since the book is signed, a signed confession

But what crime was she referring to? A parking ticket? Cheating on her taxes? Stealing some bubblegum from the five and dime..., or MURDER?

Again, fun to speculate. (if fun can be found in murder )

[camgarsky4]

MB -- that is unbelievable to have her underscore a phrase that might have real meaning....pretty cool. And if this one actually does have some special meaning to her, then that would suggest other highlighted phrases in other books may also.

Think maybe she connected with the 2nd half of that sentence....."my last acquaintance with anything" = community ostracizing her?

Did she underscore many more phrases in this particular book? What is the general plot of the book?

[mbhenty]

Yes camarsky4

No I have not read it. But I know something about it's history.

Mary Roberts Rinehart was a prolific writer and very well known in her day. She wrote perhaps 50 novels, plays and short stories in her day. The Circular Staircase was her first and probably most famous novel. Published in 1908. In it the main character, an elderly woman who has rented a home on long island, where suspicious events begin to happen, has a maid called Lizzie.

There is only two other notations in the book, placed there by Lizzie Borden. Nothing of interest, though. And only in the first 3 or 4 pages. The rest of the book is clean. All the books I have witnessed from Lizzie's library have notations only at the beginning and some perhaps half way through. Which has convinced me that Lizzie started by never finished reading her books.

The Circular Staircase is an interesting title. One of Ms. Rinehart's most famous writings is a play called The Bat. Which in turn fostered a movie in 1930 called The Bat Whisperers. Both play and movie was based on the novel, The Circular Staircase.

Interesting to note that in her novel there's a villain called The Bat. Mary Roberts Rinehart and her novel was the inspiration for Batman, believe it or not. Bob Kane, creator of Batman mentions in his autobiography, Batman and Me , published in the late 80s, that the Bat from Rinehart's book was the inspiration for the comic book hero. So Mary Roberts Rinehart was the mother of Batman.

Below is what my copy looks like. This is the 1908 first edition of The Circular Staircase.

Fascinating stuff, heh?

[Jess_humandisaster]

MB-- It's interesting how she only notated the first halves of the books!

While I definitely agree that she just never finished them, I think it's possible that she did read the entire books and only made highlights in the first halves because I actually have that exact habit! 90% of my books are only notated till around halfway through.

For me it's because when the story is in the early stages, when it tends to be slower and more about introductions and worldbuilding, I'm able to pay closer attention to the wording and highlighting when something stands out to me

But then almost every single time I reach somewhere around the middle I'm so caught up in the story that I don't even think about the fact that I could still be marking or highlighting because I'm too absorbed in what I'm reading.

So is it possible that maybe her attention on notating just could never hold up?

[mbhenty]

Yes Jess

What you write makes sense. I too have marked up my books in the past and lost my pencil or interest and only underlined a few pages. This was before I knew better... before I started collecting books and prizing them. Now I can not bear to write or mark up a book. It's blasphemy.

I was planning to write this play about Joshua Slocum, a famous sailor. I have a couple of valued first editions by him. I wanted a copy I could scribble in, underline, and take notes in my research so I purchased a cheap copy.

When the book came in the mail I fondled it, ran my fingers through it, and could not bring myself to write in it. It spoke to me. So I placed it on the shelf with Joshua Slocum's other books and I ordered yet a cheaper copy.

Then that copy arrived in the mail. It now sits on the shelf with all the others. Just can't mark-up or write in a book any longer. Blaspheme I'm an irredeemable bibliophile.

[Jess_humandisaster]

Oh we're on the same page completely, MB! I can't bear to mark up my books either, which is why I enjoy reading books on my kindle app as it has all the tools for notations like highlighting, making notes, etc. Nothing beats the experience of owning and reading from an actual book, but it is helpful.

Have you tried using those mini sticky note tabs as markers? I haven't done that before but I'm planning to whenever my order of Parallel Lives arrives next week.