Forty Whacks: New Evidence in the Life and Legend of lizzie

snokkums · Post by **snokkums** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 7:26 am

Has any one read the book, "Forty Whacks New Evidence in the life and legend of Lizzie Borden"? I just wanted to know if it is any good before I drop some money on it and buy it. I does sound interesting though.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 2:28 pm

You can inter-library loan a copy, if your local library doesn't have it.
If you wish to learn the ins and outs of the case, you might read the source documents first, to get the foundation in *fact* and then if you branch out into the authors, you will be able to determine where they *took liberties*, which they all do.
(Usually it's in shortening testimony to fit the point- maybe not on purpose- buts adds confusion).

john · Post by **john** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 10:13 pm

If you want that book I'll send it to you Snokkums - PM me - i read it.

john · Post by **john** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 10:02 am

Old books are usually like old friends. They hang around.

john · Post by **john** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 10:48 am

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DEREKSTEF · Post by **DEREKSTEF** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 10:45 pm

I read it, but I got it from the Library. It is worth buying if you are a collector. If not, it is just a good read. But I do recommend it. I really enjoyed it.

twinsrwe · Post by **twinsrwe** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 8:59 am

I also have this book..... It is well worth the money I spent on it.

Edisto · Post by **Edisto** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 11:23 am

I've read David Kent's "Forty Whacks" and have it in my Borden library. It's the second book I read about the case, having purchased a copy at the Borden house. I especially like the fact that it's an unbiased account, although some people think Kent leaned toward Lizzie's innocence. It has some errors in it, unfortunately, although Kent seemed to be a meticulous researcher. I like his reconstruction of the timeline on the day of the murders, which would have left Lizzie with insufficient time to do all the things she must have done if she was the murderer. It's well worth buying, IMHO.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 7:55 pm

DEREKSTEF- I think you are using the same Avatar as snokkums! I just realized it! It's OK but if you want to be known for your own identity- you might wish to switch?
By the way, how are you?

Pam Howe is a member here who married at the B&B and is still married.

beckygoddess · Post by **beckygoddess** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 9:35 pm

Hello Snokkums. Forty Whacks. Yes, I've read it and I recommend it. My first copy was a Valentine gift from my husband who bought it off of the famous attorney Alan Dershowitz. (He successfully defended Claus von Bulow in his second trial). We had been to a cocktail party and I was introduced to him. My husband mentioned my interest in Lizzie and just like a snap Mr. Dershowitz and I were off on an enthusiastic conversation about her.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y285/b ... sowitz.jpg

When I was at Centennial Conference in Fall River (1992) they had a big hall where Lizzie books were sold, authors autographing, memorabilia sold, etc. It was there I got another copied also signed by Robert Flynn. Unfortunately David Kent had passed away the early part of that year.

Another book I recommend, not only for the Lizzie content but because ALL the chapters are exceptional, is Edmund Pearson's FIVE MURDERS, published in 1928, a year after Lizzie's death.

Here's an image I have of my copy with his letter to Asa French and a bio on French taken from The Knowlton Papers.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y285/b ... French.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y285/b ... 02adae.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y285/b ... 21484c.jpg

john · Post by **john** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 11:46 pm

I love to meet name droppers at parties because they're so easy to talk to. All you have to do is mention an old book or movie.

beckygoddess · Post by **beckygoddess** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 11:49 pm

Yes, and he was. Very open, very gratious. But he certainly has been having trouble with his reputation over his last book. Poor Alan.

beckygoddess · Post by **beckygoddess** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 5:13 pm

I forgot to mention that Asa French was the prosecuting attorney in the DeGraf case (hunchback sailor/cook who killed the Captain). The DeGraf case is one of the chapters in Pearsons FIVE MURDERS. The letter that Pearson wrote to Asa French about returning his (French's) files on the case were apparently used by Pearson in writing that chapter. Then it seems that when Asa French got this book, which Pearson enscribed to him, (image provided) that he (French) pasted the letter into it. Anyway, it's kind of satisfying having two Pearson autographs and a letter written by him to a person who wrote to Knowlton on the Borden case - in one of my favorite true crime books. I am constantly amazed at how prolific a writer was Mr. Pearson who was considered the Guru of Knowledge on the Borden case and who had written the premiere book (The Trial Essay). At least until 1999, when Leonard Rebello blew him out of the water with Lizzie Borden Past and Present.

john · Post by **john** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 10:44 pm

Who was Lizzie talking about that's life was just thrown away, Beckygoddess?