Parallel Lives

[RichardX]

Anyone know the status of this book? It seems to have been hung up for sometime now. The FRHS website indicated in Feb. that it was soon to be released. Looking forward to it. Any idea if the FRHS will have an event to coincide with the book release? An August 4th release this year would have been perfect.

[patsy]

I'm hoping it will be soon. Patience is a virtue and something that I'm lacking as of late.

I believe I read that they were set to go to the printer sometime in July.

[mbhenty]

Yes Patsy..........I can understand. I lost all virtue and patience when I realized I was an adult. (two years ago! )

Now, I have been trying to tie down a publication date for quite some time now.

All I can convey is what is told to me by those working on Parallel Lives, though I have not spoken directly to Michael or Dennis.

Today I was informed that the book is at the publisher and is just about finished............printing, that is.

The next step is the binder; to wrap the book in its hardcover.

I've been informed that we can consider a release date of early October, or even possibly the end of this month. But I have been wrong before. Though in all fairness to me, I just relayed what I was told by my source. (very reliable source, working on the book)

So, it will not be long now.

I think it was an error to announce so early that such a book was to be published. But, to be impartial and reasonable, this was a very exceptionally researched book. Unexpected material discovered just as the book approached completion delayed its publication, while vigorous investigation and rework was undertaken to rearrange and make new material fit the complexion and tone of each specific chapter. At least that is how I understood it.

All I can say is.....hang in there. It's a comin!

[RichardX]

I get the feeling that the FRHS sometimes uses Lizzie as a hook to introduce the public to other topics such as the history of Fall River. That's understandable and may be of some interest, but I'm hoping we don't get a large dose of Fall River history/19th century background and only a minor dose of Lizzie in this book. I can't imagine there is much "new" material about the case. But I guess we will find out sooner or later.

[patsy]

Through my thinking I'd say to know Lizzie one must know the Fall River of time and how events evolved. But then I love history so I'm biased.

Heard you, mbhenty, and thank you. Two years ago huh. Haaaaa

[Wordweaver]

I've been informed that we can consider a release date of early October, or even possibly the end of this month. But I have been wrong before. Though in all fairness to me, I just relayed what I was told by my source. (very reliable source, working on the book)

So, it will not be long now.

I think it was an error to announce so early that such a book was to be published. But, to be impartial and reasonable, this was a very exceptionally researched book. Unexpected material discovered just as the book approached completion delayed its publication, while vigorous investigation and rework was undertaken to rearrange and make new material fit the complexion and tone of each specific chapter. At least that is how I understood it.

All I can say is.....hang in there. It's a comin!

Any idea of cost? Will it only be available through the FRHS, or can I get it on Amazon? I expect both the book price and the shipping cost to be considerable -- it sounds vast.

I am sure it will be worth every penny to those of us who are Borden addicts.

[mbhenty]

Yes Wordweaver:

I have inquired about the cost of the book but have been unable to procure an amount. I was told that they have not arrived at a price as of yet.

But, I can almost guarantee you that it will be well north of 60 bucks. It's not going to be cheap.

The knowlton Papers, 1994, along with Rebello's book Lizzie Borden Past and Present, 1999, both sold for 50 dollars when new. The Commonwealth vs Lizzie Borden was published just about 17 years ago. (I remember it like it was yesterday. I think I was 5 at the time ) Also, this work is much longer. Almost 1200 pages. Taking all of what I just mentioned into consideration, I believe you can expect 75 dollars a realistic number.

I have also heard rumor that Parallel Lives will be published in two editions. The regular edition, along with a collectors signed limited edition in slip case. If true the collectors impression will cost upwards of 150 to 200 dollars. This will be of great interest to hard-core collectors such as myself. If I'm sharp I'll have a copy in my hands even before the FRHS. (No, just kidding)

(The last book I purchased with a slipcase was a limited edition of Ray Bradbury's Dawn to Dusk: Cautionary Travels. This was earlier this year. Signed by Bradbury and limited to 126 signed copies, I paid 150.)

Parallel Lives will be sold exclusively by the Fall River Historical Society and no one else. (Sorry Amazon)

About the contents of Parallel Lives?

Yes, much of it will be about Fall River, it's history, it's people, especially fall river's creme de la creme, high society, the aristocracy, intertwined with Lizzie and her life. Thus, as I understand it, Lizzie is the center, and many, if not most of the stories and accounts revolve around her. Yes, Parallel Lives is a very in-depth description of 19th century everyday life in fall river. But not all exclusively Lizzie.

At least this is what I understand and what I've taken from all the buzz in fall river about Parallel Lives.



www.gauntletpress.com/

[mbhenty]

Here we go.

Perhaps the FRHS reads us here on the forum. Cool. From the Historical Society's FaceBook page this Friday, a day after my post above:



Hello, everyone. Great news to report today! A telephone call yesterday from our Sales Representative at the company charged with producing Parallel Lives alerted us to the fact that the printing phase of the book is complete; the sheets are in the process of being arranged into signatures in preparation for binding. As was mentioned in an earlier posting, the book is going to be released in two editions: a trade edition, and a deluxe collector’s edition, limited to only 100 copies.The rest of the messageL: Our next posting will include a link to the Parallel Lives website, which will include pricing and ordering information, excerpts, and other interesting features – expect that in the next week or so.

I suspect that many people are interested in the particulars of Lizzie’s youth, a period of which there has been much speculation, since so little was previously known. We do know rather a bit more about her early years now, as those of you who read Parallel Lives will find out. Thought some of you might find the following excerpt from the book of interest; incidentally, the “Lulie” mentioned in the text was one of Lizzie’s school friends, whose diaries we were given access to:

“Though Lulie and Lizzie lived in neighborhoods physically separated by the bustling center of the city, they did seem to maintain a relationship that was not restricted entirely to school. ‘Lizzie Borden asked me to go out and ride with her last Saturday,’ Lulie wrote, ‘but it is very stormy and we concluded to go tomorrow but she can’t go now until next Saturday.’ It is unknown if riding, in this case, meant on horseback or in a carriage; both were commonplace pastimes of the day and available to Lizzie, as her father did maintain, for many years, a horse and carriage in his Second Street barn. Riding horseback was also a pastime that could have been enjoyed in the country, on the family farm in Swansea. The entry for the following Saturday makes no mention of spending any time riding with Lizzie. She does not appear again until several days later, when Lulie ‘walked part of the way home with Lizzie Borden.’”

And there are a number of additional references to Lizzie as well, little personal details, recorded by Lulie, our youthful diarist. No smoking gun here, certainly, but interesting insight into her life – at least we think so.

As I’ve said before, it’s been a long, long haul, folks – and we honestly can’t begin to thank you enough for trudging along with us.

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I have purchased many limited and deluxe editions from a publisher called The Gauntlet Press which specialize in horror and Sci-fi. They constantly alert their customers of step by step in where a certain publication is, at the printer, the binder, etc., keeping their readers well informed in the the construction of a book. The last notice they give is notification that a certain book is being shipped from the printer to the binder. It usually takes over a month after this before the book is in the customer's hand.

www.gauntletpress.com/

Thus, publication of Parallel Lives for the end of this month or early October is out of the question. I can only guess that we can expect the first appearance to be late October or early November. PLease understand, that is only my educated guess. (with the emphasis on "guess" not "educated" ) But the middle of October is not out of the question.


At least we can be sure it will be well before Christmas.

[RichardX]

Thanks much. I wonder what the difference is between the trade and collector's edition?