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Eugenia: A true story of adversity, tragedy, crime and courage
This is the true crime account of Eugenia Falleni, a woman who in 1920 was charged with the murder of her wife. Eugenia had lived in Australia for twenty-two years as a man and during that time officially married twice. She lived a full married life with her first wife, Annie, for four years before Annie realised that her husband was a woman. Even after Annie knew, they lived together for eight months before they went on a bush picnic, when Annie mysteriously died. Her body was not identified for almost three years, and during this time Eugenia married again, this time to Lizzie. When Eugenia was finally arrested and charged with Annie's murder, the police attempted to tell Lizzie that her husband was a woman. She laughed at them - she was so convinced that her husband was a man that she thought she was pregnant to him.
This is the story of one of the most extraordinary criminal trials in legal history anywhere in the world. The book traces Eugenia's history: from her early years in an Italian immigrant family in New Zealand, to her brutal treatment when she first tried living as a man. The story then follows the twenty-two years that she lived in Sydney as Harry Crawford - exploring how Harry managed to convince two wives that he was a man. The trial of Eugenia Falleni for Annie's murder is extensively analysed in a clear and easily understood way by the author, Senior Crown Prosecutor Mark Tedeschi QC, one of Australia's foremost criminal law barristers.
This is the story of one of the most extraordinary criminal trials in legal history anywhere in the world. The book traces Eugenia's history: from her early years in an Italian immigrant family in New Zealand, to her brutal treatment when she first tried living as a man. The story then follows the twenty-two years that she lived in Sydney as Harry Crawford - exploring how Harry managed to convince two wives that he was a man. The trial of Eugenia Falleni for Annie's murder is extensively analysed in a clear and easily understood way by the author, Senior Crown Prosecutor Mark Tedeschi QC, one of Australia's foremost criminal law barristers.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
90 people are currently reading
647 people want to read
About the author
Mark Tedeschi
6 books25 followersMark Alfred Guido Tedeschi, AM, QC (born 1952) is an Australian barrister, law professor, photographer and author. He has won numerous awards for his photography and has been featured in galleries throughout the world including in the State Library of New South Wales, the New South Wales Art Gallery, the Center for Fine Art Photography in Colorado, and the National Library in Canberra. He is the Senior Crown Prosecutor for New South Wales and the Head of Chambers of the 84 Crown Prosecutors. He is the founder and president of the Australian Association of Crown Prosecutors and a visiting professor at the University of Wollongong. As a prosecutor, Tedeschi is best known for the prosecution of numerous high-profile cases in Australia including the 2006 conviction of Dr. Suman Sood for illegal abortion and the Backpacker Murders committed by Ivan Milat in the 1990s.
Tedeschi is the author of two books, one on law and the other on photography. In 1980, he co-authored Law of International Business in Australia with Dr. P.J. O'Keefe. He released a book of photograph in 2012 entitled Shooting Around Corners which featured over twenty five years of his photography.
Tedeschi is the author of a true crime book called Eugenia, published in 2012 by Simon & Schuster, which tells the story of Eugenia Falleni, a woman of Italian and New Zealand background who lived in Australia as a man from 1898 until she was charged with the murder of her first "wife" in 1920. In this book, Tedeschi describes the tortuous life that Eugenia Falleni led as a woman trying to lead life as a man in a society that did not understand such things. He describes her murder trial in Sydney in 1920 in which she was prosecuted by the first Senior Crown Prosecutor, William Coyle KC. Part of the book describes this very complex and interesting trial, and Eugenia Falleni's life after her trial.
Kidnapped will be published by Simon & Schuster in 2015.
Tedeschi is the author of two books, one on law and the other on photography. In 1980, he co-authored Law of International Business in Australia with Dr. P.J. O'Keefe. He released a book of photograph in 2012 entitled Shooting Around Corners which featured over twenty five years of his photography.
Tedeschi is the author of a true crime book called Eugenia, published in 2012 by Simon & Schuster, which tells the story of Eugenia Falleni, a woman of Italian and New Zealand background who lived in Australia as a man from 1898 until she was charged with the murder of her first "wife" in 1920. In this book, Tedeschi describes the tortuous life that Eugenia Falleni led as a woman trying to lead life as a man in a society that did not understand such things. He describes her murder trial in Sydney in 1920 in which she was prosecuted by the first Senior Crown Prosecutor, William Coyle KC. Part of the book describes this very complex and interesting trial, and Eugenia Falleni's life after her trial.
Kidnapped will be published by Simon & Schuster in 2015.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
March 15, 2023
In choosing to examine the life and trial of Eugenia Felleni, Mark Tedeschi QC has highlighted not only the gross inadequacies of her trial but also the difficulty she had in leading any sort of 'normal' life in Australia in the early 1900s. Born into a large Italian family in NZ, Eugenia had always felt like a male born into a female body. Leaving home to become a sailor she dressed and behaved as a man and was accepted as such until the rest of the crew discovered her secret and she was forced to leave the ship. She eventually returned to living as a man, calling herself Harry Crawford and would probably have remained undiscovered except that she fell in love and married Annie Birkett, a widow with a young son. We'll never really now what happened between Annie and Eugenia/Harry that day in Lane Cove National Park but Annie met with some misadventure leading to her death. When her body was found some years later and Harry was charged with her murder, he had already remarried another woman.
After recreating the story of Eugenia/Harry's life as accurately as possible from meticulous research, Tedeschi leads us through her trial for murder and shows us what a flimsy case the prosecution had and how any halfway competent defense barrister should have been able to knock it out of court.
As a piece of historical writing this book works very well at explaining the ignorance and attitude of society to those unfortunate enough not to be born heterosexual and the very difficult lives those who were transsexual were forced to live. Although Eugenia as Harry must have been in some way culpable for the probably accidental death of Annie by attempting to cover it up, it is hard not to feel sympathy for her and her very real fear of exposure and ridicule. Tedeschi also does a great job at explaining the process and failing s of the trial, contrasting it with the more enlightened practices of today.
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Link to wikipedia article about Eugenia/Harry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_...
After recreating the story of Eugenia/Harry's life as accurately as possible from meticulous research, Tedeschi leads us through her trial for murder and shows us what a flimsy case the prosecution had and how any halfway competent defense barrister should have been able to knock it out of court.
As a piece of historical writing this book works very well at explaining the ignorance and attitude of society to those unfortunate enough not to be born heterosexual and the very difficult lives those who were transsexual were forced to live. Although Eugenia as Harry must have been in some way culpable for the probably accidental death of Annie by attempting to cover it up, it is hard not to feel sympathy for her and her very real fear of exposure and ridicule. Tedeschi also does a great job at explaining the process and failing s of the trial, contrasting it with the more enlightened practices of today.
................................................................................
Link to wikipedia article about Eugenia/Harry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_...
March 28, 2018
Eugenia Falleni was an Australian woman, who felt like she should have been born a man. Therefore, she chose to live as a man, in all areas of life, and did so for several decades. When she was charged with the murder of her 'wife', her private life became public knowledge. The book describes the life of such a woman, trying to exist in a society that would have found her to be 'a monster', if they had known her secrets. It also tells of her murder trial in Sydney in 1920.
The author, Mark Tedeschi, is Senior Crown Prosecutor for New South Wales, Australia, which means he knows all the ins-and-outs of the legal proceedings, and tends to go on about them a bit more than necessary. I did appreciate some of the explanations, but at other times he just made me weary.
If you have any interest in learning about how a transgender person had to live in the late 19th/early 20th centuries, you will enjoy this. Also, if you are interested in legal proceedings in Australia during the early 20th century, you will enjoy this.
3 Stars = I liked the book. I enjoyed it. I'm glad I read it.
The author, Mark Tedeschi, is Senior Crown Prosecutor for New South Wales, Australia, which means he knows all the ins-and-outs of the legal proceedings, and tends to go on about them a bit more than necessary. I did appreciate some of the explanations, but at other times he just made me weary.
If you have any interest in learning about how a transgender person had to live in the late 19th/early 20th centuries, you will enjoy this. Also, if you are interested in legal proceedings in Australia during the early 20th century, you will enjoy this.
3 Stars = I liked the book. I enjoyed it. I'm glad I read it.
April 4, 2014
In 1920, a woman, Eugenia Falleni, was charged with the murder of her wife.
Eugenia is a story of its time: an examination of out-dated notions of sexuality and the fallibility of the criminal justice system. It is the true account of one of the most sensational and extraordinary criminal trials of its day in Australian legal history.
Born into a large Italian migrant family, Eugenia Falleni began passing herself off as a man at a young age. She was easily able to tackle tough construction jobs and join in the rough male drinking life. But her existence as a man was always perilous, and in a horrific experience during her time on a merchant ship, her gender was uncovered.
The story then follows the twenty-two years she lived in Sydney as the hard-drinking, foul-mouthed Scotsman Harry Crawford, and how Harry managed to convince his two wives that he was a man. Due to a tragic twist of fate, Harry's first wife, Annie Birkett, discovered the truth, and the two argued. Annie disappeared and her burnt body was discovered at Lane Cove, though not identified until years later. By the time Eugenia Falleni was charged with murder, Harry Crawford had married a second woman, again successfully maintaining the elaborate cover-up.
The trial of Eugenia Falleni for Annie Birkett’s murder is extensively analysed by the author, Crown Prosecutor Mark Tedeschi QC, one of Australia's foremost criminal law barristers. He reveals a grim, fascinating and extraordinary tale against the vivid backdrop of working-class Sydney in the years leading up to the Great Depression. It is an interesting study of how Eugenia's case was subject to mishandling and to the prejudices of the times.
The murder trial is narrated in great depth, as Tedeschi takes us through the police investigation, the press’s vicious attack on her character, and the public who saw her as an abnormal being who must be punished. He explains how the fairness of the system relies on the fact that each side is represented by equally accomplished advocates, which obviously wasn't the case here. Falleni's lawyer seemed out of his depth, making many tactical errors, and failing to force the prosecution into proving beyond any reasonable doubt that Annie Birkett’s death was not accidental. The prosecution, however, was run by William Coyle, the best of these times.
The subject was fascinating – a woman trapped in a man’s body, in a male justice system. I sympathised with Eugenia, who had not a single friend, or member of her family, with whom she could share her terrible secret. I can’t begin to imagine how she must have lived in constant terror that her secret would be exposed and she would be ridiculed. She displayed much courage in managing to turn her life around in spite of such tragedy.
I found the storytelling in general a bit melodramatic and the detail surrounding the legal proceedings far too detailed, and found myself skimming much of this part towards the end. This slight reservation did not deter me, however, from enjoying this sobering tale of human tragedy.
Eugenia is a story of its time: an examination of out-dated notions of sexuality and the fallibility of the criminal justice system. It is the true account of one of the most sensational and extraordinary criminal trials of its day in Australian legal history.
Born into a large Italian migrant family, Eugenia Falleni began passing herself off as a man at a young age. She was easily able to tackle tough construction jobs and join in the rough male drinking life. But her existence as a man was always perilous, and in a horrific experience during her time on a merchant ship, her gender was uncovered.
The story then follows the twenty-two years she lived in Sydney as the hard-drinking, foul-mouthed Scotsman Harry Crawford, and how Harry managed to convince his two wives that he was a man. Due to a tragic twist of fate, Harry's first wife, Annie Birkett, discovered the truth, and the two argued. Annie disappeared and her burnt body was discovered at Lane Cove, though not identified until years later. By the time Eugenia Falleni was charged with murder, Harry Crawford had married a second woman, again successfully maintaining the elaborate cover-up.
The trial of Eugenia Falleni for Annie Birkett’s murder is extensively analysed by the author, Crown Prosecutor Mark Tedeschi QC, one of Australia's foremost criminal law barristers. He reveals a grim, fascinating and extraordinary tale against the vivid backdrop of working-class Sydney in the years leading up to the Great Depression. It is an interesting study of how Eugenia's case was subject to mishandling and to the prejudices of the times.
The murder trial is narrated in great depth, as Tedeschi takes us through the police investigation, the press’s vicious attack on her character, and the public who saw her as an abnormal being who must be punished. He explains how the fairness of the system relies on the fact that each side is represented by equally accomplished advocates, which obviously wasn't the case here. Falleni's lawyer seemed out of his depth, making many tactical errors, and failing to force the prosecution into proving beyond any reasonable doubt that Annie Birkett’s death was not accidental. The prosecution, however, was run by William Coyle, the best of these times.
The subject was fascinating – a woman trapped in a man’s body, in a male justice system. I sympathised with Eugenia, who had not a single friend, or member of her family, with whom she could share her terrible secret. I can’t begin to imagine how she must have lived in constant terror that her secret would be exposed and she would be ridiculed. She displayed much courage in managing to turn her life around in spite of such tragedy.
I found the storytelling in general a bit melodramatic and the detail surrounding the legal proceedings far too detailed, and found myself skimming much of this part towards the end. This slight reservation did not deter me, however, from enjoying this sobering tale of human tragedy.
March 15, 2023
*May contain spoilers.*
Eugenia Falleni was sensationally described in the tabloid press as the "man-woman" who in Sydney in 1920 was charged with the murder of her wife.
What a very sad and tragic story this is, of a man that was born in the body of a woman. Eugenia never wanted to be a girl, all her young life she related to boys and wanted only to be one of them much to the embarrassment of her parents.
Right from the beginning and to the very end I felt deeply saddened by the tragic terms and conditions and ultimate events which determined the course of Eugenia Falleni's interminably sad life.
I have given it 5*s because it kept me engrossed and has been very well researched and covered by the author, Mark Tedeschi who is himself a present day QC with an impressive list of credentials.
The aim of the author being in part, to show what incredible injustice was made against Eugenia Falleni at her trial in 1920, both legally and socially, and to make known all of the glaring holes in the Defense case at her trial which was to deal her the ultimate crushing blow.
He also shows, given the proper attention to detail and the lack of solid evidence on the part of the Prosecution, how this amazing story, based purely on circumstantial evidence, would be treated so differently if it were to go to trial in present times.
Eugenia's inherent fear of incarceration was almost palpable throughout her life story, as one could well imagine the prospects she might have faced in a prison, given her circumstances, the law at the time, and the general mentality of the population of the time.
(*It is this fear above all else that has me personally unconvinced as to her guilt of the crime as 'laid out'... I am inclined to believe she was a tragic victim of ignorance and cruel circumstance...but that's just me.)
Regardless of our personal thoughts on the culpability of Eugenia, this story raises all manner of questions to the reader, not the least being our ingrained attitudes to the differences we perceive in others and how those biased attitudes can be so easily whipped into righteous indignation, often to such an extent as to effect an ongoing negative paradigm...thus making it acceptable by those standards to treat this court case in particular, with such disdain, by allowing it to continue so blatantly unchallenged, even by her own Defence Counsel and even without consideration for the myriad possible consequences.
Some measure of consideration must be given to Eugenia's family, her two wives and her child and stepson, who were inadvertently caught up in this nightmare, though where to begin??
Such is the extent of the domino effect of deceit.
This story also has historical value in that it gives a sense of the outmoded laws and prejudices of early to late 1900's in Sydney.
I highly recommended this as a Bio/Memoir, Historical, True Crime, read and give it 5*s
The Ballad of Reading Gaol
By Oscar Wilde
"Yet each man kills the thing he loves
By each let this be heard,
Some do it with a bitter look,
Some with a flattering word,
The coward does it with a kiss,
The brave man with a sword!
Some kill their love when they are young,
And some when they are old;
Some strangle with the hands of Lust,
Some with the hands of Gold:
The kindest use a knife, because
The dead so soon grow cold.
Some love too little, some too long,
Some sell, and others buy;
Some do the deed with many tears,
And some without a sigh:
For each man kills the thing he loves,
Yet each man does not die."
*This poem is an excerpt from the opening of the book...I hope I haven't infringed on any copyright laws by putting it here.
Eugenia Falleni was sensationally described in the tabloid press as the "man-woman" who in Sydney in 1920 was charged with the murder of her wife.
What a very sad and tragic story this is, of a man that was born in the body of a woman. Eugenia never wanted to be a girl, all her young life she related to boys and wanted only to be one of them much to the embarrassment of her parents.
Right from the beginning and to the very end I felt deeply saddened by the tragic terms and conditions and ultimate events which determined the course of Eugenia Falleni's interminably sad life.
I have given it 5*s because it kept me engrossed and has been very well researched and covered by the author, Mark Tedeschi who is himself a present day QC with an impressive list of credentials.
The aim of the author being in part, to show what incredible injustice was made against Eugenia Falleni at her trial in 1920, both legally and socially, and to make known all of the glaring holes in the Defense case at her trial which was to deal her the ultimate crushing blow.
He also shows, given the proper attention to detail and the lack of solid evidence on the part of the Prosecution, how this amazing story, based purely on circumstantial evidence, would be treated so differently if it were to go to trial in present times.
Eugenia's inherent fear of incarceration was almost palpable throughout her life story, as one could well imagine the prospects she might have faced in a prison, given her circumstances, the law at the time, and the general mentality of the population of the time.
(*It is this fear above all else that has me personally unconvinced as to her guilt of the crime as 'laid out'... I am inclined to believe she was a tragic victim of ignorance and cruel circumstance...but that's just me.)
Regardless of our personal thoughts on the culpability of Eugenia, this story raises all manner of questions to the reader, not the least being our ingrained attitudes to the differences we perceive in others and how those biased attitudes can be so easily whipped into righteous indignation, often to such an extent as to effect an ongoing negative paradigm...thus making it acceptable by those standards to treat this court case in particular, with such disdain, by allowing it to continue so blatantly unchallenged, even by her own Defence Counsel and even without consideration for the myriad possible consequences.
Some measure of consideration must be given to Eugenia's family, her two wives and her child and stepson, who were inadvertently caught up in this nightmare, though where to begin??
Such is the extent of the domino effect of deceit.
This story also has historical value in that it gives a sense of the outmoded laws and prejudices of early to late 1900's in Sydney.
I highly recommended this as a Bio/Memoir, Historical, True Crime, read and give it 5*s
The Ballad of Reading Gaol
By Oscar Wilde
"Yet each man kills the thing he loves
By each let this be heard,
Some do it with a bitter look,
Some with a flattering word,
The coward does it with a kiss,
The brave man with a sword!
Some kill their love when they are young,
And some when they are old;
Some strangle with the hands of Lust,
Some with the hands of Gold:
The kindest use a knife, because
The dead so soon grow cold.
Some love too little, some too long,
Some sell, and others buy;
Some do the deed with many tears,
And some without a sigh:
For each man kills the thing he loves,
Yet each man does not die."
*This poem is an excerpt from the opening of the book...I hope I haven't infringed on any copyright laws by putting it here.
January 17, 2013
I really think that whenever I feel like a bit of a whinge about the way life is these days, I should read a book like EUGENIA. Eugenia Falleni was a woman born into a large Italian Family, who grew up in New Zealand, and spent most of her all too short life in Australia, living most of it as a man.
Mark Tedeschi QC looks at what happened to Eugenia in her early life, a rape and subsequent birth of a daughter which complicated her life even more, how she functioned in day-to-day life, her first marriage and the death of her wife for which she was charged with murder, along with a second marriage and life post trial and time in jail.
Whilst the book is written by a lawyer, and looks closely at the rights, wrong and inadequacies of the trial and sentencing that she endured, it's not just about the legal. Tedeschi considers many of the elements that made up Falleni's difficult and tragic life, considering the question of her gender dysmorphia, and how she kept it a secret, particularly, it seems in the case of two marriages to women. Although her first wife, Annie Birkett, had finally discovered the truth, her second wife Lizzie Crawford refused to acknowledge that her husband, was in fact, a woman, even after police and had arrested Falleni, and doctors had examined her and declared the obvious.
It's impossible to read EUGENIA and not have sympathy for a woman who, may or may not have committed murder, although the book's conclusion is that her defence could have argued accidental / manslaughter. It's impossible not to consider how incredibly difficult, confronting and complicated her life must have been with such an obvious case of gender dysmorphia. Despite even the worst of idiocy about such issues in current day society, at the very least you'd hope there would be some support, understanding, and friendship somewhere. Alas for Falleni she was the target of ridicule and disrespect from everywhere. She was subjected to the worst sexual violence, attacked by the press, treated like a freak by the public and let down badly by her defence. Although there was finally kindness in jail, it was a bit of a kick in the teeth to find out that even her death was an absolute, flat out, utter and complete tragedy.
I'd never heard of Eugenia Falleni before I read a short story in a true crime collection a while ago, so I'm really grateful that Tedeschi took the time to delve, consider and write this book. Eugenia Falleni deserves it.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...
Mark Tedeschi QC looks at what happened to Eugenia in her early life, a rape and subsequent birth of a daughter which complicated her life even more, how she functioned in day-to-day life, her first marriage and the death of her wife for which she was charged with murder, along with a second marriage and life post trial and time in jail.
Whilst the book is written by a lawyer, and looks closely at the rights, wrong and inadequacies of the trial and sentencing that she endured, it's not just about the legal. Tedeschi considers many of the elements that made up Falleni's difficult and tragic life, considering the question of her gender dysmorphia, and how she kept it a secret, particularly, it seems in the case of two marriages to women. Although her first wife, Annie Birkett, had finally discovered the truth, her second wife Lizzie Crawford refused to acknowledge that her husband, was in fact, a woman, even after police and had arrested Falleni, and doctors had examined her and declared the obvious.
It's impossible to read EUGENIA and not have sympathy for a woman who, may or may not have committed murder, although the book's conclusion is that her defence could have argued accidental / manslaughter. It's impossible not to consider how incredibly difficult, confronting and complicated her life must have been with such an obvious case of gender dysmorphia. Despite even the worst of idiocy about such issues in current day society, at the very least you'd hope there would be some support, understanding, and friendship somewhere. Alas for Falleni she was the target of ridicule and disrespect from everywhere. She was subjected to the worst sexual violence, attacked by the press, treated like a freak by the public and let down badly by her defence. Although there was finally kindness in jail, it was a bit of a kick in the teeth to find out that even her death was an absolute, flat out, utter and complete tragedy.
I'd never heard of Eugenia Falleni before I read a short story in a true crime collection a while ago, so I'm really grateful that Tedeschi took the time to delve, consider and write this book. Eugenia Falleni deserves it.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...
June 6, 2014
The story of Eugenia Falleni is a sad and tragic one. Unfortunately for her she was a victim of her times. Although I could empathise with her and the miscarriage of justice that occurred against her, I did not think her completely blameless in the events that took shape. It was an informative and interesting read that shows human nature has not necessarily changed so very much. 3.5 stars.
February 13, 2023
Really highlighted societal expectations and prejudices and how circumstantial evidence can slip through because of preconceived ideas. That laws are not moral free. How little society understood or cared to understand transgender and I can certainly see it is a fascinating book from that perspective, especially because the author is so comfortable with the court system, and was really able to guide me through the court case. But I'm not a true crime reader, you can see on the cover this is a human being scared, overwhelmed and facing the worst time of their lives. I just feel so sorry for Eugenia and her tragic life, Annie, Henry Birkett and even Lizzie being the subject of this book.
December 14, 2013
Not so bad. Not so good.
A fascinating, and at the time, notorious crime and court case, this is the story of a woman born into a mans body Eugenia Falleni. I had not heard of this court case until I read the book so I had no preconceptions or judgments about this case.
The book is about two related but separate issues namely the life of Eugenia/ Harry/Jean and and the death of his wife and his subsequent trial for murder.
If you are looking for a heart warming story of an early transgender pioneer please look elsewhere. Harry was an illiterate who developed a persona of a working class man and subsequently married two women. He was occasionally violent, hard drinking and inarticulate. His family disowned him and his daughter kept as far away as she could when she could.
Mark Tedeschi is the current chief prosecutor for NSW and while trying to give as sympathetic portrait he can of Harry occasionally seems to fill in the gaps of Harry's life with supposition. The tension between trying to tell a story and maintaining a sort of flat lawyer speak gives the book an unengaging narrative voice.
Tedeschi's clear and careful explanation of the court case and the complexities of the law in the first half of the twentieth century in Australia convincingly proves that there was a miscarriage of justice. While this is often dry in my opinion it is the better part of the book.
A fascinating, and at the time, notorious crime and court case, this is the story of a woman born into a mans body Eugenia Falleni. I had not heard of this court case until I read the book so I had no preconceptions or judgments about this case.
The book is about two related but separate issues namely the life of Eugenia/ Harry/Jean and and the death of his wife and his subsequent trial for murder.
If you are looking for a heart warming story of an early transgender pioneer please look elsewhere. Harry was an illiterate who developed a persona of a working class man and subsequently married two women. He was occasionally violent, hard drinking and inarticulate. His family disowned him and his daughter kept as far away as she could when she could.
Mark Tedeschi is the current chief prosecutor for NSW and while trying to give as sympathetic portrait he can of Harry occasionally seems to fill in the gaps of Harry's life with supposition. The tension between trying to tell a story and maintaining a sort of flat lawyer speak gives the book an unengaging narrative voice.
Tedeschi's clear and careful explanation of the court case and the complexities of the law in the first half of the twentieth century in Australia convincingly proves that there was a miscarriage of justice. While this is often dry in my opinion it is the better part of the book.
March 8, 2020
I found this book in my local library and was instantly intrigued by the subject matter. Eugenia is a true story of Eugenia who was a woman who lived her life as a man in the 1920s. He was convicted of murder of his wife. The author takes us through Eugenia's life, the court case and beyond. It's a fascinating insight into Australian society as well as one individual's struggle for acceptance and love.
March 5, 2019
Was tossing up whether to give this a 3 or a 4 star rating. To my mind its really a 3.5 but I did enjoy the overall story and I thought it was told well. It dragged a bit during the trial which is ironic considering at 2 days the trial itself was short!
June 19, 2018
This was only an OK read as far as I was concerned. The case should have been very interesting, and it was once I got out my machete and hacked my way past all the irrelevant background information about stuff like the prosecutor's grandfather's background in the Australian horse-racing industry. All that detail on something that has zero to do with the story, but the author doesn't explain at all why everyone suddenly decided to treat an 'accidental' death as a murder and make the husband pay the price. I came away not sure what happened or whether justice was done at all here, although everyone else seemed convinced...
October 12, 2014
Mark Tedeschi is no writer. However, he is a lawyer and that makes him a decent storyteller. He has done a truly impressive job of researching the life of Eugenia Falleni; piecing together scraps of history from someone who went to great lengths to cover their trail.
I understand why he was drawn to this case, and how he was outraged at Eugenia's trial and treatment as a suspect of murder. But in the end, even he relies on speculation and conjecture. This book is not about examining the truth, but it goes to great lengths to detail how the legal system at the time was unprepared for a case such as this.
Had Tedeschi more mastery of his words, and less reliance on sensationalising the text, he may have delivered a powerful and confronting work.
The story of Eugenia's life is tragic, it doesn’t need highly emotive words to show that. I feel that the text deserved a more sympathetic tone and less ‘lawyer’ speak designed to shock the reader. Eugenia was not a "transgender warrior". The legal system failed her, and she passively went along with that process. Tedeschi masters the critical analysis of the legal process, but this book is not a courtroom and he overdoes the fanfare in a defence that can’t help Eugenia now.
You should read this book, you should know this story. My three stars only reflect that Tedeschi is better placed as a lawyer, and not an author.
*Side note: There's a two page anecdote about a racehorse named Zulu
I understand why he was drawn to this case, and how he was outraged at Eugenia's trial and treatment as a suspect of murder. But in the end, even he relies on speculation and conjecture. This book is not about examining the truth, but it goes to great lengths to detail how the legal system at the time was unprepared for a case such as this.
Had Tedeschi more mastery of his words, and less reliance on sensationalising the text, he may have delivered a powerful and confronting work.
The story of Eugenia's life is tragic, it doesn’t need highly emotive words to show that. I feel that the text deserved a more sympathetic tone and less ‘lawyer’ speak designed to shock the reader. Eugenia was not a "transgender warrior". The legal system failed her, and she passively went along with that process. Tedeschi masters the critical analysis of the legal process, but this book is not a courtroom and he overdoes the fanfare in a defence that can’t help Eugenia now.
You should read this book, you should know this story. My three stars only reflect that Tedeschi is better placed as a lawyer, and not an author.
*Side note: There's a two page anecdote about a racehorse named Zulu
January 11, 2021
❤ Favorie lines:
"Her irrepressible need to live life as a male was not something she chose, but was rather an imperative of her real, underlying self."
"She was a very clean living woman, and she did not want to have anything wrong in the family. But I think, with so many children, there would have to be a black sheep, anyway."
"Before long, he was frequenting the office whenever he could, feeling as though he was grabbing hold of her steady hand and pulling himself out of a mire of black quicksand."
❤ ❤ ❤
This book is interesting and well-constructed. It's clear author likes order and precision. Still, some sentences have a poetic quality to them.
The first part is the best by far. It describes the main character's childhood and two marriages, even reimagining crucial real life events. Very well written and impressive.
The second part is a drag. It'd probably be interesting to someone interested in law, but to me it is way too detailed. It shows the whole lawsuit, courtroom, lawyers and witnesses. It is written in a matter-of-factly way, a bit boring and hard to get through.
The third part shows the rest of main character life. It provides insight in a different stages of MC's life. Not as good as the first part, but still good.
All in all, I think this book works quite well. It explains some important terms like homosexuality and transgenderism. Still, it is a bit old-fashioned with some false details (for instance, that crossdressers fit under a transgender umbrella).
The thing that put me off a bit is a frequent misgendering of a main character who appears to be a trans man. I understand it's a way of showing how he presents himself to the public at the current point in the book (sometimes as male, sometimes as female), but it doesn't change his identity as male.
Some sentences show how the author has a good grasp on term transgender, so it's a bit contradicting. This misgendering might be hard to read for trans people and trigger their dysphoria.
❤
"Her irrepressible need to live life as a male was not something she chose, but was rather an imperative of her real, underlying self."
"She was a very clean living woman, and she did not want to have anything wrong in the family. But I think, with so many children, there would have to be a black sheep, anyway."
"Before long, he was frequenting the office whenever he could, feeling as though he was grabbing hold of her steady hand and pulling himself out of a mire of black quicksand."
❤ ❤ ❤
This book is interesting and well-constructed. It's clear author likes order and precision. Still, some sentences have a poetic quality to them.
The first part is the best by far. It describes the main character's childhood and two marriages, even reimagining crucial real life events. Very well written and impressive.
The second part is a drag. It'd probably be interesting to someone interested in law, but to me it is way too detailed. It shows the whole lawsuit, courtroom, lawyers and witnesses. It is written in a matter-of-factly way, a bit boring and hard to get through.
The third part shows the rest of main character life. It provides insight in a different stages of MC's life. Not as good as the first part, but still good.
All in all, I think this book works quite well. It explains some important terms like homosexuality and transgenderism. Still, it is a bit old-fashioned with some false details (for instance, that crossdressers fit under a transgender umbrella).
The thing that put me off a bit is a frequent misgendering of a main character who appears to be a trans man. I understand it's a way of showing how he presents himself to the public at the current point in the book (sometimes as male, sometimes as female), but it doesn't change his identity as male.
Some sentences show how the author has a good grasp on term transgender, so it's a bit contradicting. This misgendering might be hard to read for trans people and trigger their dysphoria.
❤
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2013
Hmmm....I liked the first half...not so much the second half. But I read all of it. The subject is fascinating. Of course it's probably predictable and I will annoy Mark Tedeschi no end by remarking "I wonder what the book would have been like if a woman had written it." But truly - I can't help myself but wonder. Good on him for writing it though and bringing the case to our attention. I think the book does have some salient points e.g. the role of the media in reporting the criminal justice system and the effect reporting may have on juries; the incredibly long time it takes to "process" criminal justice; the changes in the administration of the law - by the police and the courts. There was much stuff of which I was shamefully ignorant e.g. that the trial process is meant to be fair e.g. the barristers are meant to be evenly matched in terms of experience/calibre...I didn't know that.
Some people won't be interested in the finer points of law. There was a bit of repetition - particularly in one chapter - which drove me to distraction. Much of it is conjecture - which frustrated me a bit. But that's the problem with history isn't it? We never really know what the truth is...and no doubt that is because truth is always debatable. I will be forever haunted by that photo on the front cover though. Such pathos in that expression.
Some people won't be interested in the finer points of law. There was a bit of repetition - particularly in one chapter - which drove me to distraction. Much of it is conjecture - which frustrated me a bit. But that's the problem with history isn't it? We never really know what the truth is...and no doubt that is because truth is always debatable. I will be forever haunted by that photo on the front cover though. Such pathos in that expression.
December 4, 2012
"Eugenia Falleni" is at first glance an exceedingly well-researched "true crime" story of seedy Sydney in the 1920s, but underneath sits a searing, tragic narrative of gender, prejudice, and the simple desire to be loved. The author peppers an unbelievable true story with patient explanations of the judicial process and the rules of evidence, coloured with a vivid portrait of working-class Sydney in the years before the Great Depression. This book elevates Falleni into Australia's rich pantheon of misunderstood heroes/villains, a place where she deservedly belongs. Almost a century later, her story still has strong lessons about how we view and treat the LGBTIQ community.
January 22, 2016
An amazing story, but I found some parts of the writing dry and tedious. Especially the account of her trial - but it was written by a barrister.
May 18, 2022
Yet another masterpiece by Mark Tedeschi…
March 13, 2019
I thought the choice to write this book as a blended mix of non fiction and postulation was odd and stymied the flow of the story. I kept questioning why the author was narrating the inner thoughts of the people in the story as though he knew exactly what they were thinking. If they were fictional characters he created then it would be natural to narrate their thoughts, but these were real people so it jarred every time this was done. Towards the end of the book the author declares that Eugenia’s estranged daughter definitely would have visited her in long bay because that’s how women behave after they become pregnant and then mentions that all visitor logs have been destroyed so this cannot be verified, this was probably the most egregious example of the fictional conjecture directly overlayed on top of verify-able facts. However I found his analysis of the court case dry yet interesting and got a distinct impression that the author is so fascinated by this story because he would relish the chance to travel back in time and try his hand as the defending barrister. His persuasiveness as a barrister must be very skilful as everyone in my book club thought that Eugenia was innocent and no one mentioned having felt much sympathy for Annie or Lizzie. I am not entirely convinced that Eugenia was innocent. Although I felt sympathy for her, i had more sympathy for Annie whose body was burned, possibly while she was alive after she’d lost the majority of her life savings and been sexually deceived and betrayed. I felt the same for Lizzie, as sexual betrayal is such an intimate and traumatic crime to perpetrate on another person. It was a very interesting story and I’m glad I did read this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2014
Eugenia’s strength and weakness is the truth-is-stranger-than-fiction sensationalism of its source material. This true-crime book tells the story of Eugenia Falleni, a female-to-male trangendered person who was convicted in Sydney in 1920 for the murder of his first wife. This account, by Senior Crown Prosecutor for New South Wales, Mark Tedeschi, combines creative non-fiction biography with a thoughtful examination of the issues of justice raised by the trial.
The book is wildly uneven in tone, lurching about from tabloid sensationalism to pompous didacticism quite freely. If this is likely to bother you, this will be a tough read. On the other hand, I lapped up the excesses at both extremes and had a really good time. Even if you’re not inclined to read the whole thing, I very strongly recommend “Part II: Legal Procedings” to anyone interested in how criminal trials were conducted in the not-so-distant part, and how things have changed since. Tedeschi discusses fundamental flaws in the trial and the safeguards that would prevent such abuses today. Reading the thoughts of a senior barrister on this subject was alone worth the price of admission to me.
I do wish that the book had been more aggressively edited. In particular, Tedeschi spends many pages providing detailed life stories of as many people connected with Eugenia and his trial as he can. It’s as if the author was unwilling to waste a single factoid gleaned from what was undoubtedly painstaking research for the book. But I seriously didn’t care.
The creative non-fiction of the biographical section (mostly Eugenia’s early life) seemed pretty clumsy to me, and was quite evidently reconstructed from only the very barest facts. The accounts of various incidents are therefore quite threadbare, and occasionally prove quite comical as Tedeschi shoe-horns modern sensibilities and motivations into the heads of folks living a hundred years ago. This example clearly belongs on a T-shirt or coffee mug:
("Harry" was Eugenia’s adopted male name. Annie was his first wife).
Of course, you don't just want to know about the history of criminal law in Australia. You want to know how two women could believe that their husband’s biological sex was female; and how indeed the second wife initially rejected this fact when it was revealed to her by police because she thought she was pregnant to him. For this, you must read the book, where Tedeschi tells all, right down to the mechanical details.
Eugenia satisfies curiosities both intellectual and prurient, and I strongly recommend this book.
The book is wildly uneven in tone, lurching about from tabloid sensationalism to pompous didacticism quite freely. If this is likely to bother you, this will be a tough read. On the other hand, I lapped up the excesses at both extremes and had a really good time. Even if you’re not inclined to read the whole thing, I very strongly recommend “Part II: Legal Procedings” to anyone interested in how criminal trials were conducted in the not-so-distant part, and how things have changed since. Tedeschi discusses fundamental flaws in the trial and the safeguards that would prevent such abuses today. Reading the thoughts of a senior barrister on this subject was alone worth the price of admission to me.
I do wish that the book had been more aggressively edited. In particular, Tedeschi spends many pages providing detailed life stories of as many people connected with Eugenia and his trial as he can. It’s as if the author was unwilling to waste a single factoid gleaned from what was undoubtedly painstaking research for the book. But I seriously didn’t care.
The creative non-fiction of the biographical section (mostly Eugenia’s early life) seemed pretty clumsy to me, and was quite evidently reconstructed from only the very barest facts. The accounts of various incidents are therefore quite threadbare, and occasionally prove quite comical as Tedeschi shoe-horns modern sensibilities and motivations into the heads of folks living a hundred years ago. This example clearly belongs on a T-shirt or coffee mug:
Annie came to intuitively realise that Harry had not chosen to have these intractable gender-identity issues.
("Harry" was Eugenia’s adopted male name. Annie was his first wife).
Of course, you don't just want to know about the history of criminal law in Australia. You want to know how two women could believe that their husband’s biological sex was female; and how indeed the second wife initially rejected this fact when it was revealed to her by police because she thought she was pregnant to him. For this, you must read the book, where Tedeschi tells all, right down to the mechanical details.
Eugenia satisfies curiosities both intellectual and prurient, and I strongly recommend this book.
May 13, 2014
Born a female in New Zealand in 1875, Eugenia Falleni decided to live her life as a man, dressing as a man and going by the name Eugene. In 1898, Eugenia moved to Newcastle and began her life here in Australia as a male.
Living under several different names, Eugenia successfully married twice and lived every aspect of her life as a man, including conducting intimate relationships with women who had no idea of her true sexuality.
In Sydney in 1920, Eugenia's life took a turn for the worse when she was charged with murdering her first wife, Annie Birkett.
Author Mark Tedeschi, AM QC uses his extensive legal experience to take the reader through Eugenia's life, including upbringing, move to Australia, work, love life and the murder trial.
Reading about Eugenia Falleni's life was fascinating but to learn the extent she had to go to in order to keep her sexuality a secret was just heartbreaking. When her secret was revealed she suffered harsh judgements from the public and the press was terribly cruel, calling her the man-woman.
Records from the day are referred to including: court transcripts, media articles, police reports and public records.
What I liked least about Eugenia were the brief introductory paragraphs at the beginning of significant chapters. Historical details were provided in these paragraphs to 'set the scene' for the reader and provide an overview of what else was taking place in the world at the time. This was completely unnecessary and a minor interruption to the flow of Eugenia's story.
What I liked most about Eugenia was the detailed follow up at the end of the book. Various locations in Sydney had been referred to in the book including residences, places of work and public spaces and at the end Tedeschi provides an update on each of the locations and their status today. He also provides extensive updates on the major figures in Eugenia's life (of which I was less interested) but this follow up was extremely satisfying and incredibly interesting.
In conclusion, Eugenia, A True Story of Adversity, Tragedy, Crime and Courage by Mark Tedeschi QC is an incredible and engrossing read with plenty of life lessons to learn along the way, and I highly recommend it.
* Copy courtesy of The Reading Room Advanced Reading Copies & Giveaways Program *
Living under several different names, Eugenia successfully married twice and lived every aspect of her life as a man, including conducting intimate relationships with women who had no idea of her true sexuality.
In Sydney in 1920, Eugenia's life took a turn for the worse when she was charged with murdering her first wife, Annie Birkett.
Author Mark Tedeschi, AM QC uses his extensive legal experience to take the reader through Eugenia's life, including upbringing, move to Australia, work, love life and the murder trial.
Reading about Eugenia Falleni's life was fascinating but to learn the extent she had to go to in order to keep her sexuality a secret was just heartbreaking. When her secret was revealed she suffered harsh judgements from the public and the press was terribly cruel, calling her the man-woman.
Records from the day are referred to including: court transcripts, media articles, police reports and public records.
What I liked least about Eugenia were the brief introductory paragraphs at the beginning of significant chapters. Historical details were provided in these paragraphs to 'set the scene' for the reader and provide an overview of what else was taking place in the world at the time. This was completely unnecessary and a minor interruption to the flow of Eugenia's story.
What I liked most about Eugenia was the detailed follow up at the end of the book. Various locations in Sydney had been referred to in the book including residences, places of work and public spaces and at the end Tedeschi provides an update on each of the locations and their status today. He also provides extensive updates on the major figures in Eugenia's life (of which I was less interested) but this follow up was extremely satisfying and incredibly interesting.
In conclusion, Eugenia, A True Story of Adversity, Tragedy, Crime and Courage by Mark Tedeschi QC is an incredible and engrossing read with plenty of life lessons to learn along the way, and I highly recommend it.
* Copy courtesy of The Reading Room Advanced Reading Copies & Giveaways Program *
February 17, 2014
My View:
An act of true crime that is as bizarre as any work of fiction I have read, this book is compelling yet moving reading. This is the first time I have felt sympathy for the accused, for the circumstances she lived in, for the social mores that restricted her life choices that ultimately lead to her prison sentence; a sentence that hindsight allows us to see as unjust and undeserving and as Mark Tedeschi states, all the circumstances that conspired against her “inevitably led to a miscarriage of justice.”
This is a very well researched and presented case; Tedeschi writes with grace and without prejudice, stating facts, as Tedeschi reveals on page 313 when asked if he thinks was Eugenia guilty he responds, “My answer is always the same; that is the wrong question. The right question is: Was there sufficient evidence to justify her conviction for murder…If her trial was held today, I am quite convinced that she would either be acquitted outright or, at most, convicted of manslaughter.”
This case makes fascinating reading – a trial by media, a trial for the crime of being other. I would like to think that as a society we have made significant progress is how we accept otherness, but largely I am ashamed to say I think that we are all too quick to judge by appearances and today’s modern media and specifically social media, hold so much power in how we interpret the world around us. Power it doesn’t deserve.
An act of true crime that is as bizarre as any work of fiction I have read, this book is compelling yet moving reading. This is the first time I have felt sympathy for the accused, for the circumstances she lived in, for the social mores that restricted her life choices that ultimately lead to her prison sentence; a sentence that hindsight allows us to see as unjust and undeserving and as Mark Tedeschi states, all the circumstances that conspired against her “inevitably led to a miscarriage of justice.”
This is a very well researched and presented case; Tedeschi writes with grace and without prejudice, stating facts, as Tedeschi reveals on page 313 when asked if he thinks was Eugenia guilty he responds, “My answer is always the same; that is the wrong question. The right question is: Was there sufficient evidence to justify her conviction for murder…If her trial was held today, I am quite convinced that she would either be acquitted outright or, at most, convicted of manslaughter.”
This case makes fascinating reading – a trial by media, a trial for the crime of being other. I would like to think that as a society we have made significant progress is how we accept otherness, but largely I am ashamed to say I think that we are all too quick to judge by appearances and today’s modern media and specifically social media, hold so much power in how we interpret the world around us. Power it doesn’t deserve.
January 7, 2016
A fascinating read on one of Australia's most remarkable, and poorly managed court cases, where Eugenia's life as a transgender male became sensationalist fodder for the media.
I only picked up this book after reading Tedeschi's Kidnapped. Like that account, Tedeschi has the ability to vividly describe and logically explain trajectories of events, no doubt a skill honed through his current role as senior QC. I really felt for Eugenia as he describes a reasonable scenario of what life was like for her. Things get a little legalese when the court case commences, but Tedeschi competently explains the shortcomings of her defence counsel, while at the same time giving an insight into how the judicial process has evolved since then.
The mention of Sydney landmarks and suburbs was an added thrill for a local. I had no idea about the Central Investigation Branch behind the courts on Liverpool St and will definitely make a point to look for it. I must have walked past several times and never even noticed.
Highly recommended.
I only picked up this book after reading Tedeschi's Kidnapped. Like that account, Tedeschi has the ability to vividly describe and logically explain trajectories of events, no doubt a skill honed through his current role as senior QC. I really felt for Eugenia as he describes a reasonable scenario of what life was like for her. Things get a little legalese when the court case commences, but Tedeschi competently explains the shortcomings of her defence counsel, while at the same time giving an insight into how the judicial process has evolved since then.
The mention of Sydney landmarks and suburbs was an added thrill for a local. I had no idea about the Central Investigation Branch behind the courts on Liverpool St and will definitely make a point to look for it. I must have walked past several times and never even noticed.
Highly recommended.
November 18, 2012
I enjoyed this book and didn't find the information legal proceedings long-winded at all. The author writes about the trial in a clear and informative style. In fact, my one criticism of this book is that some sections seemed speculative and wishy-washy. For example:
'Little did Harry and Lizzie know that even darker and heavier clouds were looming unseen over the horizon and racing towards them at breakneck speed, destined to drown them in a deluge of tears the likes of which they could never have imagined.'
The author also describes the Falleni's emotions, feelings and motives frequently in the first half of the book. This irritated me, as the author couldn't have been an authority on such matters. These sections seemed superfluous 'fillers' to me. I expected perhaps that Tedeschi had interviewed Falleni but realized that this wasn't the case.
However, the account of the trial is very interesting and the story is, of course, quite incredible.
'Little did Harry and Lizzie know that even darker and heavier clouds were looming unseen over the horizon and racing towards them at breakneck speed, destined to drown them in a deluge of tears the likes of which they could never have imagined.'
The author also describes the Falleni's emotions, feelings and motives frequently in the first half of the book. This irritated me, as the author couldn't have been an authority on such matters. These sections seemed superfluous 'fillers' to me. I expected perhaps that Tedeschi had interviewed Falleni but realized that this wasn't the case.
However, the account of the trial is very interesting and the story is, of course, quite incredible.
November 16, 2013
Part "true crime", part social commentary, part legal analysis, This book tells the extraordinary story of Eugenia Falleni and her controversial trial for the murder of her "wife" Annie Birkett. The author Mark Tedeschi QC considers the trial, held in 1920, the "single most important criminal case in 175 years". Certainly his description of both social and legal issues at the time are riveting, as is his expert commentary on the strengths and weaknesses of the trial and it's protagonists. An interesting read for anyone interested in criminal law, or in transgender issues, or simply in Sydney's fascinating characters.
October 17, 2012
Really loved this book. It is also tragic that Eugenia didn't have a single friend to share her secret with, not even her family. You can't even imagine how she must have lived constantly terrified her secret would be exposed and she would be ridiculed.She had so much courage and even managed to turn her life around in spite of such tragedy. If this happened today it woould be bad enough but just imagine nearly a hundred years ago what the reaction would have been. Great job Mark for telling her story so we can know the real Eugenia and not just the headline.
April 6, 2019
The story is like two books in one. Well researched and put together, this book tells of the difficulties of being who you are in a time when who you are is not accepted. To live with such a big secret must have placed enormous pressures upon Fallini and I felt for her while admiring her clever methods of hiding her secret. Then there is the murder charge and which lends the book a whole second story.
January 4, 2013
This was a fantastic read especially if you like to read about the specifics of law and how a trial can move and shift as the courtroom legalities are played out. It was so interesting having a current and informed review of this old trial and to find that the outcome could well be different if the events had taken place today.
September 23, 2015
I'm giving this 2 1/2 stars. The first part of the book was really interesting - the life of Eugenia and how she struggled to fit in. But the second half was incredibly frustrating to read. I know there's a story to be told in there, but it was so filled with unnecessary quotes and couched in lawyer-speak that I found it quite dull and a hard slog to get to the end.
July 20, 2016
Deep, dark and tragic, this was such a sad story.
The first half was enthralling - easy to get into, rich with information, and easy to follow. Once you hit the trial, I struggled a bit with the density of legalese. I skimmed those parts, still got the jist of what was happening, and continued to finish the book.
Really tragic, an intriguing piece of Sydney history.
The first half was enthralling - easy to get into, rich with information, and easy to follow. Once you hit the trial, I struggled a bit with the density of legalese. I skimmed those parts, still got the jist of what was happening, and continued to finish the book.
Really tragic, an intriguing piece of Sydney history.
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