Sacrificial Lamb

by Nancy Freedman

Nancy Freedman, author of SON OF NONE, PRIMA DONNA, and the American classic MRS. MIKE, brings a new perspective to historical fiction. SACRIFICIAL LAMB is a double biography of brother and sister Charles and Mary Lamb--one of whom murdered their mother.

The headlines within the book are copied from the newspapers of the time, and all written letters included are authentic; the story of this strange couple as related here is factual.

Mary's role had always been that of a big sister, who protected Charles and his brilliant future as a writer. But it's one thing to be caring and loving, and another to stand convicted of murder and be condemned to an asylum for doing so. Ultimately she is released to her brother's care, even though he may actually have been the murderer. Mary herself believes this, but then again, she is hopelessly mad. SACRIFICIAL LAMB is the story of two brilliant artists, cut off from a normal life by a single day of madness.

370 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 19, 2016

About the author

Nancy Lois Mars Freedman, born in Chicago in 1920, was a professional dancer by the age of seven. She later became an actress, but her career was cut short by a heart condition. She married Benedict Freedman in 1941, just shy of her twenty-first birthday. They collaborated on Mrs. Mike while still in their twenties. Each would write a section and critique the other’s work. (In a previous discussion, June 2007, we learned that this is the method used by the mother and daughter team that makes up P. J. Tracy.) Nancy and Benedict did not write the sequels to Mrs. Mike (The Search for Joyful and Kathy Little Bird) until 2002 and 2004! Nancy authored several other books in the intervening years.