Lizzie

by Gerald Schoenewolf

Written by an author who is a psychoanalyst, this biographical novel about Lizzie Borden is the most authentic version of her story yet. Based on many sources, including previous biographies and the court records of her trial, the author has tried to depict her story the way it most likely happened. This is a fictional account, a novel, so it does not pretend to be completely factual. Many dialogs were written throughout, made up by the author in his attempt to dramatize her story. It is an artist’s rendering, but it may be truer than any previous account. He has written the story from Lizzie’s point of view, beginning with her childhood and then describing the events preceding the murders, the murders themselves, the trial, and her life after the event, including her relationship with the actress, Nance O’Neil and the depression that led to her death at age of 66. In doing so, he has employed his knowledge gained as a psychoanalyst as well as a novelist’s sensibility to bring to life Lizzie’s striking life. The author's has gone into Lizzie's mind, employing streams of consciousness and unconsciousness to explore her deepest thoughts as she lives her journey. The book is an absorbing biography of a tragic figure, as well as a work of literature.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

334 pages, Paperback

Published September 3, 2022

About the author

Gerald Schoenewolf is a licensed psychoanalyst and professor of psychology. He is the author of 22 books, most of which are about clinical psychology and psychotherapy. He has also written six novels, a poetic translation of Chinese Daoist philosophy and an illustrated book of poetry, HOLDING ON AND LETTING GO (revised in 2020). He has also written 20 screenplays and written, directed and produced two feature films. Five of his screenplays have won awards at festivals. He lives with his wife, Julia and his parrot and two cats in the mountains of Pennsylvania.

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Historical fiction

I won this book from Goodreads. It was interesting, but sad. I think the author took liberties with historical facts. There were quite a few errors, as well. I'm sorry to say that I really can't recommend the book.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to both Goodreads and the publisher Living Center Press for an advance copy of this historical novel based on real events and tragedies.

Americans love their violence, which comes as no surprise to many. As a violent country, most people seem to think that they will be murdered in their beds, by strangers, or loved ones, it doesn't seem to matter. Most of this can be blames on the media, which needs eyes to see ads, to make money, so entire shows are devoted to serial killers, or even better family killers. True crime as a genre is flourishing, especially in podcasts, on streaming services, and even entire cable channels, like Lifetime and others, where nurses, doctors, husbands, children, mothers, even cops kill without mercy 24/7 365 days a year. Murder is made a circus, to sell soap, cars, and more importantly fear. People talk about things have changed, that back in the old days that didn't have the violence, we have today. Frankly that is wrong. A murder in a small town in Massachusetts over 125 years ago stunned the nation, and started the feeding frenzy that is so familiar today. Lizzie by Gerald Schoenewolf is a retelling of the famous Borden killings, and of Lizzie Borden, whose life was never the same after.

The book begins with Lizzie at the age of five traveling with her father and sister to the grave of Lizzie's mother, a death the Lizzie didn't really understand. As Lizzie grows the love she has for her father is dealt a few blows, from being overly cared for and spoiled, to abuse, and finally to resentment as neither Lizzie nor her sister show any signs of leaving the family home, as most relationships are deemed unacceptable to her father, who exerts control every chance he gets. Pressure begins to build among them all, until a horrific act both frees and traps Lizzie forever.

Gerald Schoenewolf is both a doctor of psychology and a licensed psychoanalyst, which he brings to his writing of both Lizzie and the crime. Lizzie's thoughts, emotions and actions are looked at and written about both in stream of consciousness writing, and in some confessional ways. Lizzie's life and later love is explored, along with her sad ending. There is a bit of tweaking the story, fictional elements added, but all in all an interesting addition to the Borden oeuvre.

[Edith Codrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read other books about Lizzie Borden, but I never really got to know her like I did in this biographical novel. The author, who is a psychoanalyist/writer, has written a Dostoyevski-like novel that captures the sulky, narcissistic personality of Lizzie Borden and makes her personality come to life as never before. It starts in her childhood, when her mother dies just after Lizzie has turned five. It portrays her father as a suspicious and paranoid man who first spoils and then molests his young daughter, and shows how her resentment builds toward her father and her greedy stepmother. It describes the days before the axe murders, the day of the axe murders, and the trial. It ends with a section on her affair with Nance O'Neil, showing a theater-struck young woman with creative aspirations of her own. The author gets into her Lizzie's mind with a streams of thoughts that reveal what she was thinking and feeling throughout the murder, trial and even at the end when she dies alone in the town she had grown up in. This was a page-turner with a dialogue that was sparkling and a story that kept me totally absorbed. This tragic portrait of a woman in distress is the most authentic version of Lizzie I've ever read.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. What A Tale.

This book was like watching train crash. You can’t help but watch and get take in by the carnage. This story was riveting. Before reading this book I had only heard the Lizzie Borden rhyme.
“Lizzie Borden took an axe
And gave her mother forty whacks.
When she saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one.”

I know this is fiction, but if even half of the stuff in here is true, it’s a miracle Lizzie survived as long as she did. It’s amazing how much she had going against her, to keep her down.

[Tom Troiani · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fictional rendering of the most notorious trial of the 19th century in America.
Lizzie Borden was tried and acquitted of hacking her stepmother and father to death with an axe.

The case was never solved. The author attempts to recreate what he thinks is the most likely version of the events of the time, writing in the first person and using his experience as a psychologist.

Overall, well researched and entertaining.

[frogfairie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars

Thank you, Goodreads, for the free Kindle version of this book through a giveaway. I almost put this book down after reading the beginning but decided to give it more of a chance. A lot of liberties are taken by the author to provide dialogue and personal thoughts of Lizzie. I found it very distracting at first but once I decided to read it just as any story, not as a more serious true story, it was easier to ignore the weirdness.

[Amy C · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting Perspective

As a lover of true crime and the psychology of the criminal, this book piqued my interest; the Lizzie Borden story written by a psychoanalyst’s perspective. The story is fascinating, but I’m not sure I liked the style of writing; it was repetitive at times.

[Sabrina Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting take on the story of Lizzie Borden. If you love true crime definitely give this one a shot! I won it from Goodreads for Kindle and, although in the beginning I struggled with getting through the book,it turned out quite alright!

[patricia sendelbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is certainly an entertaining theory about Lizzie Borden.

[Lorraine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Goodreads Giveaway!
Awful! A guy who majored in Psychology, writes a fictional book based on a true story and turns it into a Pornographic thriller! Really!!
Glad I didn't pay for this rubbish!

[♏ Gina☽ · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you hear the name "Lizzie" your mind most likely adds "Borden" and the story about murders she did - or perhaps did not - commit.

Gerald Schoenewolf has penned a very interesting and absorbing account of the Lizzie Borden we may not know. As a psychoanalyst by profession, his insight is quite deep.

It is obviously extremely well researched and thought out. The author has put a face, and a voice, to a person most of us only know from a crude poem or from documentaries that may or may not be based on fact.