Did Lizzie Borden Axe for It?

by David Rehak

Lizzie was an average, unremarkable woman, and the most extraordinary criminal or criminal suspect in history. Before she was accused of murder, she was a tiny grain of sand, an absolute nobody who no... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1450550185
• ISBN13: 9781450550185
• Release Date: February 2010
• Publisher: Createspace
• Length: 278 Pages
• Weight: 0.83 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A rich stew, often funny, always entertaining!

Funny? Yes. Author Rehak deftly and tastefully enlightens the sordidness of the murder with touches of humor so that this book is not just historical journalism, it is an entertainment. It all boils down to the personality of Lizzie Borden, the totally inscrutable. What keeps the Borden murders alive when thousands of equally sensational, grisly murders are quickly forgotten by the public is the character of Lizzie herself. The most interesting parts of this book deal with Lizzie's psyche. Her personality is the lynch pin but she is such a creature of contradictions nobody can figure out what actually made her tick. She is such an enigma the argument as to her guilt or innocence will go on forever. (Rehak tells us some 1900 couples had filed for divorce during the trial because they couldn't agree on Lizzie). The premeditated murders of Abby and Andrew Borden in August 1892 were orchestrated and choreographed with precision and although a lot of luck was involved, this was the work of a very level headed killer with an incredible amount of sheer nerve. Some people found Lizzie aloof, sullen, even repellent. Even now she bears watching, like you'd watch a snake. Others, towards the end of her life, found her generous and kind hearted, a giver to charities and animal protection leagues and starving actors and who had special soft spot for children. But here was a woman who, before the murders, when annoyed by a stray cat, took it down in her cellar and chopped its head off. Who was caught shop-lifting several times even when she had received her inheritance. Who possibly had an incestuous love for her father, and when she overheard her father talking about his planning to give a piece of property to his wife Abby, not to Lizzie and her sister Emma, a jealous rage prompted her to run out and try to buy prussic acid. She couldn't get the acid, but there was that old hatchet in the barn back there, possibly the same one used to decapitate the cat... The Bordens were killed the next day. Whether or not Lizzie was a lesbian is discussed at length in the book, and of course anything titillating like this is of interest. The evidence is quite strong that she had female lovers but like everything else about her there is no concrete proof. On the surface she remained a Victorian lady, deeply involved in her church and charities. But who knows what seething passions went on inside her bland exterior? The book is enhanced with many illustrations, including grisly ones of Andrew and Abby's bodies, portraits of Lizzie herself, her lawyers, her houses, her possible female lovers. There is a great deal of information presented which is thrown in your lap and as the author does not take a stand on Lizzie's guilt but expects you to digest, assimilate and weave together the evidence, you have to come to your own conclusion. Did she or didn't she? Everything hinges on her character and you'll see Lizzie here as you've never seen her before!

Campy title, but great factual & creative content

I visited a lot of websites on Lizzie Borden and then decided to get William Masterton's "Lizzie Didn't Do It" which I found to be a really good first book to read on this crime. David Rehak's "Did Lizzie Borden Axe For It?", 2008 version, is a really good book to read once you've learned the basics of this case from a few websites. Personally if I were the author, I would have titled it something less cheesy like "Did Lizzie Borden Take an Axe?" instead, but that's just me). Anyway, this book contrary to what I feared, is well-written and well-edited. It nicely covers the many details of the murders, and also includes a lot of additional stuff about Lizzie as a person and her private life which I at least found very interesting. Even the supposed fiction section is so full of facts and plausible scenarios that those things could very well have happened something like that in real life and were entertaining reading. These fun creative chapters with the stories, comedy skits, etc were terrific. I found the book thought-provoking and enjoyable from beginning to end.

No axe for this book!

Well written, great research and good photos. Anybody who appreciates good documentation and entertainment will love this book.

An enlightening book for both pro and con LIZZIE followers!

I had the privilege of editing the first version of this book for author David Rehak. This is an excellent, updated version with a new cover that I find appropriate for the book's content. Did Lizzie Borden Axe For It? is Rehak's first nonfiction book, for which he did extensive research. Rehak discovered many new facts about Lizzie Borden, and to lighten the serious nature of the book, he also wrote some humorous skits. At first thought, one would tend to think humor wouldn't work in a book like this, but he pulls it off ... somehow. I found the break from gore to humor to be a welcome relief. (Well, it works in the best horror movies, doesn't it?) Even if you're not into "Bordenia," which I'm not, you will be intrigued by this book. It's different, to say the least. I learned new things about Lizzie Borden that haven't been brought to light before, and the previously unpublished photos add more mystery to the content. Someone once wrote of Rehak: "He dares to go where most authors fear to tread." And I agree: In his fictitious works, he writes about many taboo subjects. This nonfiction book about Lizzie Borden seems natural for his unique skills. Reviewed by: Betty Dravis, 2008 Author of: Millennium Babe: The Prophecy

A Must-have for your Lizzie Borden Library

I pre-ordered and finally got this book yesterday morning and just finished it tonight! If the Leonard Rebello book is the most complete bibliographical collection of all things Lizzie Bordenia, this new book on Lizzie by crime author David Rehak has the most tantelizing reliable new information on Lizzie, as well as old information covered in a new way and overlooked information which other Lizzie Borden authors didn't cover in their books. The information is meticulously well-researched and well-documented with references and sources. Facts and theories are all clearly labelled, unlike the Victoria Lincoln book which is so full of conjectures or Spiering which is full of myth. The truth about the Arnold Brown book is also exposed. What I like most is that the author doesn't take sides, he shows very strong arguments for why Lizzie can be either guilty OR innocent. I was strongly convinced by his reasonings either way. There are also many wonderful little (and big) discoveries in this book that really bowled me over. Numerous rare and never-before-seen new photos too. I also love some of the artwork, like Lizzie in her bra and undies - too funny! A must-have for any Lizzie Borden crime buff or enthusiast!!