Comments on: THE LONELY VOICE #5, The Rumpus Short Story Column: We Are All Lizzie Borden

By: Jasmine

Jasmine — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 18:56:41 +0000

So then why would Mrs. Carter write this as a fiction? If she knew so much of the actual event, why make it fiction?

By: Evelyn Walsh

Evelyn Walsh — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 04:29:47 +0000

The Borden skulls are actually on display and, um, touchable?

By: Peter

Peter — Sun, 31 May 2009 19:12:28 +0000

Hey thanks everybody for the comments, I appreciate it. Rick, I agree, “Black Venus” is such a great story. What she could do with a little bit of fact I sometimes can’t believe. I also love her openings – how she just launches out of the box. “Black Venus” starts – ‘Sad; so sad, those smoky -rose, smoky-mauve evenings of late autumn, sad enough to pierce the heart.’

There’s another story from Saints and Strangers I’ve always liked, a very short piece called The Kiss – set in Uzbekistan – it opens with an amazing sentence: ‘The winters in Central Asia are piercing and bleak, while the sweating, foetid summers bring cholera, dysentery, and mosquitos, but, in April, the air caresses like the touch of the inner skin of the thigh and the scent of all the flowering trees douses the city’s throat-catching whiff of cesspits. ‘

By: Rick Moody

Rick Moody — Sun, 31 May 2009 11:15:21 +0000

Peter,

A great piece about a great story. “The Fall River Ax Murders” originally comes from a slim collection entitled SAINTS AND STRANGERS, which to my way of thinking was Carter’s best (and that’s saying something). It also has an amazing story in it (the last story!) about Baudelaire’s mistress. I can’t remember if that’s in BURNING YOUR BOATS too, but it’s well worth the investigation. I think the story is called “Black Venus.” Also, of course, there’s THE BLOODY CHAMBER, which contained her fairy tale renderings, from Perrault and others. A masterpiece, as well.

By: Donald Dowling

Donald Dowling — Sat, 30 May 2009 00:44:57 +0000

Not sure if my last comment was submitted properly so I’ll write again more briefly. Just wanted to thank you for bringing the Angela Carter story to my attention. I’ve always been interested in this tale, but have never heard the angle you posit—that she killed her father anticipating his heartbreak once she’d killed her stepmother. What a staggering murder motive.

I didn’t know about the Turtledove pie possibility either. Thank you Peter. Great column.

By: Christoper Swanson

Christoper Swanson — Sat, 30 May 2009 00:23:52 +0000

Had no idea that there was short fiction about Lizzie Borden. Very appreciative of your column—turning me on to a lot of hidden gems. Will try Alibris now to find the Carter collection.

By: Donald Dowling

Donald Dowling — Sat, 30 May 2009 00:21:06 +0000

Thanks so much for bringing Angela Carter’s story to our attention Peter. I’m unfamiliar with it, but am now looking forward with great anticipation to tracking it down. You’ve shed new light (for me anyway) on an old (and I admit—much loved) topic. I ‘ve never heard the theory that Lizzie killed her father because she knew he’d be heartbroken after she killed his wife.
What a staggering motive for murder.

And somehow, I missed the Turtledove angle also.

After I read Ms. carter’s story, I hope its not considered cheating to try and track down that Elizabeth Montgomery movie version on YouTube. Though Perhaps the Carter short story alone will sate my sudden Lizzie thirst.

Thank you Peter.

By: stacy muszynski

stacy muszynski — Fri, 29 May 2009 22:57:09 +0000

Nice work!

On the same wave: American Short Fiction editor Stacey Swann took on Carter’s Borden for Short Story Month at http://www.americanshortfiction.com/blog.

By: Samantha

Samantha — Fri, 29 May 2009 17:56:28 +0000

This article makes me feel creepy. In a good way.

It’s so great to be able to find writing of this caliber online. Finally. Down with blogging!