Re-enactments are a terrific way to experience history. Last night I attended a fabulous living-history portrayal of the infamous Lizzie Borden by Leslie Goddard.
Lizzie Borden took an axe, and gave her mother 40 whacks.
When she saw what she had done, she gave her father 41.
That’s a well-known children’s taunt, except the facts are all wrong. Leslie straighten out the details in her one-woman, one-act play in which she became Lizzie…and the audience was enthralled. The question of Lizzie’s guilt remains unanswered and hung eerily in the air at the end of the performance. Leslie did a Q&A and had detailed answers at her fingertips. She knows her stuff.
I give huge credit to Leslie…and any other re-enactors…because the good ones do a deep-dive into their chosen historical era. They must know the clothing, the societal norms, the speech patterns, the location, and everyday details of life for that time. As a budding historical fiction author, these are the details I’m researching for my novel. Wouldn’t it be fun to dress the part of a 17th century French peasant to illustrate my main character?
To follow along on research into my historical fiction novel… https://www.facebook.com/groups/1185865059974956
Also…. I am amazed that people are still intrigued by Lizzie Borden’s story. A blogger by the name of Danny October has a in depth description the history of the case and of a visit to the house. Take a look… https://wordpress.com/reader/blogs/189962248/posts/1154
Jeanne Meeks ~ Fiction Author 