Lizzie Borden is perhaps one of the most infamous figures in American history. Born in 1860 in Fall River, Massachusetts, she became the center of one of the most sensational murder trials in the country. The case surrounded the brutal killing of her father Andrew Borden and stepmother Abby Borden on August 4, 1892. What makes the story of Lizzie Borden so captivating is the mystery that still surrounds the case. Despite being acquitted of the murders, many people still believe that she was indeed guilty. The evidence against her was circumstantial at best, but the public seemed convinced of her guilt, dubbing her with the infamous rhyme "Lizzie Borden took an ax, and gave her mother forty whacks.
"Yes!" he thought, trying to contain his excitement. "It is my bride!"
He then went round to each chafing dish and threw in a certain powder, which soon raised such a cloud of smoke that neither the physician, the princess, nor the magic horse could be seen through it. The entry produced by a woodcarver appears to be only a simple wooden horse of little value, but when Tambal looks more closely, he discovers that it s able to magically travel to whatever place is in its rider s mind.
The evidence against her was circumstantial at best, but the public seemed convinced of her guilt, dubbing her with the infamous rhyme "Lizzie Borden took an ax, and gave her mother forty whacks." The case was a media frenzy, with newspapers detailing the gruesome details of the crime and the trial that followed. The intense scrutiny and public condemnation seemed to follow Lizzie for the rest of her life.
The Magic Horse - (Teaching Stories) by Idries Shah (Paperback)
Everyone thinks Prince Tambal is only a dreamer. When a woodcarver makes a wooden horse that seems just a toy, Tambal discovers it can go wherever its rider wants. In this way, he learns many things and finds his heart's desire.
Book Synopsis
(Bilingual English-Urdu edition) This is the story of two brothers: one skilled in the practical arts and the other, Prince Tambal, considered by most people to be only a dreamer. Their father, the king, announces a competition to produce "interesting and useful devices." The entry produced by a woodcarver appears to be only a simple wooden horse of little value, but when Tambal looks more closely, he discovers that it's able to magically travel to whatever place is in its rider's mind. With the help of this magic horse, Tambal comes to learn a great many things and, eventually, to know his heart's desire. Julie Freeman's beautiful illustrations capture the magic of this tale, with the images and text inset in rich borders of oriental patterns. The Magic Horse is one of an illustrated series of Sufi teaching stories from the Middle East and Central Asia that were collected and adapted for children by Idries Shah, and that have captivated hearts and minds for more than a thousand years. The stories are designed to help children learn to examine their assumptions and to think for themselves. In the Sufi tradition, there is a continuum between the children's story, the entertainment or folklore story and the instructional or instrumental story. A story can help children deal with difficult situations and give them something to hold on to, but it can also stimulate a deeper understanding in adults. Through the instrumental function of this rich body of material, readers of all ages can learn to develop the capacity to be more flexible and to understand many more things about themselves and about life.
Review Quotes
"The tale of the two brothers and their journeys is illustrated with jewel-toned, delicate paintings featuring the costumes, tools, buildings, and animals of the Moslem East. . The two brothers do not represent good and evil as happens so often in Western tales, but instead merely the choice of two different paths." - School Library Journal (U.S.)
". beautifully illustrated by Julie Freeman, who perfectly captures the magic of this ancient Sufi folk tale." - Midwest Book Review (U.S.)
"These teaching stories can be experienced on many levels. A child may simply enjoy hearing them; an adult may analyze them in a more sophisticated way. Both may eventually benefit from the lessons within." - "All Things Considered," National Public Radio (U.S.)
"They [teaching stories] suggest ways of looking at difficulties that can help children solve problems calmly while, at the same time, giving them fresh perspectives on these difficulties that help them develop their cognitive abilities" - psychologist Robert Ornstein, Ph.D., in his lecture "Teaching Stories and the Brain" given at the U.S. Library of Congress
"Through repeated readings, these stories provoke fresh insight and more flexible thought in children. Beautifully illustrated." - NEA Today: The Magazine of the National Education Association (U.S.)
"Shah's versatile and multilayered tales provoke fresh insight and more flexible thought in children." - Bookbird: A Journal of International Children's Literature
"These stories . are not moralistic fables or parables, which aim to indoctrinate, nor are they written only to amuse. Rather, they are carefully designed to show effective ways of defining and responding to common life experiences." - Denise Nessel, Ph.D., Senior Consultant with the National Urban Alliance for Effective Education (U.S.), writing in Library Media Connection: The Professional Magazine for School Library Media Specialists (U.S.)
"These enchanting stories Shah has collected have a richness and depth not often encountered in children's literature, and their effect on minds young and old can be almost magical." - Multicultural Perspectives: An Official Journal of the National Association for Multicultural Education (U.S.)
"Shah has collected hundreds of Sufi tales, many of which are teaching tales or instructional stories. In this tradition, the line between stories for children and those for adults is not as clear as it seems to be in Western cultures, and the lessons are important for all generations." - School Library Journal (U.S.)
". these are vibrant, engaging, universal stories. " - Multicultural Perspectives: An Official Journal of the National Association for Multicultural Education (U.S.)
". a series of children's books that have captivated the hearts and minds of people from all walks of life. The books are tales from a rich tradition of story telling from Central Asia and the Middle East. Stories told and retold to children, by campfire and candlelight, for more than a thousand years." - NEA Today: The Magazine of the National Education Association (U.S.)
He explained to her how to operate the magic horse, in case she might need to flee for safety while he was away.
She became an outcast in her own community and was haunted by the accusations against her. It is said that Lizzie Borden lived out her days in relative seclusion, the weight of the murders and the public's opinion of her forever haunting her. She died in 1927, never having escaped the shadow of the crimes she was accused of committing. The curse of Lizzie Borden continues to captivate and intrigue people to this day. The story has been retold in countless books, movies, and television shows. The notion of a seemingly innocent woman committing such a brutal crime has a certain allure, and the unresolved nature of the case only adds to the fascination. Whether Lizzie Borden was truly guilty will likely never be known. The curse of her name and the infamous murders will forever be a part of American history, shrouded in mystery and speculation..
Reviews for "The Curse of Lizzie Borden: Real or Fictional?"
1. Daniel - 1 star
I was really excited to watch "The Curse of Lizzie Borden" as I am a fan of true crime stories. However, I was extremely disappointed with this film. The storyline was weak and lacked depth, and the acting was subpar at best. It felt like a low-budget made-for-TV movie with cheesy dialogue and predictable jump scares. The whole film relied heavily on clichés and failed to deliver anything new or intriguing. Overall, it was a waste of time and I would not recommend it to anyone.
2. Emily - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "The Curse of Lizzie Borden" considering the fascinating true story it is based on. Unfortunately, the movie fell short of my expectations. The pacing was incredibly slow, and it felt like it took forever for anything significant to happen. The characters were underdeveloped, making it difficult for me to connect with them or care about their fates. The film also relied too heavily on cheap jump scares and clichéd horror tropes, instead of building genuine tension or creating a sense of dread. Overall, while the premise had potential, the execution was disappointing.
3. Mark - 1 star
"The Curse of Lizzie Borden" was an absolute disaster. The acting was laughable, with dialogue that felt forced and unnatural. The film failed to capture the dark and chilling atmosphere that should accompany a story like this. The plot was incredibly disjointed, leaving me confused and unengaged throughout. The only positive aspect was the cinematography, which at times provided aesthetically pleasing shots. However, that alone couldn't salvage this poorly made film. Save yourself the time and skip this one. It's definitely not worth it.
4. Sarah - 2 stars
As a fan of horror movies, I was excited to watch "The Curse of Lizzie Borden." However, it turned out to be a disappointment. The film lacked originality and relied on tired horror movie clichés. The scares were predictable and not at all effective. Additionally, the pacing was slow, making it difficult to stay engaged. While the cinematography was visually appealing, it wasn't enough to make up for the lackluster storyline and unimpressive performances. Overall, "The Curse of Lizzie Borden" failed to deliver a memorable horror experience.