Forgotten News: The Crime of the Century and Other Lost Stories (Paperback)

I'd never before seen illustrated novels and his first in 1970 was a classic. It captured my imagination because of the drawings and the concept of time travel. I mention these books in my review of the movie THE TIME MACHINE.

When the long-awaited sequel was released, I wanted to shout "What took you so long?" Now that I've met another researcher into the past named Jack (a local journalist who delves in the olden days of my hometown, Knoxville) I appreciate even more his hard work and writing abilities to bring his characters to life and make a believable story.

This crime is about the murder of a doctor in the 1880's similar to one of the 1900's Dr. Tarnower who was killed by his mistress. He found pictures of the trial participants from the old newspapers of that day and actual evidence pertaining to the crime.

The other stories was just as interesting, especially that of Ida who was rescued from a burning building in New York by a person who later became one of his characters. Even though she insisted her rescuer was the fireman climbing behind the bearded man (of the past), there was the picture to prove differently.

Jack Finney's unique illustrated novels interweaving the present with the past of the 1880's were a small portion of his numerous novels, some of which became famous movies. He also had many in French and German.

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Focusing on what was the crime of the (19th) century--the murder of a dentist, Harvey Burdell--Finney explores the lives of the victim, the probable perpetrators, the witnesses, and, most importantly, the life of NYC in 1857. In fact, even before he launches into the narrative, he provides a brief but effective introduction to the world in which Dr. Burdell lived, including the rough-and-tumble world of the Dead Rabbits and Bowery Boys.

The narrative itself is easily paced, peppered with humor just at the right moments, as when the grisly events of the murder might be upsetting the reader. The circus surrounding the investigation and trial of the suspect, Emma Cunningham, is mind-boggling even by today's standards. Careful, to avoid jumping to conclusions, Finney is admirable in reining in his opinion. There are hints galore that he thinks Ms. Cunningham committed the murder along with a shady accomplice, but he also acknowledges that there is no evidence. The story of Ms. Cunningham's faked pregnancy and her attempt to acquire an infant to claim is Burdell's, just so that she could continue her pursuit of his inheritance, is so outrageous, so unbelievable that the reader might forget that this is non-fiction.

The second part of the book describes the shipwreck of the ????. Just the fact that I can't remember the name of the boat is an indication that that narrative isn't quite as compelling as the murder of Burdell (at least to me). In fact, it was a little anti-climactic. Perhaps it should have come before the Burdell murder. And perhaps it's just me. In any event, track down this book. It is worth the read. And PLEASE, SOMEBODY OUT THERE, BRING THIS BOOK BACK INTO PRINT!!!

Rocco Dormarunno, author of The Five Points

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