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Crime of the Century: The Lindbergh Kidnapping and the Framing of Richard Hauptmann
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Average Rating:  out of 5 Reviews
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Price: $12.95
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Sale: $11.95
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Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
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EAN (European Article Number): 9780140258127
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Binding: Paperback
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Author: Ludovic Kennedy
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Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)
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Dewey Decimal Number: 364.1540974965
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Publication Date: 1996-09-01
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Reading Level: 448
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Description: "At a trial events are often seen in a distorted perspective. A violent event has taken place, and we work backwards from it, considering primarily the evidence bearing on that event. If we work forwards in a natural sequence, from a natural starting point, this evidence may wear a very different appearance." These words from mystery writer Julian Symons are the inspiration for this evenhanded, chronological approach to the paired stories of Charles Lindbergh, whose child was kidnapped and murdered in 1932, and Bruno Richard Hauptmann, who was tried, convicted, and executed for the crime. In a quietly affecting style, Ludovic Kennedy acquaints us with the characters of Lindbergh and Hauptmann in the years before their fates intertwined. Then he outlines the chain of events that led to this textbook case of how to frame an innocent person for a crime. Kennedy wisely sidesteps the vexing question of who did kill the Lindbergh baby to focus on the unforgettable story of the kind and hardworking German carpenter who became a scapegoat for a country's guilt. Note: this book was first published in 1985 as The Airman and the Carpenter, and has a new (1996) introduction by the author.
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Customer Reviews
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Review Summary: Unconvincing but moving |
Date: 2007-02-12 |
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Details: I enjoyed this book very much, but Kennedy's absolute conviction of Hauptmann's innocence made me skeptical of his presentation of the evidence. He does manage to successfully humanize the defendant...so much so that you grieve along with his widow when he is executed. I hate to nitpick, but I wish the American publishers had substituted 'learned' for the archaic and very British 'learnt.' The author uses it so often it's like fingernails on a blackboard. As to Hauptmann's guilt, you need only ask, "How many coincidences can you believe?" He just happened to have some of the ransom money, he just happened to be of German descent, just happened to match Dr. Condon's description of "Cemetery John," just happened to have handwriting similar to the ransom notes, (though this is disputed by Kennedy) and just happened to have a floor plank in his attic that seemed to be the source of one of the kidnap ladder's rails. (a photo of the two boards shown end-to-end in Jim Fisher's excellent book "The Lindbergh Case" is completely convincing) For further clarification, try to catch Court TV's "Forensic Files" re-examination of The Lindbergh evidence which was so fascinating I purchased from Amazon this book along with Fisher's. |
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Review Summary: Fantasy |
Date: 2004-11-02 |
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Details: Those who have read this book and felt terribly sorry for Hauptmann should now read Jim Fisher's The Lindbergh Trial to see what really happened. There was no miscarriage of justice and Hauptmann deserved his fate. Kennedy's book is a mishmash of sentimental reasoning and special pleading. Just one example: he pretends that there was extreme prejudice against Hauptmann because he was German. The fault with this theory is that in 1933 there was no widespread hostility to Germany and Mrs Hauptmann herself denied that she encountered any such problems. Fisher points out dozens of similar examples of faulty reasoning from Kennedy. |
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Review Summary: Don't Miss This One! |
Date: 2000-12-28 |
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Details: This is one of the best books of its kind in the world. The author does a wonderful job of stitching it together. This goes beyond a page-turner: this book will take over your life. If you are at all interested in the tradition of mock trials fronting mock justice, this is one of the most ridiculous examples to ever hit the American big top. |
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Review Summary: Amazing . . . disturbing . . . innocent until proven guilty? |
Date: 2000-05-12 |
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Details: As an avid fan of true crime, this book was recommended to me by my mother who told me to read "the original true crime book" (originally published as "The Airman and the Carpenter"). She was right! This book was terribly disturbing and really rocked my faith in the American legal system. I had heard stories about the Lindbergh kidnapping and how Hauptmann was NOT the kidnapper, but hearing those tales and reading the book and seeing everything in black and white are two very different things. The facts are astounding . . . people (including the "heroic" Charles Lindbergh) told outright lies and railroaded Hauptmann. His own lawyer basically said Haputmann was guilty and deserved the electric chair . . . NJ Chief of Police Schwarzkopf admitted that he would "do anything" for Lindbergh, including lie! It is a terrible shame how the media and the public crucified this man; he never had a chance. Everyone assumed his guilt from the beginning, and after actually reading fact after fact after fact that was blatantly ignored during the trial . . . it is disturbing and shocking. So much for "innocent until proven guilty" . . . in Hauptmann's case, everyone around him searched for clues that would make him look guilty, and if that meant fabricating evidence against him, then so be it. This book shows the justice system, the media, and the American public in general at its worst. I found myself becoming more and more angry and incensed as I turned each page, as people lied under oath, fabricated evidence, made up stories, and ignored evidence that would have cleared Hauptmann. I felt terrible for him, his wife, and child. I think people inherently believe that if they are innocent, everything will work out for the best and a judge and jury could not possibly believe lies and invented half-truths. An innocent man was put to death for something he obviously did not do. In this day and age, when a jury can find O.J. Simpson "not guilty," I think Bruno Richard Hauptmann should finally be exonerated and have his name cleared. |
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Review Summary: I loved this book! |
Date: 2000-04-27 |
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Details: This is one of two books that served to convince me that Hauptmann was in fact innocent. I am delighted to see it is back in print, and with a new forward too! Richard Hauptmann MUST be exonerated. What a shame it could not be done before his wife passed on. |
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