"A Murder in Virginia"

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how Suzanne Lebsock's "A Murder in Virginia" presents a glimpse into post-Civil War Southern justice and how the book recounts the events surrounding a murder case in 1895 Lunenburg County, Virginia, in a rather unique manner. It looks at how Lebsock chooses to approach the criminal topic with a style that is a narrative concerning actual events, people, and situations portrayed with particularly artful considerations.

From the Paper:

"Lebsock appears to refrain from implicating a character in the murder as the main events of the story unfold. Like the witnesses present at the trials, it is not made abundantly clear who the murderer is. Yet, in twenty-first century retrospect, a number of facts become evident that perhaps escaped the minds of many over a century ago; so ensconced in the social stereotypes and practices of the time. One of the characters who is first implicated in the murder of Lucy Jane Pollard is Mary Barnes-a local woman who often helps Mr. Pollard in the fields. The centerpiece to the case against Mary Barnes is the testimony of Solomon Marable."

More papers on "A Murder in Virginia":

• Book Review # 91831 : "Suzanne Lebsock's 'A Murder in Virginia' "
• Analytical Essay # 133394 : "Murder and Other Crimes"
• Persuasive Essay # 54226 : "The Washington-Area Sniper Case"

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