The Lindbergh Child (Treasury of XXth Century Murder (Graphic Novels)) [Hardcover]

Rick Geary (Author)

Book Description

Series: A Treasury of Victorian Murder | Publication Date: November 9, 2010

Geary s Treasury of Victorian Murder moves onto the XXth century with one of the most sensationalistic cases ever!

All was well for Charles Lindbergh, after his daring solo crossing of the Atlantic. Fame and fortune came quickly as well as marriage into wealthy family. But soon after they build themselves their dream home far from the madding crowd, tragedy strikes: their baby is abducted! Geary retraces all the different highly publicized events, blackmail notes, false and otherwise, as well as the string of colorful characters wanting to help, some of which actually successfully snookered the beleaguered hero. A fascinating story, of course without a fully satisfactory conclusion, replete with savory details and unsavory people as only Geary can masterfully relate with his understated dark humor.

A PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BEST BOOK OF 2008.

"Fast paced and difficult to put down. Recommended"-Library Media Connection

"The tension between Geary s newspaper-style captions and the devastated people he describes produces a story that is simultaneously factual and poignant." -Teacher Librarian

"A well-researched account of one of the most controversial true crime cases in American history. Recommended!"-Kliatt

"As for the differences between XXth Century Murder and Victorian Murder, they mainly have to do with the rise of the mass media, and the way impossible mysteries become all the more frustrating when so many people are following the story. Geary`s Victorian series was all about the creepy America that was; this new series looks like it`ll be about the creepy America that is... A-" -The Onion

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Following his multivolume, nonfiction Treasury of Victorian Murder, Geary moves into the 20th century with a study of the 1932 kidnap-killing of celebrity aviator Charles A. Lindbergh's infant son. Not knowing their son was already dead, the little boy's parents negotiated for months with the kidnapper, while a swarm of quirky characters in search of money or glory rushed to help. This macabre carnival could give a writer excuses for burlesque or melodrama, but Geary prefers to hold his subject at arm's length to examine it carefully. He delineates the large cast clearly while also exploring the case's presumably reliable physical evidence, and his crisp pen and ink style cleverly emphasizes the period snapshot appearance of places and people, especially the enigmatic Bruno Richard Hauptmann, who was convicted and eventually executed for the crime. There are reasons to doubt at least whether Hauptmann was the only criminal, but Geary refuses to conjecture beyond the evidence, despite his bemused understanding of how many of the people involved in the case lost their self-control. This thoughtful retelling of one of the century's most notorious crimes deserves several readings. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal

Grade 10 Up—Geary brings his excellent and attractive pen-and-ink style to this fascinating account of an infamous case of the early 1930s. In March of 1932, the child of famed aviator Charles Lindbergh was kidnapped from his parents' home in Hopewell, NJ, and the family began to receive a series of ransom notes. However, the subsequent investigation turned up very few plausible leads, and when the child's remains were found, the case became one of murder. Although the suspected killer was arrested, tried, and sentenced to death, many questions about his guilt—and about the nature of the crime itself—remain to this day. Using well-researched text and appealing art, Geary expertly recounts the crime's setting, the colorful characters involved (on both sides of the law), the communication between the kidnapper and Lindbergh, and the evidence both for and against Richard Hauptmann, the murder suspect. A good example of the origins of modern forensics, crime-scene investigation, and celebrity hysteria, this work is an excellent choice for most collections.—Dave Inabnitt, Brooklyn Public Library, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Publisher: NBM Publishing, Inc. (November 9, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561635294
• ISBN-13: 978-1561635290
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #473,388 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating and highly informative, May 12, 2009

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Lindbergh Child (Treasury of XXth Century Murder (Graphic Novels)) (Hardcover)

This book is part of the Treasury of XXth Century Murder series, a series of books in graphic novel form that tell the stories of famous twentieth century murders. This book tells the story of the abduction of Charles August Lindbergh, Jr., the infant son of American hero Charles Lindbergh, the attempt to arrange a ransom payment, the discovery of the body, and the arrest, trial and execution of Bruno Richard Hauptmann.

This is a really good book. I was impressed with the way the author used the graphic novel format to bring the story to life, but without being too graphic or gruesome. He successfully walked a fine line, presenting the facts of the murders in an even-handed manner, including facts that seem to implicate Hauptmann and those that seem to exonerate him. Overall, I found this to be a fascinating and highly informative book.

So, if you are interested in the Lindbergh Baby case, and want an easy-to-read, and yet balanced and informative read, then I highly recommend this book to you.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A uniquely entertaining way to learn history and highly recommended, November 14, 2008

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lindbergh Child (Treasury of XXth Century Murder (Graphic Novels)) (Hardcover)

There can often be a dark side to fame. "The Lindbergh Child: America's Hero and the Crime of the Century" tells of the fateful tragedy of the kidnapping of Charles Lindbergh's baby. Lindbergh is famous in the annals of aviation history for being the first man to fly across the Atlantic in an airplane. "The Lindbergh Child" tells the entire story from the kidnapping to the following investigation to the tragic conclusion in the form of a highly accessible graphic novel. "The Lindbergh Child" is a uniquely entertaining way to learn history and highly recommended. for personal, school, and community library American History collections.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rick Geary Does It Again!, August 15, 2008

By 

The Mystic Eye Of The Hipster (Murfreesboro, TN United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Lindbergh Child (Treasury of XXth Century Murder (Graphic Novels)) (Hardcover)

Geary once again proves himself both a gifted illustration & a capable researcher of true crime.

This account of the Lindbergh kidnapping is complete, fair & well-balanced.

His clear b&w illustrating style captures both the faces of the people involved, the evidence & the era.

One small note that Geary did not include--the State Police Chief involved in the case was the father of Desert Storm General Norman Schwarzkopf.

The Hipster gives it a Big Thumbs UP!