Semblance of Balance [Paperback]

Wayne F. Nielsen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2002

The trial of Leopold and Loeb is one of America's most tragic events. This intriguing account of the entire story--told from the perspective of an innocent household servant--provides some shocking answers.

When a wealthy, influential family hires Elizabeth to take care of their little boy, Nathan, she is grateful and relieved. Perhaps now, she thinks, she can put behind her the horrors she experienced during WWI. But Elizabeth is sadly mistaken. Precocious Nathan and Dickie, his manipulative little friend, are not ordinary children, and Elizabeth soon finds herself entwined in a bizarre murder case. Does she dare to testify against little Nathan? Can she stand up to Clarence Darrow and Chicago's powerful elite?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The grandson of one of the key witnesses in this famous trial, Wayne F. Nielsen has spent seven years researching the case in order to write Semblance of Balance, based on the facts in the case and his own family history.

Product Details

• Paperback: 223 pages
• Publisher: Sterling House Pub (July 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563152827
• ISBN-13: 978-1563152825
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,500,272 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Wayne F. Nielsen was born in the suburbs of Chicago, and grew up on the grass plains of Illinois. He studied at Central Michigan University and before he started writing, worked in the United Kingdom where his love for history was invigorated. He lives in the Washington, DC area with his wife, three children and assortment of pets. He is a plodding marathon runner, works extensively with youth through Scouting, and writes creatively both professionally and for pleasure.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding work, September 4, 2002

By 

John A. Runfola (Leesburg, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Semblance of Balance (Paperback)

This is a novel that holds one's attention right from the beginning all the way to the end. A real gripper! It was fascinating to learn that Mr. Nielsen's grandmother was actually a maid in the Leopold household. Looking at "the trial of the century", the household and all other events from the eyes of the maid was intriguing.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating and Compelling....., October 15, 2002

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: Semblance of Balance (Paperback)

In the fall of 1924, America was riveted by the infamous Leopold and Loeb trial, and much has been written over the years about this intriguing case...the defendants, Nathan Leopold and Dickie Loeb, their wealthy and elite upbringing and education, the crime's thrill-seeking motivation, and lawyer, Clarence Darrow's brilliant strategy and closing argument. Now, Wayne F. Nielsen brings a totally new perspective to this "crime of the century." Meet Mr Nielsen's grandmother, Elizabeth Sattler, nurse and maid in the Leopold household, who witnessed, firsthand, the events leading both up to, and then after the murder, and became one of the prosecutions star witnesses. Using his own family history coupled with exhaustive research, he has written a fascinating book that transports the reader back in time, and gives you a very personal, fly-on-the-wall view of the entire affair. This eloquently written book is tense and compelling, and filled with history, drama, insight and truth. Semblance Of Balance grabs you from page one and never lets go. For those interested in history and true crime, this is a book that should be placed right at the top of your "must read" list.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Interesting idea, but the author gets so much so wrong, November 6, 2009

By 

Coffeechick (Chapel Hill, NC USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Semblance of Balance (Paperback)

The most interesting thing about "Semblance of Balance" is the up-close view of a servant's life in the early 20th century. As for the more sensational material concerning Leopold and Loeb, the author gets nearly everything wrong--the nature of the relationship of the disturbed teenagers, their personalities, their motivations. I gave it two stars because I actually enjoyed the view of Elizabeth's life (the "upstairs maid"), and her experiences as a recent immigrant in America. Otherwise, I'd give it one star. It's as if Neilson did little research into the lives and characters of the two young murderers, and just imposed his own characterizations and ideas. Being the descendent of Elizabeth Sattler (the afore-mentioned upstairs maid) doesn't give the author the right to distort history.