Book report!

Yesterday I read a book. Actually I kind of skimmed it- it was kind of boring. But I liked the gist. It was called The Devil Kissed Her, and was about Charles and Mary Lamb. You say, "who?" They were the 18th century brother and sister who wrote children's books together. Interesting and sad story. She was bonkers. In a bipolar fury she stabbed their mother to death. Then she lived with Charles, who cared for her in sickness and in health for the rest of her life. I guess she would get a bit off from time to time. He must've been a bloody saint.

The interesting thing that I've been ruminating is how the law handled the case. She was totally stark raving when she killed her mother. She was put in an institution for 10 days afterward. There was no trial. She was given over to her brother for care. Interesting in an age that we tend to equate with being severe (hanging for theft, rampant prostitution of children, slavery, work houses, etc.) the law would have enough compassion to see that she couldn't be held accountable for her actions. And she wasn't upper class- in fact she was the daughter of servants. Interesting. It would've been nice to see that kind of compassion in action with that sad woman in Texas who killed her kids. I don't believe that she deserved conviction. Interesting to compare eras and see that we've lost lots of bad things- but probably some good ones too.