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Alice+Freda Forever: A Murder In Memphis by Alexis Coe
Published by Zest Books Genres: Nonfiction
In 1892, America was obsessed with a teenage murderess, but it wasn't her crime that shocked the nation-it was her motivation. Nineteen-year-old Alice Mitchell had planned to pass as a man in order to marry her seventeen-year-old fiancée Freda Ward, but when their love letters were discovered, they were forbidden from ever speaking again.
Alice + Freda Forever takes place in the 1890’s – when homosexuality was viewed as sexual perversion. Men & Women who engaged in homosexuality were targeted for social rehabilitation, because to some it was view as a hereditary defect. I was not familiar with Alice & Freda’s story before I read this book.
Alice & Freda was very much in love, but out of fear they had to hide their love. Alice went as far as pretending to be a man so that they could together. After their relationship was discovered they were forbidden to see each other. Things took a turn for the worse with Alice murdered her girlfriend, Freda by slitting her throat on the dock while she waited to take the steamboat back to Tennessee.
Alice + Freda is a heartbreaking story. Author Alexis Coes does an excellent job of recreating the events leading up to the murder – the murder – and the trial. I commend Author Coe was taking on the challenge of bringing Alice & Freda’s story to the masses. I was not familiar with this story until I opened this book.
There are 100+ illustrations in the book help readers connect more with the love story gone wrong. This is a very fascinating read. I highly recommend this book!!
Reviewed by: Orsayor
