Anne B. Cohen

Very good study of how the murder (or botched abortion) of Pearl Bryan in Kentucky in 1896 was turned into half-a-dozen ballad versions gradually adjusting the real facts of the case to fit the established innocent girl murdered by her lover stereotype. This discusses how the case was reported in the newspapers (already adding traditional concepts like sorrowing aged parents) and then in the ballds till it reached a standard form in 19 Most of this is excellent; I only reget some aspects of the solving of the real crime --the identification of the (headless) victim by her shoes, and the captire of the alleged kilers when they tried to dispose of bloody clothing and instruments -- were not discussed in more detail.… (más)