The Trial in American Life

"A newcomer wishing to understand America must understand the adversarial jury trial system, which reveals the whole of American culture, notably the passion for competitive sports, the fascination with "stars" (be they villains or saints), and the perverse joy of seeing "a fat cat dragged down," in the words of Det. Virgil Tibbs. In this signal account of the trial as an institution, Ferguson makes plain how this system of conflict resolution has emerged and captured our collective attention. A noted scholar of law and literature, he offers a work that is broad in scope yet focuses our attention on certain themes, notably the possibility of injustice, as illustrated by the Haymarket and Rosenberg prosecutions; the media’s obsession with pandering to baser instincts; and the future of televised trials. This scholarly yet readable text will appeal to young students, mature readers, and those involved in the administration of justice. One of the best books written on this subject in quite some time, it is an indispensable text and leisure-time selection."