Trials of the Century

As succinctly stated in the introduction, this title "focuses on the criminal, civil, religious, and political trials that have fascinated the American public over the course of five centuries" (though, oddly, the titular "century" is singular). Most of the widely known cases are in this set with a discussion of each in chronological order, starting in 1637–38 with the Anne Hutchison trials through the O.J. Simpson Las Vegas trial of 2008. The discussions range in length from a few pages to 25 pages and are listed by their popular names, including Sacco and Vanzetti, the Chicago Seven, and Ruby Ridge. Most of the entries (though notably not all) have a summary of the key players, trial or decision excerpts, and references to other works. Obviously, every popular-culture case cannot be covered, but the omission of Miranda v. Arizona (1966) is conspicuous. Nearly any television viewer of police and crime programs over the last 40-plus years can recite the crux of that decision ("You have the right to remain silent..."). There is a brief reference to a person's Miranda rights being violated in one case, and "Miranda Warning" appears in the glossary, but the case itself is not among those featured. BOTTOM LINE This is written in accessible language, so readers don't need to be lawyers to understand the text. Recommended for nonlegal professionals and general interest readers needing to familiarize themselves with historical elements rather than case law.—Beth Bland, Milwaukee