The courtroom as forum
Subtitle: homicide trials by Dreiser, Wright, Capote, and Mailer
By: Ann M. Algeo.
Series: Modern American literature ;; v. 1; Modern American literature (New York, N.Y.) ;; v. 1.
Publisher: P. Lang; Lang Publishing, Incorporated, Peter
Published: 1996
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 164
Subjects: Dreiser, Theodore, 1871-1945.; Wright, Richard, 1908-1960.; Capote, Truman, 1924-; Mailer, Norman.; American fiction -- 20th century -- History and criticism.; Legal stories, American -- History and criticism.; Law and literature -- History -- 20th century.; Trials (Murder) in literature.; Executions and executioners in literature.; Capital punishment in literature.; Murder in literature.
Description: Homicide trial scenes in An American Tragedy, Native Son, In Cold Blood, and The Executioner's Song support the assertion that certain crimes represent the era in which they occur. The social issues addressed in the forum of the courtroom become more complex as the century progresses, moving from the destructiveness of the American Dream - and the social and economic stratifications that dream implies - to issues of race, religion, sexuality, psychiatry, and media involvement in the legal process.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [151]-160) and index.