Promotional Information

'A crackingly good book with wit, elegance and a depth of thought' THE DAILY MAIL'Rarely have we had so lucid an account by such an observant participant of what goes on behind the cloak of jury secrecy' THE ECONOMIST'Hair-raising' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

About the Author

D. Graham Burnett is a historian of science and the author of MASTERS OF ALL THEY SURVEYED. He has taught at Yale and Columbia, and is currently assistant professor of history at Princeton.

Reviews

"As fascinating as any fictional courtroom thriller and a lot more thought-provoking than most . . . Burnett has a keen intelligence and he's a gifted writer--the book holds you in its grip."--Charles Matthews, "Mercury News" "A minor masterpiece, a mesmerizing story of a system that would be right at home in a Franz Kafka story. In many ways, "ÝA Trial by Jury "is downright chilling . . . It opens a window on a closed, substantially flawed process . . . Burnett's prose is crystal clear. . . . This is a fascinating story."--Leo Irwin, "Sunday News Journal "(Wilmington, DE) "ÝBurnett illustrates what a remarkable and sometimes remarkably strange duty serving on a jury can be . . . A riveting look at citizen jurors at work."--Seth Stern, "The Christian Science Monitor" "A drama both human and metaphysical . . . a report from the trenches . . . It's not just the defendant who is on trial in "A Trial by Jury," but the jury system and the jurors themselves."--James Traub, "The New York Review of Books" "The heavy machine is what Burnett calls the criminal justice system; his close encounter with its well-greased wheels and levers is the subject of his immensely readable new book."--Jabari Asim, "Washington Post" "By turns humorous and dramatic, "A Trial by Jury" speeds along; it can be devoured in a single sitting. Burnett is a graceful, economical writer, with a sharp eye for detail and a nuanced feel for character. He never loses his sense of the ridiculous . . . An irresistible book."--Barry Gewen, "The New York Times Book Review ""The author, a historian of science, also proves himself an excellent student of human nature in thisfirst-person account of serving as the jury foreman in a New York City murder trial. Though the entire case, from opening gavel to final decision, takes only a few weeks, Burnett manages to paint vivid portraits of his fellow-jurors and examine the knottier issues of class, race, and gender that complicate the justice system's search for objective truth. Until now, the standard-bearer for jury-room dynamics has been "Twelve Angry Men"; Burnett's narrative, while significantly more understated, is no less illuminating.""--The New Yorker """"A slender, finely wrought book . . . unfailingly astute . . . That "A Trial by Jury" can be read in a few engrossing hours is an unexpected treat for busy professionals. That it is written with a grace and eloquence all too rare in contemporary nonfiction is icing on the cake. That it may actually make us better and more thoughtful lawyers and citzens is the kind of marvelous prestidigitation worthy of our best teachers."--Peter H. Schuck, "New York Law Journal "This book is a journey down into the grim boiler room of justice. Those who make this journey never forget the experience. They emerge seeing the world in a different way, and you'll understand why after reading this book. --Jonathan Harr, author of "A Civil Action ""D. Graham Burnett's "A Trial By Jury" is the passionate, honest and humane true story of a murder trial and the torments of the jurors as they try to decide guilt or innocence. This jewel of a book describing a brutal, quirky killing tells us as much about the pain suffered by people having to make overwhelming decisions as it does about the good and bad of the American criminal justice system.Not since "12 Angry Men" have we been so vividly brought inside the jury room and shown how 12 people--including the author--ultimately choose between justice and the law."--Martin Garbus, author of "Tough Talk "

Combining an ethical examination of civic obligation with a meticulous character study, Princeton historian of science Burnett (Masters of All They Surveyed) dramatizes his experience of being selected for jury duty in a capital case. Told as two parts of the same tale (trial and jury deliberations), the story is appropriately navigated between several Scylla-and-Charybdis pairings the court and the jury room, the truth and lies of the case, the application of laws and the fiery desire for justice. While the murder trial delves into sordid details of transvestism, male prostitution and rape, the tale takes its potent turn when Burnett is unexpectedly moved into the position of jury foreman (the original foreman simply disappeared one day) and must play a critical role in the jury deliberations. Holding other jurors' wide-ranging emotions in check while staying focused on the case himself, Burnett ultimately brings readers face-to-face with the stultifying bureaucracy of American law in praxis. Drawing on an academic and intellectual background, he builds an impressive melodrama and tense, emotionally exhausting scenes in the jury room that surely will recall Twelve Angry Men. But while the ruminations are articulate and engrossing, readers may wonder how Burnett plays a key role in the story while managing to remain distant enough to render the facts of the jury room as easily as he does. (Sept. 19) Forecast: Knopf is taking a big position on this, with a first printing of 100,000, a 10-city author tour and national advertising on CNN and Court TV, where Burnett will also make appearances. If he comes across as personable, his glimpse behind the closed doors of justice could tempt a wide range of curious readers. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.