Reference Reviews

Reference for Students

Crimes and Trials of the Century: From the Black Sox Scandal to the Attica Prison Riots (Vol. 1) and From Pine Ridge to Abu Ghraib (Vol. 2). Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2007. 2 vols. 709 p. $199.95. ISBN 10: 0-313-34109-5; 13: 978-0-313-34109-0.

While crime is constant not all remain in our memory for long. The crimes reported here are those which have made a lasting impression on the U.S., some (assassination of President Kennedy and the attacks of 9/11) even changing our culture. Not all of the cases have been solved (murder of JonBenet Ramsey). The signed articles describe the background, the crime and the aftermath. Inset boxes provide additional information such as a timeline for the crime, definitions of legal terms and key figures in crimes. Articles end with a bibliography. Black and white photographs illustrate the text. These are a part of our culture and often become part of our nonfiction books and films. A 2-page "General Bibliography" is found at the end of the book. Some of these might lay the groundwork for debate about capital punishment or the right to die. These are a part of American History, the part that is not heroism. It is also a study of psychology of the criminal mind. Students may read these before reading a non-fiction book detailing the crime or before seeing a moving about the crime.