Perspective

Jonathan Harr's decision to chronicle the Woburn case came about because of a friend's suggestion. As a writer and university instructor of non-fiction writing, Harr was looking for a book topic at the time and, as a resident of Massachusetts, had read news accounts of the coming trial. Because he was determined to give the most intimate perspective possible, he was able to obtain permission from Schlichtmann and his associates to attend every meeting, strategy session, deposition, and investigatory activity. In addition, he attended every minute of trial and post-trial negotiations, and was present for the entire four-year Beatrice appeals process. Given the depth of Harr's immersion into the inner-workings of one side of a litigation, the perspective can be seen as third person omniscient. He is obviously able, with ease and credibility, to relate not just actions and events but also the inner thoughts of the major...