The Show of Violence
- Author:
Frederic Wertham, M.D
Gollancz. 15s.
The author has already attracted much attention in America by his book Dark Legend. This is another study of murder and in particular of the relations of the law and psychiatry in murder. Dr Wertham’s method is to take a number of cases ?no doubt well known in America, but not so to most English readers?and criticize many of the opinions, psychiatric and legal, expressed about them.
One result is certainly convincing evidence of the confusion of thought on the subject and lack of consistence in procedure ; and Dr Wertham’s account written in language which is by no means cold-blooded will hold the attention of any but the most hardened sensation-monger. What is less clear is his attempt to draw practical conclusions from these cases. His first chapter, ” Psychiatry in the Courtroom ” poses the questions and some of the points illustrated by his series of cases are surveyed in his last chapter?” Mathematics of Murder “. Many readers will be disappointed that he has not put forward more constructive suggestions ; nevertheless his obvious sincerity and burning desire to improve the state of the law, and the standard of psychiatric evidence stand out throughout the book, and provide a step to the education of public opinion on this most controversial subject. R F T.
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