A Civil Action
by Jonathan Harr

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Book Reviews of A Civil Action

Book Review: Once in a lifetime
Summary: 5 Stars

An isolated town in Massachusetts and the groups of families who inhabit it are at the centre of this true-life tale- the events of which would be wholly incredible if you weren't already aware that this was written by a man who shadowed the real-life counterparts of the novel’s characters (hence the classification of this book as non-fiction), as they endured not just the painful deaths of loved ones, but also the disdain and indifference of those who were responsible. But it’s the members of the legal team ("the ambulance chasers”) led by lawyer Jan Schlichtmann whom the families collectively hire to fight for justice for their dying relatives who are the driving force behind this book and it’s somewhat depressing to witness the decline of this young lawyer and his colleagues’ spirits throughout the course of the novel. They begin with such ambition and passion, but are slowly but surely trampled by the system. They also lack any real empathy for the suffering of their clients to begin with, but it’s very poignant how the team and particularly Jan gradually discover their compassion for the plight of their clients. And just as these characters are the driving force behind this legal story, so too were they the driving force in real life in regards to the civil suit against a massive, multi-billion dollar American Corporation and its subsidiaries described here.

The film version with John Travolta in the lead role didn’t pack much of an emotional punch, but more significantly- it reduced this story to predictable Hollywood fare and sugar-coated to some extent the suffering of these people, wrapping-up events too neatly and not doing justice to their story. This is a story full of injustice and death and helplessness, but also hope and although the instances of corruption and callousness by the antagonists and their legal representatives may outweigh those miraculous moments…these small instances are enough to sustain the reader and even encourage them to continue, if only for the small moments of triumph only occasionally achieved, but so rightly deserved by these characters in the face of insurmountable odds.

The print here is very fine indeed- I defnitely recommend the hardback version. It’s 492 pages long and as a reader you’re never spared the bittersweet elements of this true story, so prepare to steel yourself against the injustices at the very heart of this story. However, all that still withstanding…this is a novel more than worthy of your time and heartache. A book like this comes around once in a lifetime. Outstanding.

Nonfiction Books

• Law
• Professional & Technical