The Implosion Conspiracy

by Louis Nizer

Louis Nizer brings the perspective of a lawyer to this review of the trial of Julius & Ethel Rosenberg for espionage in 1951.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, True Crime, Law, American History

503 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1973

Reviews

[RYD]

This book about the Rosenberg trial had some of the best descriptions of the basic principles of the American justice system that I've read. Author Louis Nizer does a good job of explaining how a trial is run and how it unfolds in the courtroom. If your job draws you into court (as mine does) you would probably find this stuff basic, but for a layman I think it is well done.

In terms of the Rosenbergs, looking back with the knowledge of the Verona project and the Soviet archives, it is pretty clear that Julius, at very least, was guilty of atomic spying.

But for me, it is still hard not to have sympathy for the couple, partly because of the scapegoat quality of their prosecution (it is arguable whether the intelligence they supplied actually had the value prosecutors claimed), partly because of their young sons and the horrors of the Rosenbergs' execution, and partly because of the absurdities that the hunt for communists took on in America

It is also hard, looking back, to trust that the FBI and federal prosecutors themselves operated on the straight and narrow, and weren't above suborning perjury against those it was sure were guilty, considering what we know of J. Edgar Hoover and the tactics and paranoia that he built around him.

[Salem]

I reviewed The Implosion Conspiracy here.

[Jim Milway]

A great book by Louis Nizer, author of My Life in Court. Nizer tells the story of Julius & Ethel Rosenberg who were convicted of and executed for stealing atomic bomb secrets for the Soviets in the 1940s. At the beginning of the Cold war this was a major event. There were assertions of miscarriage of justice, American fascism, and anti Semitism in protests around the world.

Nizer's focus is on the courtroom drama that was their trial and the several subsequent appeals up the chain, including pleas to the President. There are twists and turns along the way, but in the end they were executed at Sing Sing. In addition to being a great advocate for his clients, Nizer was a keen observer of courtroom proceedings. He also tells us about the suffering of the Rosenbergs in prison as they fought for commutation of the death sentence.

The book keeps you on edge even though you know it turns out.

[Eric C Abrahamsen]

I thought about this book I had read in my early 20s as I am reading presently True Crimes by Jeffery Toobin. Both make an adventure of legal case. Both give arguments and a detail discussion of every legal turn. I was convinced in reading about the Rosenbergs that there just not enough evidence to convict the couple. Years afterward the judge admitted that they were convicted because of secret evidence rather than the evidence in the court room.

[Melissa]

Far more interesting than I thought a book about a trial could possibly be.

[Roberta]

I read this is high school and found it very interesting because of my familiarity with the New Mexico setting.

[Al]

A highly detailed review of every aspect of the Rosenberg trial and ultimate conviction of espionage in 1951....presented in its human as well as legal aspects.

[Magda]

Sobering, honest, informative & digestible.