The “Chicago Seven” (originally the Chicago Eight) were defendants charged by the United States federal government with conspiracy, incitement of a riot, and other charges related to anti-Vietnam War protests in Chicago, during the 1968 Democratic National Convention. The trial was a farce, in part due to the antics of the defendants and the professional incompetence of the presiding judge, Julius Hoffman. Defendant Bobby Seale was forced to go on trial with the others despite his protests over having no attorney (his lawyer was ill). The judge denied his request to defend himself, and when he refused to remain silent, Hoffman had him bound and gagged, to the horror of the jurors and the general public. (His case was eventually separated from those of the other defendants). It’s easy to see why the convictions were all reversed on appeal. A fine account of the trial and aftermath is available at Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Seven

With no cameras having been allowed in the courtroom, the general public had to learn of the trial through daily newspaper and television reportage. Thus, when this paperback book came out in 1970, containing excerpted transcripts of the trial, it played a useful role in acquainting the public with what transpired. In reading it, back in the day, I was alternately amused and appalled, and convinced that it was an important document of the time period. My copy is full of dog-eared pages and highlighted passages.

This book has been out of print for decades. Interested readers can find accounts in Jon Wiener’s (2006) “Conspiracy in the Streets" and Mark Levine’s (recently republished) “The Trial of the Chicago 7: The Official Transcript.” Such works are far more trustworthy than Aaron Sorkin's unreliable, highly- fictionalized stage version available now on video. ( )

This 1970 book is a fascinatingly readable account, drawn entirely from the the transcript of the Chicago 7 trial before Judge Julius Hoffman in 1969-1970. I confess I laughed aloud many times while reading it. (I picked the book up at a used book sale and thought it was the book on whtch the opera The Tales of Hoffmann was based! Only when I decided to read it did I learn what it was about!) Even though the editors are sympathetic to the defendants the book shows much objectionable behavior by the defendants and their lawyers--but also shows why Judge Hoffman's handling of the case was overturned on appeal. I have never been so surprised by a book as I was when I read this book. It is very enjoyable reading for anyone interested in trials and courts. ( )