Bibliograph

Indelible ink, the trials of John Peter Zenger and the birth of America's free press, Richard Kluger

Type

Label

Indelible ink, the trials of John Peter Zenger and the birth of America's free press, Richard Kluger

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references and index

resource.biographical

individual biography

Illustrations

illustrations

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

Indelible ink

Nature of contents

bibliography

Oclc number

937452535

Responsibility statement

Richard Kluger

Sub title

the trials of John Peter Zenger and the birth of America's free press

Summary

In 1733, struggling printer John Peter Zenger scandalized colonial New York by launching the New-York Weekly Journal, which assailed the British governor as corrupt and arrogant -- a direct challenge to the prevailing law against "seditious libel", which criminalized any criticism of the government. Fronting for a group of powerful antiroyalist politicians, Zenger was jailed for nine months before his landmark trial in August 1735, when he was brilliantly defended by Philadelphia lawyer Alexander Hamilton. In this book, Richard Kluger recreates this dramatic clash that marked the birth of press freedom in America and its role in vanquishing colonial tyranny. Here is an enduring lesson that redounds to this day on the vital importance of free public expression as the underpinning of democracy. --, from author's website

Table Of Contents

Preamble: the essential liberty -- Author's note on style -- A perilous trade -- Stormy Petrel -- Power plays -- Bending the rule of law -- Battle lines -- A superlative monster arises -- An end to generous pity -- Whiffs of Torquemada -- Philadelphia lawyer -- Indelible ink -- Epilogue: the uses of whistleblowers

Target audience

adult

Classification