A Civil Action by Jonathan Harr - Book Report/Review Example

The subject involves court processes, lethal effects of contamination, ups and downs of the legal profession, etc. Jonathan Harr, the author, is a renowned writer who worked in New England Monthly and also wrote articles for The New York Times Magazine and the New Yorker. He received the National Book Critics Circle Award for the book. He had researched for over seven years on the subject of the novel before writing it. The plot of the novel is set in Woburn, Massachusetts. Anna Anderson, a resident of the town, came to know that her child had been diagnosed with leukemia and she also noted that the cases of leukemia had considerably increased in the locality.

She gathered other families of the town facing similar crises, and decided to explore the possible legal options. Jan Schlichtmann, who had been appointed as the lawyer by the suffering families, investigated the case deeply. He found out that the well water near the plant of WR Grace (a chemical giant) and the factory of Beatrice (a consumer goods company) in the outskirts of the town had been seriously contaminated by TCE (trichloroethylene), which was probably the reason behind the cases of childhood leukemia.

From this point, a lengthy legal battle between the corporations and the affected families started and the novel is based on the intricacies of the developments that followed. The novel is full of suspense and drama; and it is based on a true story. The writing style of Harr is impressive, since he uses easy language and puts forward the most complicated points rather simply. The book is thought provoking and it compels the reader to reflect on the issues of corporate social responsibility and the US environmental policies.

What Makes the Book Interesting? There are several factors which make the book interesting. First of all, the descriptive approach attracts the reader. The reader comes across the hardships of some helpless families whose children are suffering from leukemia. Slowly, it is discovered that industrial pollution is behind this catastrophe and the real culprits are identified. Thus a battle for justice begins between the affected families and the powerful corporate giants. This emerges as an important and interesting social issue where the general public is the sufferer and the government and the judiciary are reluctant to act.

In the course of the developments of the story, the reader also comes to know about the harsh realities of the world of legal practitioners. Jan Schlichtmann appears as a strong character initially alone in the legal battle. However, he is gradually joined by some of his colleagues. Also, he finds some best legal professionals at his opposite side. Schlichtmann’s struggle becomes more and more interesting as he is continuously attacked by his opponents and even his clients allege him of charging excessive money as his fees and for the investigation and research in relation to the case.

However, Schlichtmann bravely abides by his obligations despite of criticisms, attacks, and financial crisis. Besides focusing on some serious social and environmental issues, the book examines the American legal system in a detailed way that is certainly interesting and thought provoking. Also, the reader comes to know that how public perception is capable of changing corporate behavior. The book strongly advocates the importance of civil rights and conservation of environment. The Specific Point of Scientific Evidence and the EPA Findings Although the book has been written in the form of a novel, the research behind the work is certainly interdisciplinary.

According to the Foundation of Public Relations and Education (U.S.), this book can be reviewed from the perspective