The Holocaust on Trial

This is quite a rewarding read if you can persevere through the extensive historical detail given during the course of this momentous trial. This book was a prescribed text for a subject I took in law school some 5 years ago and it has stayed in my mind ever since. Guttenplan gives a pithy, refreshingly objective account of the David Irving libel case against American author and professor Deborah Lipstadt, held in 1999. Irving, a right-wing war historian of global ill-repute, unsuccessfully represented himself at the trial and subsequently lost in one of the most spectacular judgments I have ever read.

In particular, I find myself returning to the final 2 chapters - "A Reasoned Judgment" and "Numbers" - again and again on account of show more Guttenplan's vivid description of the devastating judgment against Irving, and his well considered discussion of holocaust denial, anti-semitism and Zionism. This book is an accomplishment - Guttenplan sat through every day of the trial - and a firm testament to Guttenplan's talent as a writer and scrupulous journalist. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys having their thoughts provoked, poked and prodded. show less

Update - Re-read in 2016. Love Guttenplan's even handedness and analysis about the issues. Honesty, this is a really good overview of the trial.

This book is about the Irving vs. Penguin/Lipstadt trial, but unlike Evans, this account is written from an outsider’s point of view. This allows the reader to have both a look at all the sides and the way the wheels of the trial were moving. It is reporting in the sense of the word with a look at what should be done if anything about denial, and placing the trial in content for a non-participate. And while it doesn’t answer the question it raises, it does raise an important one. Lipstadt was sued because the libel laws in England are not as favorable to the writer as they are in say show more America. But it also allows for the voicing of hateful and hurtful words. That whole sticks and stone rhyme, bullshit. Complete and other bullshit. Nothing hurts more than words. show less

Introduction is a superior essay on What We Think We Know.

L'11 gennaio 2000, di fronte alla Royal Court di Londra, inizia il processo che vede protagonisti lo storico revisionista David Irving contro la ricercatrice americana Deborah Lipstadt, accusata di averlo calunniato. La causa si trasforma presto in un processo sul genocidio. (fonte: Google Books)