Lawyer, Jailer, Ally, Foe

Reviews

“Eric Muller has built a series of stories of novelistic detail and craft—he’s got a gift for storytelling—that’s firmly anchored in the primary sources and focused on life in the camps.”—Kermit Roosevelt, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School “The questions Eric Muller raises can be applied to anyone who played a role in the forced removal and confinement of Japanese Americans, to the War Relocation Authority in general, and, more broadly, to anyone who takes part in an unjust endeavor, even with the best of intentions.”—Brian Niiya, Densho.org “A fascinating and detailed account of one of America’s darkest chapters. Through the eyes and work of three dedicated lawyers we see the struggles of Japanese American citizens stripped of their dignity and rights and locked away simply because of their race.” —John Grisham “Carefully researched and deeply imagined, Lawyer, Jailer, Ally, Foe is an important addition to the literature of moral witness and the history of the Japanese American incarceration. With a keen eye for detail and a natural feel for the texture of everyday life, Eric Muller effortlessly brings history to life on every page.” —Julie Otsuka, author of The Swimmers and The Buddha in the Attic “[A] lucid and insightful historical narrative . . . . Recommended.”—CHOICE “The book is beautifully written and consistently fascinating,and an example of his remarkable research . . . . in the vein of Robert Cover’s Justice Accused.”—Gabriel J Chin, American Journal of Legal History “In a powerful yet easily read narrative, Muller documents with precision the tension these lawyers experienced attempting to do good while working in a fundamentally unjust system. Based on meticulous research . . . . a thought-provoking study of the role of the legal profession in society and the power of individual responsibility, even with its imperfections.”—American Bar Association “[A] brilliant book . . . . a masterpiece . . . . an important yet understudied topic.”—Art Hansen, Nichi Bei News “Muller’s unconventional narrative provides a template for historians who endeavor to implement the writing practice of critical fabulation. Muller’s work expands the understanding of Japanese American internment and is vital for Asian American, western, and legal historians.”—Journal of Arizona History “Vivid. . . . For readers interested in human rights, concentration camps, or the legal history of this period, this is an important work.”—Library Journal Expand reviews