Trial by Fire

 12.  A Reporter At Large:  Trial by Fire, by David Grann.  Published by The New Yorker, August 31, 2009.

I can remember when I read this essay.  In those days, my newest New Yorker arrived in my mailbox, mostly without fail, each Friday.   In those days an individual copy of the magazine cost $4.99.

“No Trespassing,” by Istvan Banyai.

Friday evenings were my favorite of the week.  After working all week, usually long hours, I arrived home with the relief of two free days in front of me.  Saturday night was good, bur Friday night was better.  After bringing in the mail, I usually sat down and looked through the New Yorker index.  If there was nothing going on that evening (usually),  I selected an article to read.  As this was summertime, even now I can see how my evening panned out.  Along with dinner and red wine, I carried the New Yorker out to my patio table and began reading.  It's a summer habit I started a long time ago and continue even now.  I have already admitted that I'm a slow reader.  No doubt, there were interruptions and distractions.  I had to refill my wine glass, a neighbor stopped by, the phone rang, mosquitos began to bite.  I began reading Trial by Fire.  This is long form investigative journalism at its best and, for my money, few are as good at this kind of writing than David Grann. 

It's the story of Cameron Todd Willingham, a sort of rough character in Texas, and of Texas law enforcement and its legal system.  

I went to bed, magazine in hand.  Though Friday night was often an early night, I read and read and read.  I could not put it down.  I read slowly by intention.  I did not want to miss a word or detail.  You'll just have to read it for yourself to see if you agree.  On many levels, the topic of this essay also makes it important writing.

Incidentally, David Grann also wrote the non-fiction book,  Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, published by Doubleday, April 2017,  which I read some years ago.  This true story has been made into a movie of the same name by Martin Scorsese and is currently, showing in theaters.  The book is can't put downable..  The movie is 3-1/2 hours long but you won't realize it.  I recommend them both, but Trial by Fire first.

Book link copied from Literati Bookstore, Ann Arbor, Michigan