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Book Report: Gideon's Trumpet

Introduction

Gideon Trumpet is one of the remarkable pieces written by Anthony Lewis and has received an Edgar reward for being the Best Fact Crime Book. The book narrates a story of Gideon vs Wainwright case. Lewis in his book has highlighted one of the rulings passed out by the Supreme Court of United States according to which the criminal defendants are provided with the right to coordinate with an attorney even in the circumstances where they cannot afford it. The story is based on the character of Clarence Earl Gideon, who was a mature man and was charged with a crime of breaking into the pool room and stealing the money that was present in the machines. “Gideon was a fifty-one-year-old white man who had been in and out of prisons much of his life"(Lewis, pp.5). This book report is written with an objective to assess “Gideon Trumpet” by providing my personal analysis and understanding about various aspects that have been discussed by Lewis. In addition to it, this book report will also bring to light the summary and the major themes that writer tried to cover in this literary piece.

Summary of the book along with the analysis of the themes and characters

Anthony Lewis in the book “Gideon Trumpet” provides a comprehensive account of the appeal that has been made by Clarence Earl Gideon in front of the Supreme Court so as to gain an authority to use his right to counsel. The story furthermore provides an excellent description of the general process in which an appeal is filed with a Supreme Court. Lewis started the story by describing the petition in forma paupeis in the Court (Lewis, pp.4).

In the case of Gideon vs. Wainwright, Gideon was held with a charge of entering into a pool room and stealing objects such as wine, beer, cigarettes and change from the Registrar who was present in the pool room. At the time, when the news spread that the pool room has been robbed, a man standing outside the place ascertained that he saw Gideon leaving the place with a bottle of wine. Later, Gideon was enquired by a policeman. At the time of enquiry, the policeman found a lot of change in Gideon's pocket, and thus arrested him on the basis that he is the one who has performed a crime of robbing the pool room.

One of the overriding theme that has been highlighted by Lewis in this book focuses on the right to justice that is to be provided to every person regardless of race or financial status. Clarence Earl Gideon at the time when put to trial for a minor offense of breaking into poolroom, did not have any lawyer who could stand at his side and assert that he is not a criminal. Faced with this challenging situation, Gideon requested the judge to appoint a lawyer for him, a request that require the Supreme Court to change its ...