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William M Kunstler: The Most Hated Lawyer in America. By David J. Langum. (New York: New York University Press, 1999. xii, 452 pp. $34.95, ISBN 0-8147-5150-4.)
It is safe to say that no other lawyer in American history-not even Clarence Darrow-- possessed the flamboyance, flair for self-- promotion, or sense of self-importance that William M. Kunstler did. With his familiar strut, his full head of wiry gray hair, eyeglasses propped up over his forehead, and booming voice, Kunstler established a strong presence at even the most insignificant hearings.
Naturally, the lawyer who represented the Chicago Seven, the American Indian Movement activist Leonard Peltier, the black power activist H. Rap Brown, the crime lord John Gotti, Black Panthers, Palestinians, and numerous other misfits and radicals would have fascinating tales to tell. Kunstler's 1994 autobiography, My Life as a Radical Lawyer, proved a valuable contribution. But it shared the limitations of most autobiographies, namely, a narrow focus, lack of context, and no research.
Thankfully, but not surprisingly, a biography arrived quickly. David J. Langum, a professor of law at Samford University and a widely respected...