Among the Lowest of the Dead: The Culture on Death Row [Hardcover]

Dr. David Von Drehle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 21, 1995

A study of the human side of the death penalty shares portraits of survivors of murder victims awaiting justice, lawyers on both sides of cases, judges who pronounce sentences, governors who sign death warrants, and, above all, the condemned. 50,000 first printing. $60,000 ad/promo. Tour.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The death penalty is often levied in Florida, where 90% of surveys show that residents favor it. Von Drehle, a staffer at the Washington Post and formerly a reporter for the Miami Herald, presents a compelling argument against capital punishment. He does not discuss the morality of the issue and covers only in passing such contentions that killing one killer will deter others. Rather, he points out the vagueness of Florida's law, which many other states have copied, and shows how the human frailties of judges make its application capricious. He also assesses the role of politics: anyone seeking statewide office in the Sunshine State must favor the death penalty. Examining politicians, judges (including Supreme Court Justices), prosecutors, defense attorneys and the condemned themselves, the author makes an effective case that, despite new laws, execution is no less a lottery than it has always been. Photos not seen by PW. Author tour.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

For 11 years, Von Drehle covered Florida's death row for the Miami Herald. This collection of his articles has all the tension of the best true crime stories. He follows the vicissitudes of John Spenkelink, who qualified for a lesser sentence but was nevertheless executed in 1979; of serial killer Ted Bundy, who once received a stay of execution due to a clerical error; and others who awaited justice. He also follows the legal system, covering the lawyers, survivors of the murder victims, judges, governors, and correctional officers. In addition to his in-depth reporting, Von Drehle has a keen understanding of the culture of the condemned. How do they fill the hours and contend with the smells, the sounds, the regulations, and the monotony? Finally, how do they face death itself? This is journalism at its best.?Frances Sandiford, Green Haven Correctional Facility Lib., Stormville, N.Y.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 469 pages
• Publisher: Crown; 1st edition (February 21, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812921666
• ISBN-13: 978-0812921663
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,028,903 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellently written history of the death penalty, December 2, 1997

By 

Marty Spiller ([e-mail]) (Ashby, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Among the Lowest of the Dead: Inside Death Row (Mass Market Paperback)

Among the Lowest of the Dead is a book for readers who want to understand the Byzantine legal history of the modern incarnation of the death penalty. It traces the inner workings of the Florida legal system from the brief abolition of the death penalty by the Supreme Court in the 1972 landmark case, Furman v. Georgia, through its reestablishment in 1976, until the early 1990s. Its heroes are the lawyers and lay advocates on both sides of the issue who fight the legal battles in the courts and in the prisons. This book is NOT for readers who are interested principally in the tabloid details of murders, rapes and mayhem. It is educational rather than entertaining, interesting in an intellectually stimulating way.

While the prisoners and their crimes are well described, the main thrust of the book is to give the reader a good understanding of the incredibly complex legal, ethical and moral issues surrounding the death penalty. Why are so many people condemned to death row while so few are actually executed? Why does it take so long for a criminal to get to the death chamber? Why does it cost between 3 and 6 times as much to execute a criminal as it would to feed, clothe and imprison him for his natural life? The author is genuinely interested in presenting both sides of the issue, although I cannot help but feel that his sympathies lie with the anti-death penalty camp. This, however may be a consequence of the nightmarish legal complexities, uncertainties and inequities that are a natural consequence of an issue that judges wish would go away, and the public wants to embrace.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insider's view of Capital Litigation, December 1, 2000

By 

B. Warrick "Flynnatic" (Marietta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Among the Lowest of the Dead: Inside Death Row (Mass Market Paperback)

This well written, readable book, is an excellent resource on the modern evolution (since reinstitution in 1974) of the death penalty in general, with special application to it's practice in the State of Florida. I would highly recommend "Among the Lowest of the Dead" to anyone who wants to challange themselves and discover what the death penalty is really about in the United States.

The book is written by a journalist who knows the players on both sides of the issue, but is not one of them. This fact lends the book a degree of unbias that is not often found in books on this subject.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone - it is an excellent way to educate onesself with regard to this life-and-death issue. I would especially recommend it to students, however, as it would be an excellent resource for essays and papers on the topic.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for those seeking to understand the death penalty, July 26, 1999

By 

Abraham J. Bonowitz <[e-mail]> (Jupiter, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Among the Lowest of the Dead: Inside Death Row (Mass Market Paperback)

This book is a good read. I found it to be fascinating in that the stories related by the author give the reader a first hand look at how the death penalty system developed and operates in Florida. Von Drehle is a journalist and gives ample space to the individuals who have been key players on both sides of the issue. This book is perfect for those seeking to understand the recent history and the pragmatic realities of our use of the death penalty in the United States.

Abraham J. Bonowitz, Director, Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, <[e-mail]> or 800-973-6548