This past July I read the pre-publication manuscript of a new book about my parents’ case, Exoneration, the Rosenberg-Sobell Case in the 21st Century by David and Emily Alman, and was moved to give this endorsement:

"Join David and Emily Alman on the front lines battling to save the lives of my parents, Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, at the height of the McCarthy era hysteria. David and Emily, polished authors with an engaging literary style, were co-founders and leaders of the National Committee to Secure Justice in the Rosenberg Case. This is the only first hand account by people who were immersed in that momentous struggle, and it is a revelation."

I was still a baby when I first met Emily and Dave, and by the time I was five years old they were two of my favorite people. Emily died in 2004 at the age of 86. She’d chaired the Sociology Department at Douglass College of Rutgers University, before “retiring” to practice until she was 80. David, a novelist, businessman and social activist is still going strong at 92. I first became close to them in 1952 after they founded and helped run the National Committee to Secure Justice in the Rosenberg Case.

Advance copies of the book are now being sent to reviewers, and the final version will be published on June 19th. I can hardly wait.

My brother wrote in the introduction, “Read this book for its story of courage and action. Read it for the surprises. (Did you know Senator Joseph McCarthy was in favor of clemency for the Rosenbergs and that the Committee had indirect contact with him to explore whether he should make a public statement?) Read it for the drama of those last incredible months before June 19, 1953. Read it to discover some truly unsung American heroes."

Howard Zinn commented shortly before he died, “Exoneration examines the Rosenberg Case on the basis of meticulous research, and comes to conclusions which are provocative and persuasive. More important than questions of guilt or innocence are the challenges this book makes to the justice system in our country. There are many studies of this historic case, but the Almans bring fresh insights and raise troubling questions.”

You can’t order this book yet, but I’ll make sure you know when it becomes available as I think it will be of great interest to many RFC supporters.
 

[Update 05/21/10- The book will be published in June 2010.  It is now possible to order advanced copies by visiting www.greenelmspress.com.]
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