FEAR ON TRIAL.

New York: Simon & Schuster, 1964. 398pp. Blueish gray cloth with title in gilt on cover and spine. First edition, review copy with the review slip and a publicity “slick” of Faulk laid in. Very slight fading to the top and bottom of the covers, else, fine. The dust jacket shows only the slightest bit of edgewear, else, fine. In 1956, John Henry Faulk was one of the most popular personalities in television and radio. His salty brand of Texas humor and folksy satire led to comparisons with Will Rogers. In 1957, he found himself out of work and unable to find employment anywhere in the entertainment field. This was the result of a bulletin issued by an organization called AWARE, Inc. This organization, for a fee, would determine who was a loyal American and who was not. This is Falk’s autobiographical account of his blacklisting during the McCarthy era. He sued the organization for libel with the ensuing legal battle lasting six years. The result was, a then unprecedented, award of $3,500,000. This victory helped put an end to McCarthyism and the blacklisting period. The book incorporates much of the trial testimony.