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Allegiance
A sophisticated legal thriller that plunges readers into the debate within the US government surrounding the imprisonment of thousands of Japanese-Americans during World War II.When the news broke about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Caswell "Cash" Harrison was all set to drop out of law school and join the army-- until he flunked the physical. Instead, he's given the opportunity to serve as a clerk to Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black. He and another clerk stumble onto a potentially huge conspiracy aimed at manipulating the court's decisions, and the cases dealing with the constitutionality of the prison camps created to detain Japanese-Americans seem to play a key part. Then Cash's colleague dies under mysterious circumstances, and the young, idealistic lawyer is determined to get at the truth. His investigation will take him from the office of J. Edgar Hoover to an internment camp in California, where he directly confronts the consequences of America's wartime policies.
Kermit Roosevelt combines the momentum of a top-notch legal thriller with a thoughtful examination of one of the worst civil rights violations in US history in this long-awaited follow-up to In the Shadow of the Law.
A riveting tale of murder and conspiracy within the highest echelons of government in WWII Washington, D.C. Kermit Roosevelt's novel Allegiance brings to stunning life Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter and his zealous acolytes, Herbert Hoover's ferocious condemnation of Frankfurter as "the most dangerous man in America" and Attorney General Francis Biddle's tortured ambivalence regarding the Japanese relocation camps. When Caswell "Cash" Harrison, an idealistic blueblood from Philadelphia's Main Line, is appointed clerk to Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black, he's ineluctably drawn into a complex narrative where power and secret knowledge have become the lethal currency of Washington.
Cordelia Frances Biddle, author of Saint Katharine, The Life of Katharine Drexel, Without Fear, Deception's Daughter, and The Conjurer.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published June 23, 2015
125 people are currently reading
925 people want to read
About the author
Kermit Roosevelt III
10 books73 followersKermit Roosevelt is an award-winning author whose latest book Allegiance has been called "an instant classic" by Nelson DeMille. His previous novel In the Shadow of the Law was the Christian Science Monitor Best Book of the Year, the winner of the Philadelphia Athenaeum Literary Award, the New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice Selection, and a national campus bestseller.
Roosevelt is a professor of constitutional law at the University of Pennsylvania. He has published in the Virginia, Michigan and Columbia law reviews, among others, and his articles have been cited twice by the Supreme Court and numerous times by state and lower federal courts.
Roosevelt is a professor of constitutional law at the University of Pennsylvania. He has published in the Virginia, Michigan and Columbia law reviews, among others, and his articles have been cited twice by the Supreme Court and numerous times by state and lower federal courts.
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May 28, 2016
ALLEGIANCE is an interesting novel by Kermit Roosevelt that explores a number of issues, most important of which is the power of the presidency and the federal government during wartime. Roosevelt, a professor of constitutional law at Pennsylvania’s Law School and a former Supreme Court clerk is eminently qualified to explore this topic and provides interesting insights into the legal arguments, interpersonal relationships, and issues of national security that still reverberate today.
The novel opens with the bombing of Pearl Harbor and its aftermath as Casewell “Cash” Harrison, a law student at Columbia University, and many of his generation contemplate their future – to join up or wait to be drafted. Cash, a scion of rich Philadelphia society tries to balance loyalty to his country and devotion to his fiancé, Suzanne as he tries to come to grips with the Japanese attack. He decides to enlist, disregarding the advice of his parents, Suzanne, and her father who is a federal judge, but is rejected and is classified 4-F. Soon his life takes a major turn as he is offered a clerkship with Supreme Court Justice, Hugo Black. Upon arriving in Washington, Cash witnesses a capitol city mobilizing for war and he suffers tremendous guilt that so many of his friends and men his age are off to war, and he is dealing with writs of certiorari or certs involving lower courts being ordered to deliver its record in a case so a higher court, in this case the Supreme Court may review it.
There seem to be a number of story lines that intersect throughout the novel. First, Cash must balance pressure from his fiancée, her father, and his own family in Philadelphia to leave his clerkship and return home. Second, Cash’s fears that he is being followed and spied upon which relates to the certs that Supreme Court clerks review. Third, the issue presented in the Supreme Court case, Hirabayashi v. United States which involves whether the “military can confine citizens to their homes, and then later order them to leave those homes, to leave the states in which they have always lived.” It involves executive power and whether the “constitution protects civilians from military authority outside an active theater of war.” In all three story lines, Cash believes that he is in danger, and as the novel evolves his position becomes increasingly precarious. In developing the novel Roosevelt does a fine job integrating many important historical figures such as members of the Supreme Court, Felix Frankfurter and Hugo Black in particular, Attorney General Francis Biddle, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, Solicitor General Charles Fahy and Karl Bendetson, an aid to General Dewitt, the head of Japanese “relocation centers,” who was a specialist on the threat posed by enemy aliens and native fifth columns. These figures seem to come alive as Roosevelt includes legal documents that reflect their opinions and arguments, in addition to historical vignettes about the justices. The author also creates fictional characters, the most important of which are Cash and his fellow clerks, Gene Gressman, Clara Watson, John Hall, the liaison between the War and Justice Departments, and Colonel Bill Richards of the Anti-Federalist Society.
From the outset Cash thinks he is being shadowed by the FBI or others and grows concerned. After he is beaten up he and Gressman try to flush out why the people who are after him call him a traitor. The conclusion they reach is that there is something underhanded taking place in the way that individuals are chosen as clerks for certain justices, particularly when chosen clerks are drafted and replaced by secondary choices. They reason that information about certs are leaked to business interests providing inside information about which cases will be heard by the court and knowledge of how the decisions will be rendered. Obviously, if business interests have this information then they will trade stocks in a certain manner before a decision comes down. When it appears that one of the clerks has been murdered Cash decides to forgo returning to Philadelphia and joins the Justice Department in his quest to uncover what is transpiring within the court. Roosevelt creates another major story line as Cash moves to work under Attorney General Biddle in the Aliens Enemy Unit.
Cash’s work for the Aliens Enemy Unit fosters a visit to the Tule Lake Relocation Camp and crystalizes the issues that confronts the Justice Department. Cash immediately learns that the War Department has been lying since Pearl Harbor concerning the Japanese domestic threat and they have a mole within the Justice Department and this impacts Supreme Court cases dealing with the evacuation of Japanese into camps. Cash’s job is to justify the evacuation of the Japanese, but he cannot bring himself to do so. This battle over the camps reflects tremendous research as the characters narrative seems to reflect the opinions of the day and members of the Supreme Court, the F.B.I. head and others reappear with their own agendas. Cash’s dilemma is how does his work on the Alien Enemies Unit relate to the death of a Supreme Court clerk, and how does he deal with the danger of going against the War Department as he visits the Tule Lake facility a second time. It appears that each cover-up led to a new crime, and Cash is trying to discern what is happening.
Roosevelt has written a novel about an important subject however at times the development of the story leads to some stilted dialogue, and over description of certain scenes and characters that make the plot seem overblown. At times the plot is difficult to follow and should have been a bit tighter to avoid confusion on the part of the reader. The book has a great deal of potential because of the nature of the subject matter, but the story is somewhat uneven and could have been streamlined. For those who want a realistic presentation of the difficulties the government faced, from a legal and moral perspective in dealing with Japanese internment during World War II Roosevelt’s work will be satisfactory, but keep in mind there will be some obstacles to overcome, but in the end they may be well worth it.
The novel opens with the bombing of Pearl Harbor and its aftermath as Casewell “Cash” Harrison, a law student at Columbia University, and many of his generation contemplate their future – to join up or wait to be drafted. Cash, a scion of rich Philadelphia society tries to balance loyalty to his country and devotion to his fiancé, Suzanne as he tries to come to grips with the Japanese attack. He decides to enlist, disregarding the advice of his parents, Suzanne, and her father who is a federal judge, but is rejected and is classified 4-F. Soon his life takes a major turn as he is offered a clerkship with Supreme Court Justice, Hugo Black. Upon arriving in Washington, Cash witnesses a capitol city mobilizing for war and he suffers tremendous guilt that so many of his friends and men his age are off to war, and he is dealing with writs of certiorari or certs involving lower courts being ordered to deliver its record in a case so a higher court, in this case the Supreme Court may review it.
There seem to be a number of story lines that intersect throughout the novel. First, Cash must balance pressure from his fiancée, her father, and his own family in Philadelphia to leave his clerkship and return home. Second, Cash’s fears that he is being followed and spied upon which relates to the certs that Supreme Court clerks review. Third, the issue presented in the Supreme Court case, Hirabayashi v. United States which involves whether the “military can confine citizens to their homes, and then later order them to leave those homes, to leave the states in which they have always lived.” It involves executive power and whether the “constitution protects civilians from military authority outside an active theater of war.” In all three story lines, Cash believes that he is in danger, and as the novel evolves his position becomes increasingly precarious. In developing the novel Roosevelt does a fine job integrating many important historical figures such as members of the Supreme Court, Felix Frankfurter and Hugo Black in particular, Attorney General Francis Biddle, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, Solicitor General Charles Fahy and Karl Bendetson, an aid to General Dewitt, the head of Japanese “relocation centers,” who was a specialist on the threat posed by enemy aliens and native fifth columns. These figures seem to come alive as Roosevelt includes legal documents that reflect their opinions and arguments, in addition to historical vignettes about the justices. The author also creates fictional characters, the most important of which are Cash and his fellow clerks, Gene Gressman, Clara Watson, John Hall, the liaison between the War and Justice Departments, and Colonel Bill Richards of the Anti-Federalist Society.
From the outset Cash thinks he is being shadowed by the FBI or others and grows concerned. After he is beaten up he and Gressman try to flush out why the people who are after him call him a traitor. The conclusion they reach is that there is something underhanded taking place in the way that individuals are chosen as clerks for certain justices, particularly when chosen clerks are drafted and replaced by secondary choices. They reason that information about certs are leaked to business interests providing inside information about which cases will be heard by the court and knowledge of how the decisions will be rendered. Obviously, if business interests have this information then they will trade stocks in a certain manner before a decision comes down. When it appears that one of the clerks has been murdered Cash decides to forgo returning to Philadelphia and joins the Justice Department in his quest to uncover what is transpiring within the court. Roosevelt creates another major story line as Cash moves to work under Attorney General Biddle in the Aliens Enemy Unit.
Cash’s work for the Aliens Enemy Unit fosters a visit to the Tule Lake Relocation Camp and crystalizes the issues that confronts the Justice Department. Cash immediately learns that the War Department has been lying since Pearl Harbor concerning the Japanese domestic threat and they have a mole within the Justice Department and this impacts Supreme Court cases dealing with the evacuation of Japanese into camps. Cash’s job is to justify the evacuation of the Japanese, but he cannot bring himself to do so. This battle over the camps reflects tremendous research as the characters narrative seems to reflect the opinions of the day and members of the Supreme Court, the F.B.I. head and others reappear with their own agendas. Cash’s dilemma is how does his work on the Alien Enemies Unit relate to the death of a Supreme Court clerk, and how does he deal with the danger of going against the War Department as he visits the Tule Lake facility a second time. It appears that each cover-up led to a new crime, and Cash is trying to discern what is happening.
Roosevelt has written a novel about an important subject however at times the development of the story leads to some stilted dialogue, and over description of certain scenes and characters that make the plot seem overblown. At times the plot is difficult to follow and should have been a bit tighter to avoid confusion on the part of the reader. The book has a great deal of potential because of the nature of the subject matter, but the story is somewhat uneven and could have been streamlined. For those who want a realistic presentation of the difficulties the government faced, from a legal and moral perspective in dealing with Japanese internment during World War II Roosevelt’s work will be satisfactory, but keep in mind there will be some obstacles to overcome, but in the end they may be well worth it.
July 17, 2015
Interesting, somewhat Roosevelt has written a novel of historical fiction tracing the decision by the US Government to intern Japanese Americans in a series of concentration camps across the country, allegedly to prevent them from participating in sabotage. He created a character, Cash Harrison, who obtains a clerk position with Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black. In order not to spoil the book for any readers, suffice it to say that Cash finds intrigue relating to the detention amongst the Court and Federal agencies. The book was informative, however, I found the flow a bit slow-paced. Too many characters coming and going, and much too much insight into the self-perceived superiorness of Philadelphian society members (of which Cash was one), confused and tended to bore me. The book did lead me to draw parallels with the current issue of Guantanamo detentions, an interesting line of thought. A decent book, Allegiance may appeal to history buffs. I did receive this advance copy, in return for a fair review, from NetGalley.
August 30, 2015
Brilliant! This page-turning novel takes us inside the halls of power in Washington, DC during WWII and reveals the true story behind one of the worst civil rights violations in US history when the government sent 120,000 US citizens to internment camps. Author Kermit Roosevelt masterfully brings Hugo Black, J. Edgar Hoover, and Hugo Black to life in a suspenseful story of political intrigue. More than a legal thriller, it’s a thoughtful reflection on how we can be better as individuals, and how we can truly live up to American ideals. Cash Harrison will undoubtedly be considered one of the great literary characters of our time – an idealistic lawyer torn between his allegiance to those of his inner circle, and those who suffer at their hands. A true American hero, he’s driven by deep compassion, moral goodness, and appreciation of our constitutional laws. Lyrical prose -- inspiring protagonist – unforgettable story. Theodore Roosevelt would be proud.
October 18, 2015
Allegiance. Phenomenal -- now I have two favorite authors -- Kermit Roosevelt and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Written in lyrical prose, it’s a powerful story that stays with you long after you’ve read the last page and changes you in a profound way. While it’s a book of historical fiction and the author masterfully recaptures America in the 1940s, it’s relevant to the world we live in today and makes us rethink who we are and who we want to be. The protagonist, Cash Harrison, immediately draws you in and keeps you turning the page as the story unfolds in a mystery that’s packed with surprises and astonishing events, most of which are true.
Cash begins as a young idealistic lawyer who’s given the opportunity to clerk for Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black just after the attack on Pearl Harbor, a time that parallels post 9/11 America. Compelled to serve his country, he leaves his home and girlfriend to go to Washington, DC where he ultimately finds himself caught in a maze of murder, lies, and corruption. He’s alone on his journey to get to the truth: no support from his girlfriend who pressures him to come home, those of his inner circle are not to be trusted, and danger lies at every turn. Cash finally discovers a government conspiracy surrounding Japanese American internment, 120,000 U.S. citizens (most of whom were innocent) persecuted because of their ethnicity, and his idealistic view of Washington, DC and the Supreme Court is forever changed. Those of his privileged inner circle put personal gain before principles and law – and Cash seems to be the only person in power who cares enough to stop the devastating injustice. How far will he go to stand by his principles? Will he be loyal to those of his inner circle or be true to his belief in equal justice for all?
Roosevelt’s research is impressive: real-life figures Hugo Black and J. Edgar come to life and he astutely examines Supreme Court cases and the inner workings of government in a way that’s eminently readable to all.
Terrific book and I love Cash Harrison-- he's a true American hero. Allegiance is a classic and there's no doubt Roosevelt will be known as one of the great writers of our generation.
Cash begins as a young idealistic lawyer who’s given the opportunity to clerk for Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black just after the attack on Pearl Harbor, a time that parallels post 9/11 America. Compelled to serve his country, he leaves his home and girlfriend to go to Washington, DC where he ultimately finds himself caught in a maze of murder, lies, and corruption. He’s alone on his journey to get to the truth: no support from his girlfriend who pressures him to come home, those of his inner circle are not to be trusted, and danger lies at every turn. Cash finally discovers a government conspiracy surrounding Japanese American internment, 120,000 U.S. citizens (most of whom were innocent) persecuted because of their ethnicity, and his idealistic view of Washington, DC and the Supreme Court is forever changed. Those of his privileged inner circle put personal gain before principles and law – and Cash seems to be the only person in power who cares enough to stop the devastating injustice. How far will he go to stand by his principles? Will he be loyal to those of his inner circle or be true to his belief in equal justice for all?
Roosevelt’s research is impressive: real-life figures Hugo Black and J. Edgar come to life and he astutely examines Supreme Court cases and the inner workings of government in a way that’s eminently readable to all.
Terrific book and I love Cash Harrison-- he's a true American hero. Allegiance is a classic and there's no doubt Roosevelt will be known as one of the great writers of our generation.
October 18, 2015
Eloquent, richly detailed, suspenseful.
Roosevelt succeeds on all fronts: eloquent writing, page-turning suspense, historical accuracy, complex characters, and a powerful story that inspires. It is a top-notch legal thriller --as another reviewer said-- and it's also a book that prompts self-reflection -- not only on our individual character but on the character of our nation.
Simply put, it's an excellent read -- best I've read since the classics. Roosevelt's depth of knowledge and moral compass is evident in the way he wrote the main character, who will stay with you as a model of strength and virtue in the face of adversity. Highly recommended.
Roosevelt succeeds on all fronts: eloquent writing, page-turning suspense, historical accuracy, complex characters, and a powerful story that inspires. It is a top-notch legal thriller --as another reviewer said-- and it's also a book that prompts self-reflection -- not only on our individual character but on the character of our nation.
Simply put, it's an excellent read -- best I've read since the classics. Roosevelt's depth of knowledge and moral compass is evident in the way he wrote the main character, who will stay with you as a model of strength and virtue in the face of adversity. Highly recommended.
January 20, 2020
“This is just my government at work. Who is loyal, who is not? Who is a friend and who an enemy? Whoever they say. And the government does not make mistakes.”
Roosevelt shines light on a pivotal time in American history. Not all the World War II drama was on the battlefields; not all the atrocities happened at Auschwitz and Buchenwald; not all the good-old-boy rings were rednecks; not all the heroes wore uniforms.
“You know what I’m saying is right.” “That’s the problem, Eleanor. Everyone knows they’re right. We have law to protect us from our best instincts as well as our worst.” “What rubbish. … You listen to their stories and tell me again that everyone’s right.” “I know the stories. I just came from Tule Lake.”
The best type of historical fiction: hews close to what actually happened, introducing fictional characters and events sparingly to draw it all into one understandable—and dramatic—whole. Events eighty years past might well be medieval for today’s readers.
“What Hoover asks is a betrayal of that trust, of course, but there is a greater one, and I seek to cure it.”
All the major characters willingly break the law to uphold it. Each is self-justified for every action taken. Unfortunately, the protagonist is enough of a society snob (bespoke suits, ready cash, a Packard with tires and gas despite rationing) that many readers won’t identify with him.
“Nobody makes money, my boy. Wealth is not created ex nihilo. The Crash taught us that, if nothing else.”
Most characters accept as axiomatic Keynesian/Marxist dogma that no value is created; it is taken from someone else. The same seems true for other values.
“Law and history are lies we tell ourselves to explain why things should be the way they are.”
Quibbles: Logistics is too easy. Not critical to enjoying the story, but “a procession of black government cars …” or “a long line of Army trucks that assembles …” appear on short notice in the middle of nowhere. Travel is always direct and slowed only for narration. Cash never falls short for resources, even if merely appropriate tennis clothes.
“The story of America is a story of trying to live up to our ideals, of falling short, and of trying again. Thinking about the past is one way we may hope to do better next time.”
Roosevelt shines light on a pivotal time in American history. Not all the World War II drama was on the battlefields; not all the atrocities happened at Auschwitz and Buchenwald; not all the good-old-boy rings were rednecks; not all the heroes wore uniforms.
“You know what I’m saying is right.” “That’s the problem, Eleanor. Everyone knows they’re right. We have law to protect us from our best instincts as well as our worst.” “What rubbish. … You listen to their stories and tell me again that everyone’s right.” “I know the stories. I just came from Tule Lake.”
The best type of historical fiction: hews close to what actually happened, introducing fictional characters and events sparingly to draw it all into one understandable—and dramatic—whole. Events eighty years past might well be medieval for today’s readers.
“What Hoover asks is a betrayal of that trust, of course, but there is a greater one, and I seek to cure it.”
All the major characters willingly break the law to uphold it. Each is self-justified for every action taken. Unfortunately, the protagonist is enough of a society snob (bespoke suits, ready cash, a Packard with tires and gas despite rationing) that many readers won’t identify with him.
“Nobody makes money, my boy. Wealth is not created ex nihilo. The Crash taught us that, if nothing else.”
Most characters accept as axiomatic Keynesian/Marxist dogma that no value is created; it is taken from someone else. The same seems true for other values.
“Law and history are lies we tell ourselves to explain why things should be the way they are.”
Quibbles: Logistics is too easy. Not critical to enjoying the story, but “a procession of black government cars …” or “a long line of Army trucks that assembles …” appear on short notice in the middle of nowhere. Travel is always direct and slowed only for narration. Cash never falls short for resources, even if merely appropriate tennis clothes.
“The story of America is a story of trying to live up to our ideals, of falling short, and of trying again. Thinking about the past is one way we may hope to do better next time.”
November 9, 2024
In the Author’s Note at the end of Kermit Roosevelt’s Allegiance, Roosevelt writes, “The story of America is a story of trying to live up to our ideals, of falling short, and of trying again. Thinking about the past, is one way we may hope to do better next time” (n.p.*). Allegiance centers on the decision by the US Government to intern Japanese Americans in a series of concentration camps across the country, allegedly to prevent them from participating in sabotage. A series of Supreme Court cases—Hirabayashi v. United States (1943), Korematsu v. United States (1944), and Ex parte Mitsuye Endo (1944)—established that curfews and evacuation from the Pacific Coast were legal for Japanese Americans, but continued detention in concentration camps were not. The Hirabayashi and Korematsu cases were later overturned (but not until the 1980s) because evidence finally came to light that there was no disloyalty or widespread risk of sabotage. The internment of Japanese Americans provides the background for Cash Harrison’s violent disillusionment about the law, the Supreme Court, the Department of Justice, and even his own family friends...
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.
September 13, 2015
Thought this was an outstanding piece of historical fiction that intertwinea fictional characters and situations with real life during WWII- main focus being on the Japanese internment and the scotus cases.
September 1, 2015
A taut legal thriller that takes place in the highes echelons in Washington the debates over the interment of Japenese citizens during WW11 .We are introduced to Felix Frankfurter ,Herbert Hoover throw in a murder a young lawyer&you will be racing through the pages.
January 7, 2016
Met the author at the FDR Estate in Hyde Park, NY. Purchased the book (which he kindly autographed). Fascinating novel looking into US Constitutional Law/Supreme Court and the US internment camps that held the Japanese back during WWII. A little love and intrigue included as well.
October 18, 2015
I was torn between racing to the end to find out what happens and savoring the beautiful writing. Intricately layered. crisply composed, Allegiance triumphs as a great work of historical fiction. We're immediately transported back in time to the 1940s where we meet the main character, Cash Harrison, and taken into his interior world. Idealistic, principled, conflicted, sensitive, we go deep into his psyche as he navigates an unpredictable world and the people within it who are flawed, unscrupulous, even dangerous. The narrative swiftly moves though the events, debates, and decisions that led to Japanese American internment and allows us a rare view of the inner workings of government and the Supreme Court. Well-researched, we learn the motives and missteps of those in power: FDR, J. Edgar Hoover, Hugo Black, Felix Frankfurter. Well-written, they become vivid characters in our imaginations. One of the most impressive aspects of the book (and there are many) is the way the author recaptures detailed accounts of specific legal cases, probably the most challenging in US gov't history, and makes them both accessible and meaningful on a deeper level than you'd imagine. If you've never reflected on the Constitution or felt moved to protect true American ideals, you will after reading Allegiance. Indeed it's a riveting legal thriller, an intriguing murder mystery, an astute examination of politics, corruption, and civil liberties; and it's also an exquisite meditation on virtue and infinite possibilities for our future. Magnificent.
October 14, 2015
I love the idea of trying to bring this part of history to life. Supreme Court justices are characters in this book (how to write dialogue with Frankfurter? Black?). So are the Japanese Americans who were imprisoned, who tried to stand up for their rights--here they get a voice. The legal issues that float in and out of the novel (the author uses a metaphor with fish) are still topical.
But I think as a novel it needed some shaping, some editing. Parts were like a suspense novel, with a conspiracy theory about a shadow group trying to control the entire country by placing (and eliminating) clerks to the Supreme Court justices. Parts of it were about a crusading-hero lawyer who tries to do the right thing when his own client is the bad actor. And the parts about the main character's girlfriend(s) just made me impatient.
I was amused by the recurring theme of upper-class Philadelphians thinking of themselves as this special fraternity that has all the wisdom and talent the country needs, and the rest of the country not caring at all.
But I think as a novel it needed some shaping, some editing. Parts were like a suspense novel, with a conspiracy theory about a shadow group trying to control the entire country by placing (and eliminating) clerks to the Supreme Court justices. Parts of it were about a crusading-hero lawyer who tries to do the right thing when his own client is the bad actor. And the parts about the main character's girlfriend(s) just made me impatient.
I was amused by the recurring theme of upper-class Philadelphians thinking of themselves as this special fraternity that has all the wisdom and talent the country needs, and the rest of the country not caring at all.
September 17, 2015
Excellent book about World War II. This book has so mush intrigue that it will hold anyone's interest. You do not have to be a WWII buff to enjoy it.
July 8, 2017
MUCH POTENTIAL LOST IN CONFUSION.
“You’re prosecuting people who were drafted out of a concentration camp. Do you feel good about that?” (p. 221).
I expected great things of Kermit Roosevelt’s novel, Allegiance. I was very disappointed.
Those parts of the story concerned with the factual Hirabayashi, Korematsu and Endo Supreme Court cases, and those about the activities of the militant Hoshidan group at the Tule Lake Detention Center, were interesting and illuminating. They made the book worth the (discounted) price I paid.
The ‘novel’ part—the tedious fictional parts concerning conspiracy plots, murder, mayhem, racquetball and tennis—though bent on high level intrigue, only left me highly confused and annoyed; and completely ruined the story for me. It was all too confusing and poorly developed for me to follow, and often times just seemed silly.
Recommendation: I can’t recommend Allegiance, simply because I didn’t get it, and I wasn’t entertained. Too much effort for too little reward.
“But law and history alike are lies we tell ourselves to explain why things should be the way they are. (p. 366).
Regan Arts.. Kindle Edition, 387 pages
“You’re prosecuting people who were drafted out of a concentration camp. Do you feel good about that?” (p. 221).
I expected great things of Kermit Roosevelt’s novel, Allegiance. I was very disappointed.
Those parts of the story concerned with the factual Hirabayashi, Korematsu and Endo Supreme Court cases, and those about the activities of the militant Hoshidan group at the Tule Lake Detention Center, were interesting and illuminating. They made the book worth the (discounted) price I paid.
The ‘novel’ part—the tedious fictional parts concerning conspiracy plots, murder, mayhem, racquetball and tennis—though bent on high level intrigue, only left me highly confused and annoyed; and completely ruined the story for me. It was all too confusing and poorly developed for me to follow, and often times just seemed silly.
Recommendation: I can’t recommend Allegiance, simply because I didn’t get it, and I wasn’t entertained. Too much effort for too little reward.
“But law and history alike are lies we tell ourselves to explain why things should be the way they are. (p. 366).
Regan Arts.. Kindle Edition, 387 pages
September 13, 2016
How the very foundation of our United States Supreme has been and can be corrupted is the topic of this very important and fascinating work, half murder mystery, half historical fiction.
Focusing on the shameful imprisonment of California's Japanese Americans in concentration camps during World War II, Kermit Roosevelt III (yes, of that Roosevelt family), lays bare the vulnerable underpinnings of the highest court in the land. What cases are heard, and what cases are not heard, is determined by the judges' aides, young graduates just out of law school with little life experience.
The thread of the story is carried by just such a youth, from the most highly privileged of backgrounds, as he is drawn in to investigate far beyond his normal duties and is changed by the realities he is forced to confront.
Mr. Roosevelt's development of his story is pleasurable but leisurely. Stick with it, it is truly an eye-opener, with mounting drama and importance that goes well beyond the world of fiction.
Focusing on the shameful imprisonment of California's Japanese Americans in concentration camps during World War II, Kermit Roosevelt III (yes, of that Roosevelt family), lays bare the vulnerable underpinnings of the highest court in the land. What cases are heard, and what cases are not heard, is determined by the judges' aides, young graduates just out of law school with little life experience.
The thread of the story is carried by just such a youth, from the most highly privileged of backgrounds, as he is drawn in to investigate far beyond his normal duties and is changed by the realities he is forced to confront.
Mr. Roosevelt's development of his story is pleasurable but leisurely. Stick with it, it is truly an eye-opener, with mounting drama and importance that goes well beyond the world of fiction.
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February 1, 2016Originally published at Novel Escapism
Allegiance is a provocative historical thriller set against the backdrop of World War II and Japanese internment. After Columbia law student Caswell “Cash” Harrison fails his military physical, he is offered the opportunity to clerk for Justice Hugo Black. He and a fellow clerk stumble on a conspiracy to steer the direction of the Court. But, when his friend ends up dead, Cash begins a dangerous mission that leads him from the hallowed marble palace of the Supreme Court to the Department of Justice and an internment camp in California. Being a Japanese American attorney, the premise of this novel definitely intrigued me but it was the excellent writing and narrative that had me struggling to put this book down. The journey that the protagonist, Cash, goes through from young, naïve law clerk to principled seeker of justice is at the heart of what makes this novel laudable.
Allegiance is a provocative historical thriller set against the backdrop of World War II and Japanese internment. After Columbia law student Caswell “Cash” Harrison fails his military physical, he is offered the opportunity to clerk for Justice Hugo Black. He and a fellow clerk stumble on a conspiracy to steer the direction of the Court. But, when his friend ends up dead, Cash begins a dangerous mission that leads him from the hallowed marble palace of the Supreme Court to the Department of Justice and an internment camp in California. Being a Japanese American attorney, the premise of this novel definitely intrigued me but it was the excellent writing and narrative that had me struggling to put this book down. The journey that the protagonist, Cash, goes through from young, naïve law clerk to principled seeker of justice is at the heart of what makes this novel laudable.
October 23, 2016
I never would have picked this book to read on my own. This is because I have never understood or followed the detailed workings of government, the law or politics except in a shallow abstract way. But I loved hearing authors whether it be by Skype or in person. So here I am. I very much liked this story. The protagonist, Caswell "Cash" Harrison, is a likeable, smart attorney, and an idealist, which may be considered his weakness as well as his strength. The mystery was solved, with a twist that was sad. This story would suit for those who love historical fiction. It made me dwell more than I'd like on the workings of the government; yet I know it will not change perceptibly. I was able to skim over those parts I found tedious and if I had to go back to check something, so be it. I very much look forward to being part of Skyping with this author at my wonderful library.
November 23, 2015
This is a thoroughly engrossing piece of historical fiction set against Japanese internment during World War II. Roosevelt's rigorous research shows, and there a truly remarkable level of detail - every setting and every character come alive. The story itself is suspenseful and fast-paced, yet it feels nothing like a typical plot-driven novel.
What I found truly compelling about this book was how topical and relevant it is. Outside threats present themselves, and the urge to protect our country tempts us to victimize Americans on the basis of race. This book is an excellent exploration of that, and so much more.
I highly recommend Allegiance, and the entirely different but equally well-written In the Shadow of the Law, Roosevelt's previous novel.
What I found truly compelling about this book was how topical and relevant it is. Outside threats present themselves, and the urge to protect our country tempts us to victimize Americans on the basis of race. This book is an excellent exploration of that, and so much more.
I highly recommend Allegiance, and the entirely different but equally well-written In the Shadow of the Law, Roosevelt's previous novel.
October 16, 2015
This was a fun and genuinely good book. The mystery really wasn’t all that mysterious but I thought that the characters were well developed and the story moved along at a good pace. Although fiction the author, a former Supreme Court Law Clerk himself, provides excellent insight to how the Court operated in the 1930s and 1940s.
October 20, 2015
A wonderful, intriguing, fast paced thriller. Really enjoyed. I received this book through goodreads.
December 4, 2020
Allegiance is a historical fiction revolving around the internment of Japanese Americans during the Second World War. It plays out in the courtrooms and halls of justice, and is fundamentally about the intergovernmental conflict that dogged this dark chapter of American history. Deeply rooted in the politics of it's time and accurately describing real legal battles and people, it sketches a tragic portrait of the bureaucratic and ethical nightmare of juggling civil rights and national security in wartime.
In short, the government's stance is this: If the Japanese military land on the west coast how can we tell them apart from our own Japanese Americans? And how many of our Japanese Americans can we trust to stay loyal when they are so deeply entrenched in their own culture? These troubling and scary questions are the slow-moving river that winds through this book, although they are only the beginning of the moral and practical implications. Also wrapped tightly throughout the book is a conspiracy plot, and this is the engine that drives the narrative. Someone is influencing supreme court judges and leaking information, and is prepared to kill to cover their tracks.
The poor protagonist faced with staring down this duo of disconcerting dilemmas is "Cash" Harrison, an immensely privelidged and nepotism-drenched do-gooder whose charmed life has made him a naïvely faithful and determinedly hopeful university law graduate. Born of and obsessed with Philidelphia and its alumni, he faces a hero's journey into a realm of dirty politics and deception as he is recruited to serve as a supreme court clerk in Washington DC. His dialogue is strangely stunted and characterless, and you wonder how it is he leaves any impression at all on the people he meets in life. However his inner world is richly drawn, particularly his reflections of growing up a country-club darling and athletic star, arm in arm with his pure and innocent sweetheart Suzanne Skinner.
He is a would-be hero, eager to since up and fight but turned away from the draft for medical reasons. In his desperation to fight for his country he is easily led into a conspiracy. Ultimately his is a tale of shedding youthful innocence and acquiring worldly troubles, a transformation foisted upon many of his generation who lived through the war.
This is but one of the many parallels and juxtapositions that litter this book and heighten the emotional stakes within. The privelidge and comfort of Cash stands stark to the essential struggle of his lover Clara Watson, a German Jew conscious of the unstable ground she stands on as the first female supreme court clerk. Clara again is offset by his childhood love Suzanne, who comes from a world of inclusion and wealth, not outsiderness and cynicism. The biggest parallel is of course between Nazi concentration camps and American internment camps, and I expected this to be the heart of the book, and was a little surprised that the plot strayed so far into an unrelated libertarian conspiracy. With that in mind I have to say that while this book was successful in demonstrating the depth and intricacies of the cases at hand, it did not convey the depth of fear and tragedy suffered by the Japanese Americans involved. The fact that they are sidelined in a story ostensibly about them is disappointing, as they have little chance to express themselves.
In short, the government's stance is this: If the Japanese military land on the west coast how can we tell them apart from our own Japanese Americans? And how many of our Japanese Americans can we trust to stay loyal when they are so deeply entrenched in their own culture? These troubling and scary questions are the slow-moving river that winds through this book, although they are only the beginning of the moral and practical implications. Also wrapped tightly throughout the book is a conspiracy plot, and this is the engine that drives the narrative. Someone is influencing supreme court judges and leaking information, and is prepared to kill to cover their tracks.
The poor protagonist faced with staring down this duo of disconcerting dilemmas is "Cash" Harrison, an immensely privelidged and nepotism-drenched do-gooder whose charmed life has made him a naïvely faithful and determinedly hopeful university law graduate. Born of and obsessed with Philidelphia and its alumni, he faces a hero's journey into a realm of dirty politics and deception as he is recruited to serve as a supreme court clerk in Washington DC. His dialogue is strangely stunted and characterless, and you wonder how it is he leaves any impression at all on the people he meets in life. However his inner world is richly drawn, particularly his reflections of growing up a country-club darling and athletic star, arm in arm with his pure and innocent sweetheart Suzanne Skinner.
He is a would-be hero, eager to since up and fight but turned away from the draft for medical reasons. In his desperation to fight for his country he is easily led into a conspiracy. Ultimately his is a tale of shedding youthful innocence and acquiring worldly troubles, a transformation foisted upon many of his generation who lived through the war.
This is but one of the many parallels and juxtapositions that litter this book and heighten the emotional stakes within. The privelidge and comfort of Cash stands stark to the essential struggle of his lover Clara Watson, a German Jew conscious of the unstable ground she stands on as the first female supreme court clerk. Clara again is offset by his childhood love Suzanne, who comes from a world of inclusion and wealth, not outsiderness and cynicism. The biggest parallel is of course between Nazi concentration camps and American internment camps, and I expected this to be the heart of the book, and was a little surprised that the plot strayed so far into an unrelated libertarian conspiracy. With that in mind I have to say that while this book was successful in demonstrating the depth and intricacies of the cases at hand, it did not convey the depth of fear and tragedy suffered by the Japanese Americans involved. The fact that they are sidelined in a story ostensibly about them is disappointing, as they have little chance to express themselves.
August 14, 2018
Allegiance by Kermit Roosevelt, a great-great grandson of Teddy Roosevelt, and a constitutional scholar, takes place during 1945-6 and features Cash Harrison, a Philadelphian who clerks for Hugo Black, a Supreme Court Justice and also becomes a lawyer for the Dept of Justice. He also interacts with H. Edgar Hoover. While there is a murder and corruption plot that starts off somewhat sluggishly, the real feature of the book are its two strands: The Supreme Court and the clerks who decided what would get certiorari and their influence on the judges’ opinions and the Japanese American citizens who were interned in concentration camps in shameful conditions. Both of these themes are skillfully denoted and its makes the recounting of what happens to the Japanese Americans especially moving. This was a wonderful book of historical fiction that could use some editing by a more skillful writer of fiction.
March 2, 2018
I must say that I was really impressed with this mystery. Unlike numerous ones I have been reading lately, it didn't have a dime a dozen feeling to it and the story line captured me once I committed to sitting down and reading the book. I enjoyed the setting, but particularly the topic of internment camps in US history. I also found the protagonist to be rather refreshing in his development.
A very quick paced read, I reviewed this ARC through Netgalley for the publisher. Well worth the 99 cent price tag.
A very quick paced read, I reviewed this ARC through Netgalley for the publisher. Well worth the 99 cent price tag.
July 28, 2017
Great historical foundation
Law survey course on the US military's World War II relocation of California Japanese American citizens. Authors notes solidly historical facts presented in the book's narrative. "Roosevelt could have become a dictator. He didn’t want to. But someday the people may give their trust to a man who does. You will be surprised how little they complain."(quote)
Law survey course on the US military's World War II relocation of California Japanese American citizens. Authors notes solidly historical facts presented in the book's narrative. "Roosevelt could have become a dictator. He didn’t want to. But someday the people may give their trust to a man who does. You will be surprised how little they complain."(quote)
October 15, 2025
A friend of a family friend wrote this, saw it had no reviews so was skeptical, but gave it a shot. Forgot within the first 5 pages that this wasn’t a bestseller. It’s a captivating story of moral crossroads faced during the political turmoil surrounding the Japanese internment camps, and the $$$ and power that could be squeezed from supporting either side. Characters have great arc and best of all it takes place part on the Main Line at Merion cricket club
December 16, 2018
Japanese/American Citizens Suffered Injustice During WWII
I have started writing this review twice but the Kindle rebooted itself both times, erasing my writing. I'm not going to try a third time. It's a good book, you'll learn a lot about the era and associated crimes and conspiracies.
I have started writing this review twice but the Kindle rebooted itself both times, erasing my writing. I'm not going to try a third time. It's a good book, you'll learn a lot about the era and associated crimes and conspiracies.
August 15, 2017
The premise of the story was interesting but the writing needed developing. The tone was annoying and I didn't enjoy it as much. Though the topic of Japanese in internment camps during WWII was compelling.
February 23, 2018
This was inconsistent. The discussion of the Japanese in the internment camps was the best part. The author went on about Philadelphia as though all his readers lived there, and the main character was unrealistic, particularly in his emotional life.
July 22, 2017
Highly recommended if anyone is interested in the internment of American Japanese citizens during World War II.
November 9, 2020
Relevant even today
Very intriguing story based on fact. Anyone interested in the law and history will enjoy this book. Well researched and thought provoking.
Very intriguing story based on fact. Anyone interested in the law and history will enjoy this book. Well researched and thought provoking.
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