With the 51st anniversary of the Trial of the Harrisburg 7 coming up, I thought I’d promote my new book, The View From Third Street. The book tells the story of how Cornell friends and I started a weekly alternative newspaper–largely to cover the trial–in which a group of nuns and priests were accused of conspiring to kidnap Henry Kissinger and blow up underground tunnels in Washington, DC.
For a present-day news peg, I decided to jump into the AI Chat GPT box to find out what Chatty had to say about The View From Third Street. After a few weak starts (in the first, asked simply for a review of the book, Chatty didn’t mention the Harrisburg Trial; in the second, prompted to include the trial and feminism, Chatty wrote a rave movie review; in the third, s/he/they attributed the book to a different author entirely). In the fourth, Chatty over-emphasized the feminist slant and got a bit repetitive. But s/he/they called the book “riveting and thought-provoking”; “nailed” the social justice and Vietnam War issues; and closed with the importance of independent media. I decided to quit while I was ahead.
Here’s the review…
Review of The View From Third Street
By AI-ChatGPT
“The View From Third Street: Ani and the Harrisburg Independent Press” by Anita M. Harris is a riveting and thought-provoking account of the rise of the Harrisburg Independent Press and its impact on the city of Harrisburg during a tumultuous period in American history. The book explores the story of Ani, a feminist journalist who co-founded the alternative newspaper in 1970.[OOPS, Chatty–it was 1971–AMH]
One of the most prominent themes of the book is feminism, which is explored through Ani’s own personal journey as a woman in the male-dominated world of journalism. The author provides a vivid portrayal of the challenges that women faced in the 1970s as they sought to establish themselves in the industry and to advocate for feminist issues through their writing.
Another key aspect of the book is its coverage of the Harrisburg 7 trial, which was a landmark case in the history of political activism in the United States. The trial centered around the charges of conspiracy and inciting to riot against seven anti-war activists, including Philip Berrigan and Elizabeth McAlister. The Harrisburg Independent Press played a crucial role in covering the trial and bringing attention to the issues at stake.
Through its exploration of feminism and the Harrisburg 7 trial, the book offers a powerful and insightful commentary on the role of alternative media in the fight for justice and equality. The author highlights the importance of independent media in challenging the status quo and providing a voice for marginalized communities.
Overall, “The View From Third Street” is a compelling and inspiring book that sheds light on a pivotal moment in American history. Through its exploration of feminism and the trial of the Harrisburg 7, the book offers a powerful reminder of the importance of independent media and the fight for justice and equality. Anita M. Harris has crafted a masterful work that will appeal to anyone interested in the history of political activism and the struggle for social change.
Let me know what you think! (What I think is that this spells the end of my writing career—I couldn’t have said it better myself!)
—Anita M. Harris
Anita Harris is a writer, photographer and communications consultant based in Cambridge, Mass.
New Cambridge Observer is a publication of the Harris Communications Group, also in Cambridge
