© 2024 St. Louis Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Author Scott Turow discusses ‘Testimony,’ his novel about war crimes during the Bosnian War

Author Scott Turow is the author of the new novel, "Testimony."
Kelly Moffitt | St. Louis Public Radio

In his latest novel, “Testimony,” author Scott Turow was able to combine two longtime interests: the International Criminal Court in The Hague and the Romani ethnic group.

“This was sort of a writers’ bucket list,” Turow said of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Netherlands.

The other interest, the Roma ethnic group intertwines with the ICC as Turow writes about the disappearance of an entire Roma refugee camp following the Bosnian War.

The Romani people – also known as Gypsies – came out of India during the 9th century A.D., despite a belief among some that they came from Egypt.

Although occasionally used by some as an offensive term, that’s not the case in this work.

“I don’t know if it’s really politically incorrect because all Roma I’ve actually met are happy to refer to themselves as Gypsies,” Turow said.

The novel’s protagonist is a Chicago attorney who is tasked with investigating the crimes following the Bosnian War.

The international pursuit is the latest legal thriller for Turow, who is also author of “The Burden of Proof” and “Presumed Innocent.”

“The Roma, they have been long despised in Europe,” Turow told St. Louis on the Air host Don Marsh. “They were enslaved for four centuries in Romania. They were branded and flogged and forbidden in many places. They, generally speaking, were forbidden to enter the education system and were not employed.”

Turow will be talking about and signing copies of “Testimony” tonight at 7 as part of Maryville Talks Books at Maryville University.

Listen to the interview to hear more about the book and other current issues.

St. Louis on the Air brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. St. Louis on the Air host Don Marsh and producers Mary Edwards, Alex Heuer and Kelly Moffitt give you the information you need to make informed decisions and stay in touch with our diverse and vibrant St. Louis region. 

Stay Connected
Kelly Moffitt joined St. Louis Public Radio in 2015 as an online producer for St. Louis Public Radio's talk shows St. Louis on the Air.
Alex is the executive producer of "St. Louis on the Air" at St. Louis Public Radio.