Who is a more authoritative source of information -- the person who experiences it firsthand, or a more 'impartial' authority? In the late nineteenth century, testimony became a common feature of literary works both fact and fiction. But with the rise of new journalism, the power of testimony could be undermined by anonymous, institutional voices -- a Victorian subversion which continues to this day.

Testimony on Trial examines the conflicts over testimony through the eyes of two of its major combatants, Joseph Conrad and Henry James. Brian Artese finds an overlooked yet...