Compulsion (Levin novel)

Compulsion is a 1956 novel by Meyer Levin. It is a fictionalized account of the Leopold and Loeb murder case, which occurred in Chicago in 1924. The novel explores the psychological motivations of the two young, wealthy, and intellectually gifted protagonists who kidnap and murder a young boy.

The characters in the novel are given fictional names, but their parallels to Leopold and Loeb are readily apparent. Judd Steiner represents Nathan Leopold, and Artie Straus represents Richard Loeb. The novel delves into their complex relationship, their intellectual arrogance, and their desire to commit the "perfect crime" as a means of proving their intellectual superiority and transcending societal norms.

Levin utilizes a third-person narrative to explore the inner lives of Steiner and Straus, examining their individual compulsions and the shared dynamic that leads to the crime. The narrative also incorporates elements of the investigation and the subsequent trial, highlighting the societal reaction to the crime and the arguments presented by the defense, particularly the focus on the boys' psychological state.

The book faced some controversy upon its publication, specifically a legal battle with Leopold, who argued that the novel infringed upon his privacy. While the novel is a work of fiction, the close parallels to the real case and the characters involved contributed to the debate surrounding the ethics of fictionalizing real-life events.

Compulsion explores themes of intellectual hubris, the nature of evil, the corrupting influence of power, and the complexities of the human psyche. It remains a significant work in crime literature and a powerful fictionalization of a notorious crime.