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Fiction.
Literature.
Mystery.
Historical Fiction.
Tragedy at Law follows a rather self-important High Court judge, Mr. Justice Barber, as he moves from town to town presiding over cases in the Southern England circuit. When an anonymous letter arrives for Barber, warning of imminent revenge, he dismisses it as the work of a harmless lunatic. But then a second letter appears, followed by a poisoned box of the judge's favorite chocolates, and he begins to fear for his life. Enter barrister and amateur detective Francis Pettigrew, a man who was once in love with Barber's wife and has never quite succeeded in his profession; can he find out who is threatening Barber before it is too late?… (más)
PeasantsCaptain: Both these mysteries (Suicide Excepted; Tragedy at Law)are still first class reads and come from the pen of a writer whose life in the Law gave him an expert viewpoint. He also wrote uncommonly well.
Great writing, excellent use of the English language, from one of the best loved and most influential English crime writers, he served in many legal and judicial capacities which is obvious from his style of writing, this one published in 1946. ( )
Not sure why, but I feel like I've been reading this for weeks. I enjoyed it but it didn't hold my attention so my reading spells were short. Excellent plot and well developed characters. The ending was a complete surprise. ( )
Great old mystery! So glad I came across the title when reading Time to Be In Earnest by PD James. It seems Ms James sent her first manuscript to an agent. The agent was at lunch soon after reading the book when someone lamented the passing of Cyril Hare. She was dining with the director of Faber & Faber who said they would have to find an author to replace Mr Hare on their list. The agent offered PD James first novel as a possible candidate and it was accepted. In telling the story (I hope I got it right.) Ms James recommended this book. I had read An English Murder by Cyril Hare and enjoyed it. (That one came up in a Guardian article of the Top Ten Golden Age Detective stories.) I will look for more by him. Good writer, very creative, good characters. ( )
I was informed this was a classic--it is not. But it is still a very readable, very British, and very overlong story of a circuit judge, back in the days when a circuit was really a circuit and moved from town to town, his much younger wife, and the other members of the traveling court who must confront a series of threats against the judge. Some of the characters are memorable, and the descriptions of the various towns and accommodations are somewhat amusing. The plot moves at a snail's pace, with lots of digressions which in the end do have a bit to do with the outcome. The book would benefit from having a more focused point of view, instead of being narrated from so many perspectives. Most readers will probably guess the culprit, though probably not the motivation, unless they are a scholar of British law--assuming the law Hare speaks of is in fact real. I would have to have a lot of time on my hands to venture into another of the author's books anytime soon. ( )
Información procedente del conocimiento común inglés.Edita para encontrar en tu idioma.
To J. A. F.
Primeras palabras
Información procedente del conocimiento común inglés.Edita para encontrar en tu idioma.
'No trumpeters!' said his Lordship in a tone of melancholy and slightly peevish disapproval.
Citas
Información procedente del conocimiento común inglés.Edita para encontrar en tu idioma.
In a well-conducted world - let it be repeated - all motorists without exception, but particularly Judges of the High Court, renew their driving licenses when they expire. Further, well before the due season, they take advantage of the reminders which their insurance companies are good enough to send them and provide themselves with the certificate required by the Road Traffic Acts, 1930 to 1936. The fact that from time to time they carelessly forget to do so, and thereby commit quite a number of distinct and separate offences, only goes to prove once more how far from perfectly conducted the actual world is. The fact that even Judges of the High Court are not immune from lapses of memory is perhaps an argument in favour of the proposition that in a well-conducted world they would not be allowed to drive motor-cars at all.
"Marshal," the whisper went on, "ask Pettigrew to lunch."
It was the second day of the assize. The hour was 12.30 p.m. and Pettigrew was just tying the red tape round his second and last brief before leaving the court. Barber, if he had so desired, could have sent his invitation at any time after the sitting of the court that morning. By delaying it to the last moment he must have known that he was combining the pleasures of dispensing hospitality with the maximum of inconvenience to his guest. Such, at least, was Pettigrew's first reflection when, having bowed himself out of court, he finally received the message in the dank and cheerless cell that served as counsel's robing-room at the Shire Hall.
Últimas palabras
Información procedente del conocimiento común inglés.Edita para encontrar en tu idioma.
'I suppose,' he said bitterly, as he dropped the fragments into the wastepaper basket, 'I suppose that it is the first time on record that anyone has ever been driven to commit suicide by a quotation from the Law Reports.'
Fiction.
Literature.
Mystery.
Historical Fiction.
Tragedy at Law follows a rather self-important High Court judge, Mr. Justice Barber, as he moves from town to town presiding over cases in the Southern England circuit. When an anonymous letter arrives for Barber, warning of imminent revenge, he dismisses it as the work of a harmless lunatic. But then a second letter appears, followed by a poisoned box of the judge's favorite chocolates, and he begins to fear for his life. Enter barrister and amateur detective Francis Pettigrew, a man who was once in love with Barber's wife and has never quite succeeded in his profession; can he find out who is threatening Barber before it is too late?
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