Independent witness [Unknown Binding]

Henry Cecil (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1996

Mr Justice Grampion hates dangerous drivers and believes it is his duty to give very severe sentences to those who offend. He is well-known for his opinion on the matter, so, when Michael Barnes, MP, is to be tried for a very serious motoring charge, he is devastated to hear that Grampion will be the judge. To make Michael's problems worse he has no witness to support his story. Ranged against him are a host of independent witnesses whose testimonies are hilarious and often contradictory. While this is another highly amusing novel from Henry Cecil it also examines the serious nature of truth and reality as perceived by different witnesses.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Henry Cecil, known to many as His Honour Judge H.C. Leon, MC, was a High Court judge as well as a famous author. He wrote during the three-week-long family holidays which were usually spent in comfortable hotels in Britain. He would sit in a deck chair in a sunny garden, exercise book on lap and pen in hand, writing from 10 am to 1pm, then again from 2.30 to 4 pm each day. His writing career is attributed to his Second World War experiences. Sailing around the Cape on a 'dry' troop ship on the way to Cairo, the colonel asked his adjutant (Cecil) to tell stories to keep the officers' minds off alcohol. The stories were so popular that they became a regular feature, and formed the basis of his first collection, 'Full Circle', published in 1948. Thereafter, the legal year, his impressions at court, or at other official functions, as well as dinners at the Savoy Grill or at his club, the Garrick, all provided material for his considerable brain power. Many of his stories were made into films or plays - notably 'Brothers-in-Law' and 'Alibi for a Judge'. These and other books have also provided a stimulus for those wishing to take up law as a career. They are a delight for those who look for authenticity in the most aptly described British characters. Cecil died in May 1976, still at the height of his mental powers. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Unknown Binding: 189 pages
• Publisher: Gaunt (1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561692743
• ISBN-13: 978-1561692743
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars not the same ol' thing, March 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Independent Witness (Naturaleza Y Ocio) (Paperback)

I stumbled upon this book quite be accident and boy, am I glad I did. This takes you through the events following a collision between a car and a motorcycle. It records the event as seen from the point of view of eight different witnesses, all who may or may not have seen what they think they saw. This may not sound like it would make for fascinating reading, but trust me on this, it really does! The writing is superb, the plot speeds along (no pun intended), and the characterizations are often hilarious. Suffice to say that this is not your ordinary mystery. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great learning experiance, June 5, 2008

By 

Maritsa "anything fun is worth knowing about" (Tujunga, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Independent Witness (Paperback)

You can get the whole book by reading the first chapter and the last, but if you do that then you'll miss the oddity of the book. The humor is excellent. I caught myself laughing on the metro a few times. Every person should read Henry's books because they help you learn the legal procedures not only of UK but also of the US. What does it mean to be a witness to an accident? How do you know if what you saw was really what happened? Through the legal proceedings you will learn to ignore some faults you may have in the way you may present your very case as well (if you should end up in the court room for any reason). The ending will surprise you.

5.0 out of 5 stars Clever, Witty, Touching, Suspenseful, and Hilarious, August 10, 2005

By 

Randi (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Independent Witness (Paperback)

I read this book because of a great review in the NY Times. I agree with the 2 other reviews, so won't repeat their comments. I have to say that the book is laugh-out-loud funny. I consider it to be a farce, which is normally not the kind of book I'd seek out. But Henry Cecil was so clever & witty in defining his characters & situations, that it was irresistible. It didn't matter where I was when I read it: restaurant, hair dresser, etc. No matter how hard I might have tried, I couldn't keep from laughing aloud. I wouldn't try, even if I could; why keep all that delight to myself?