Tales from Kentucky Lawyers [Hardcover]

William Lynwood Montell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 21, 2003

" "A woman was sitting on the witness stand, and the lawyer asked her, 'Did you, or did you not, on the night of June 23rd have sex with a hippie on the back of a motorcycle in a peach orchard?' She thought for a few minutes, then said, 'What was that date again?'" -- from the book Lawyers have long been known as master storytellers, and those from Kentucky are certainly no exception. Veteran oral historian and folklorist Lynwood Montell has collected tales from dozens of lawyers and judges from throughout the Bluegrass State, ranging from the story about the tough Jackson County judge who fined himself for being late to court to unwelcome dogs in the courtroom. Recorded just as they have been told for generations, these stories are sometimes funny, sometimes sad or frightening, sometimes raw and harrowing, but always remarkable. Far more than collection of lawyer jokes, Tales from Kentucky Lawyers recounts the most insightful, entertaining, and occasionally heartbreaking stories ever told by and about Kentucky lawyers and their clients, covering the spectrum from arson to homicide, domestic disagreements to sexual abuse, and everything in between. Tales from Kentucky Lawyers is a valuable resource for folklorists as well as an entertaining and vivid account of the often-surprising legal world.

Editorial Reviews

Review

""This is a delightful book and will be enjoyed by anyone, lawyer or not, who enjoys a good story." --Tennessee Bar Journal" --

""Unexpurgated stories in the words of mostly small-town lawyers involved in some of the damnedest cases you could ever imagine." --Huntsville (TX) Item, (Columbus, MS) Commercial Dispatch" --

""When you get 39 lawyers and judges talking about what happens in court, the stories may prove enlightening, disappointing, humorous, sad, hopeful, downright real -- and occasionally almost unbelievable." --Kentucky Monthly" --

""One of those books that is fun to peruse." --Lexington Herald-Leader" --

""This collection of tales from some of the country's best raconteurs covers not only courtroom situations, but also every kind of topic that might come under a lawyer's eye, from homicide, theft, and moonshine to family matters, with marvelous accounts of blunders, sharp repartee, and comeuppances." --Storytelling Magazine" --

""Montell has done an outstanding job of pulling all the different bits together to create a well-organized, fun-to-read collection of how the legal system in Kentucky has changed over the years. Montell has patched together a clear image of the small-town lawyer, his view of self and his place in the world at large, and how that image has changed with the growth of the legal system. It's a good choice for anyone looking for simply funny stories, or anyone interested in Kentucky." -- Lyrae Borders, Bowling Green Daily News" --

""The book aims to take readers back to a time when teachers were principals,eductaors, and janitors all rolled into one."--James Roberts, Central Kemtucky" --

About the Author

William Lynwood Montell, Emeritus Professor of Folk Studies at Western Kentucky University, is the author of Ghosts across Kentucky and Haunted Houses and Family Ghosts of Kentucky. He lives in Oakland, Kentucky.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: The University Press of Kentucky (November 21, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813122945
• ISBN-13: 978-0813122946
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,002,546 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Not Recommended for Anyone, July 14, 2010

By 

Marginal Man - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tales from Kentucky Lawyers (Kindle Edition)

Do not buy this book. Most of the stories are pointless or very poorly explained. Can't really elaborate; just trust me you will be disappointed. It seems almost no work went into editing this collection of musings.

4.0 out of 5 stars A very narrow audience, August 4, 2009

By 

Kentucky Kurio (Louisville, Ky) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tales from Kentucky Lawyers (Hardcover)

A very readable book but my concern is that it has a very narrow audience -- attorneys who practice in rural or southern states. In any case, lots of great stories and a good look back at how things used to be.

If you like this sort of thing, then this is the sort of thing you will like!

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Lawyers, March 12, 2009

By 

Raymond D. Grosser (Eubank KY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tales from Kentucky Lawyers (Hardcover)

I bought this volume because I met several lawyers and judges who are written about in this book, and I had some of them sign it for us. But--it is something you might read ONCE. If you are really interested get it from a library.