Wilkes His Life and Crimes [Paperback]

WINSTON SCHOONOVER (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This first novel is an acidly hilarious view of justice in action, but many readers will find it disrespectful, vulgar and foul. In a bizarre cross between Rumpole of the Bailey and mud wrestling, Schoonover writes himself in as the legal sidekick of John Wilkes, defender of the downtrodden, or at least of those downtrodden who can pay high legal fees. Among Wilkes's picaresque misadventures is a stay in prison, where, disguised as an Arab, he leads the inmates in a riot. He makes a futile attempt to defend "the Lizard," a pimp who routinely abuses his 72 "rental units." To get free publicity, Wilkes (who bears no affection for members of the judiciary) runs for a post on the New York State Supreme Court. Despite his best efforts to insult the entire electorate, Wilkes is in great danger of defeating his opponent, the Mob's preferred candidate. Schoonover is an alias for Charles Sevilla, a criminal defense lawyer; portions of the novel have appeared in the law journals the Champion and the Forum .
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1st edition (June 30, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345359631
• ISBN-13: 978-0345359636
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #724,374 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A hilarious look at the legal profession, December 4, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Wilkes His Life and Crimes (Paperback)

In the style of Dr. Watson, Schoonover has written an eyewitness account of his legal mentor Wilkes. This book is hilarious. Having practiced law on occasion in the New York criminal courts, I could not stop laughing. The book will be just as funny to non-lawyers, too. It's constant and not-so-subtle broadsides against the legal profession and the characters who haunt the criminal courts will appeal to all. (Sorry about that.) It is well worth the quick read, as is Wilkes on Trial, the sequel.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars RUMPOLE'S AMERICAN NEPHEW, August 8, 2001

By 

unijurist (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wilkes His Life and Crimes (Paperback)

I just loved this book! As a practicing criminal defense attorney who also served 6 years on the bench let me just report that the stories in this book are more true than not. If you are looking for a great read and a bellyfull of laughs pick up this wonderful tome. My wife kicked me out of bed because I was laughing so loud (snorting and chortling as well) that she opined she couldn"t read her own book with me making all that noise.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars God bless an attorney with a sense of humor., May 8, 1999

By 

James W. Penrose - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wilkes: His Life and Crimes (Mass Market Paperback)

One can either rage against the absurdities inherent in our system of justice or make fun of them, and Chuck Sevilla has chosen to do the latter in this wonderful, funny book. Venal clients, crazy judges, and the highs and lows of practicing law are all presented here in the story of John Wilkes, a fictional criminal defense attorney from New York City. I'm sorry to see this book out of print, because it should be required reading for every law student, lawyer, judge and anyone else with an interest in the rule of law. Give it a try.