The Seven Minutes Irving Wallace Pdf
- The Seven Minutes (sh. Sedam minuta) je roman američkog književnika Irvinga Wallacea objavljen 1969. Nastao u jeku seksualne revolucije, nastojao se baviti tada aktualnim pitanjima legalnosti pornografije i granica slobode govora.
- Wallace, Irving 1916– Wallace is a prolific American author of popular, topical novels, short stories, and screenplays. He has remarked that he tells his tales as if they were part of an oral.
Contents.Plot summary A novel entitled The Seven Minutes, purporting to be the thoughts in a woman's mind during seven minutes of, is reputed to be the most obscene piece of pornography ever written, with massive public debate as to whether or not the book should be. A bookseller named Ben Fredmont sells The Seven Minutes to Jeffrey Griffith, a college student with no history of violence.
The book is found in Jeffrey's possession after his arrest for committing a brutal rape and murder.District Attorney Elmo Duncan takes advantage of the public interest in the case and conspires to publicly link the The Seven Seconds with the Jeffrey Griffith trial. His plan is to not only ban the book, but to make possessing it illegal on the grounds of public morality and safety. Ultimately he wishes to use this platform of moral decency to unseat the current governor in an upcoming election. Luther Yerkes, a wealthy businessman who has clashed with the incumbent governor, secretly funds Duncan's censorship campaign.
The Seven Minutes book. Read 66 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. In the stillness of the courtroom a bookseller stands accused of.
This leads to the arrest of Ben Fredmont for providing the book to Griffith, as well as legal action leveled at the book's publisher Phillips Sanford as he refuses to cooperate in an attempt to locate the author of the book, 'J.J. Sanford claims that the real Jadway committed suicide in Europe years before due to despondency over the book's reception.Sanford, believing the book is an artistic masterpiece and that legal action represents a dangerous precedent, calls upon his old friend, attorney Michael Barrett, to defend Fredmont. This results in a landmark in which numerous witnesses are called to speak on the difference between artistic expression and obscenity and the public good versus freedom of choice.Unexpectedly, a woman named Constance Cumberland, head of a vocal society for public decency, takes the stand in the book's defense. Cumberland reveals that she wrote The Seven Minutes based on a powerful sexual experience that changed her life. At the time she wrote the book, it would have been damaging for her to reveal herself as its author, therefore she invented the name 'J.J.
Jadway' and had her publisher, Phillip Sanford, spread rumors of Jadway's death to protect Cumberland's identity. In fact, much of her campaign for decency is motivated by a desire to separate sexual openness and honesty, which she believes is a public good, from harmful exploitation. She also reveals that having spoken to Jeffrey Griffith in person, the real motivation for his crime was his own sexual insecurities, which she believes would not have been the case had he been in an environment where he did not feel shamed for seeking information about sex.After Cumberland's testimony, the jury finds the book not obscene. The prosecutor vows to try the case again in a different part of the state, but Barrett states that is ridiculous to restrict what people are allowed to read in the privacy of their own homes or to use art as a for much deeper societal issues.Adaptation The book was made into the film, directed by in, co-starring, and.In popular culture The of, who was interviewed by Wallace during research for his bookpublished a novel, The Original Seven Minutes, whose author on the title page was J. Jadway, and whose content followed the indications in Wallace's novel. In other words, if Wallace's novel dealt with an allegedly obscene, fictional book, they claimed to be the publishers of that very book.
Following legal action by Wallace, the book was withdrawn, and later republished as The Seven Erotic Minutes with the purported author's name and all references to Wallace removed.In the to the novel, cites Irving Wallace's book as a source of inspiration.References.
In the stillness of the courtroom a bookseller stands accused of selling a book. Is it a work of sensitive genius or an execrable volume of pornography? Could it have driven a respectable college boy to commit brutal rape? And who is the author of the novel at the vortex of a storm of sensation and controversy?' Michael Barret has been asked by a friend to join him in a sma In the stillness of the courtroom a bookseller stands accused of selling a book. Is it a work of sensitive genius or an execrable volume of pornography? Could it have driven a respectable college boy to commit brutal rape?
And who is the author of the novel at the vortex of a storm of sensation and controversy?' Michael Barret has been asked by a friend to join him in a small law partnership, but has also been offered a huge salary to go into big business. He's certain of his choice, till he is given a chance to be involved with a major case involved with protecting free speech.The case is about the explicit book 'The Seven Minutes', which some people consider pornography, while others, Barret included, feel is impressive literature. The main focus of the prosecution's case is a teenager who bought the book, and was soon after arrested for rape. According to the prosecution, the book insinuated the boy to do what he did, so it must be banned.The novel follows the course of the trial, as both Barret and the prosecutor search for reputable witnesses to prove their side. So unassuming at first glance, but this book was so much more, a hidden gem. I have such respect and admiration for this book.
I have deep, deep affection for its inner workings and mechanism, what it tried to do, what it stood for.It won me over delighting me as it took me through twists and turns exhibited in it. I found myself cheering for the champions, all of them, the book surprising me at every turn, and then surprised me even more. The final act, all of it, felt so satisfying. Like writSo unassuming at first glance, but this book was so much more, a hidden gem. I have such respect and admiration for this book. I have deep, deep affection for its inner workings and mechanism, what it tried to do, what it stood for.It won me over delighting me as it took me through twists and turns exhibited in it. I found myself cheering for the champions, all of them, the book surprising me at every turn, and then surprised me even more.
The final act, all of it, felt so satisfying. Like writing about Winter.The subject matter is mild compared to today's standards and maybe the point it was making is moot now.
But the hue of this book is still so relevant.It made such a convincing case for opening your mindsit won the argument over the definition of censorship.Scoring a point, a match point.Wallace in this book raised the question of what is obscene and what is not, and in my opinion answered that question adequately.So what is obscene, to you?Incidentally, The Seven Minutes inspired Paulo Coelho's Eleven Minutes, the only one of his books that I actually liked. It's nice to see the enthusiasm for this book and its author. I read and enjoyed this in 1972 or 1973, at a time when my reading taste was very commercial and rather indiscriminate, often consisting of healthy doses of the fast-paced, glossy fiction that authors such as Irving Wallace, Harold Robbins and Arthur Hailey produced regularly - I was in my mid-teens and such reading material seemed very grown-up (and to be fair to myself, I was also reading more serious authors such as Ayn Rand).Desp It's nice to see the enthusiasm for this book and its author. I read and enjoyed this in 1972 or 1973, at a time when my reading taste was very commercial and rather indiscriminate, often consisting of healthy doses of the fast-paced, glossy fiction that authors such as Irving Wallace, Harold Robbins and Arthur Hailey produced regularly - I was in my mid-teens and such reading material seemed very grown-up (and to be fair to myself, I was also reading more serious authors such as Ayn Rand).Despite decades of popularity, Wallace's name is unfamiliar to today's readers, his books found only on the shelves of used bookstores. As we're told on Wikipedia: 'Wallace was a blue-collar writer who wrote for a blue-collar audience. Most critics were scornful of his novels' flat prose and pedestrian characters'.
'Wallace's name is not to be found in directories of writers but he possessed the skill to entertain millions and he was seldom pretentious about it.' The recent fuss (and spectacular sales) of E.L. James's FIFTY SHADES Trilogy (which, other than flipping through a few random pages I haven't read and don't intend to read) reminded me that THE SEVEN MINUTES is about the controversy over a sexually explicit book - could reading about the thoughts and fantasies of a woman during seven minutes of sexual intercourse actually incite a college student to rape? - so I've decided to have a go at re-reading it.The novel is dedicated 'To Fanny, Constance, Molly, who made it possible' - it's a certainty that few of today's readers who so easily obtain a copy of FIFTY SHADES OF GREY by merely walking into a bookstore where it's prominently displayed, are familiar with the three women mentioned and the controversial works in which they appeared: Fanny Hill (Cleland's MEMOIRS OF A WOMAN OF PLEASURE), Constance Chatterley (Lawrence's LADY CHATTERLEY'S LOVER) and Molly Bloom (Joyce's ULYSSES). All three novels were sexually explicit, considered 'pornographic,' and were the subject of an important obscenity trial which resulted in changing the public's perception of 'pornography' and what could or couldn't be sold or mailed. FIFTY SHADES OF GREY would be sold 'under the counter' - if at all - without these three women, who made it possible for today's readers to casually walk into their local bookstore to obtain a copy and find it prominently displayed.6/24: Michael Korda, who was Wallace's editor at Simon & Schuster for many years, felt that Wallace's novels were bloated potboilers, and the weight of some of his 1960s novels would seem to back up that opinion. I reckon this novel should be read by everybody especially politician as well as conservative people.
The novel vividly described hidden activation of censors and anti-censors and moral dilemma we are facing today. I was shocked to find that Gibbon`s Decline and Fall of Roman Empire and Mill`s Principles of Political Economy were listed in the Index of Prohibited Books because they are anticlerical. I learned one thing from the novel that moral standards are changing. I reckon this novel should be read by everybody especially politician as well as conservative people. The novel vividly described hidden activation of censors and anti-censors and moral dilemma we are facing today.
I was shocked to find that Gibbon`s Decline and Fall of Roman Empire and Mill`s Principles of Political Economy were listed in the Index of Prohibited Books because they are anticlerical. I learned one thing from the novel that moral standards are changing.
I'm not a big fan of lawyer novels, but as an artist I've had many discussions about what obscenity in art means. The Seven Minutes by Irving Wallace, is a fictional account of a trial about blocking publication of an erotic book, which speaks to this issue in an informative and also entertaining fashion.Good fiction writers often can do this better than non-fiction for a layperson (pardon the pun). Wallace is obviously talented in writing best sellers, but with this one somehow manages to make I'm not a big fan of lawyer novels, but as an artist I've had many discussions about what obscenity in art means.
The Seven Minutes by Irving Wallace, is a fictional account of a trial about blocking publication of an erotic book, which speaks to this issue in an informative and also entertaining fashion.Good fiction writers often can do this better than non-fiction for a layperson (pardon the pun). Wallace is obviously talented in writing best sellers, but with this one somehow manages to make the reader increasingly interested as he spends more than half of a very long book on the relatively dry subject of legal precedents, trial research, and the intricacies of other court proceedings prior and during the fireworks of a trial.The accompanying personal story lines are composed of stock characters you would expect in Wallace's potboiler fiction, but he takes his subject, the nature of art vs obscenity seriously. Originally published in 1970, the characters' manner of talking and acting may seem a bit dated, but we, unfortunately to this day, continue to contest the roles and independence of men and women in society, as well as the meaning and expression of sexuality. While the novel has a slow beginning, I found myself learning a lot, and turning the pages more and more quickly as I stayed with it.This is one of those 'make a difference books' which I occasionally find, and in this case quite unexpectedly. I was throwing out a bunch of old novels when I realized I had never read this one, picked it up expecting little, and found it spoke to me a lot. While the main plot revolves around healthy sexuality versus crime and obscenity, the reader is led thoughtfully into the wider issues freedom vs dependence and what is important to live a full, meaningful life. The Seven Minutes written by Irving Wallace is a novel about a novel,”The Seven Minutes – J J Jadway”, one of the most banned and obscene book of all Times.As per prosecution, “The Seven Minute” is immoral, filthy and very dangerous to society while on other side as per defense, the book is master piece and literature art not made for monetary purpose but with social importance.
Lots of unforgettable characters are caught up in this dramatic conflict over sexual freedom, perversion, nudity, obsc The Seven Minutes written by Irving Wallace is a novel about a novel,”The Seven Minutes – J J Jadway”, one of the most banned and obscene book of all Times.As per prosecution, “The Seven Minute” is immoral, filthy and very dangerous to society while on other side as per defense, the book is master piece and literature art not made for monetary purpose but with social importance. Lots of unforgettable characters are caught up in this dramatic conflict over sexual freedom, perversion, nudity, obscenity and human right.This novel became inspiration source for lots of author and film maker including “Eleven Minutes” written by Paulo Coelho. Book is written very well and sticks you till the End. Vatican has a book list to condemn authors of immorality. It is called the Index.
Points at the hypocrisy of the church and fights for the freedom of speech for writers.Popes known for immorality: Pope Sergius 111 had a lover called Marozia, who had her illegitimate son named Pope John 1X; Pope Leo V111 died of a stroke in his lovers bed;Pope Alexander V1, father of the Borgias. One of his mistresses was 17 year old Giulia Farnesse. Discusses the origin of baser vocabulary, all with honourable b Vatican has a book list to condemn authors of immorality. It is called the Index. Points at the hypocrisy of the church and fights for the freedom of speech for writers.Popes known for immorality: Pope Sergius 111 had a lover called Marozia, who had her illegitimate son named Pope John 1X; Pope Leo V111 died of a stroke in his lovers bed;Pope Alexander V1, father of the Borgias. One of his mistresses was 17 year old Giulia Farnesse.
Discusses the origin of baser vocabulary, all with honourable beginnings. This is a true story: I first saw The Seven Minutes at a resale shop, immediately bought the weathered copy for 50 cents and about 120 pages into it, the spine cracked something fierce, and no matter how delicately I tried flipping the following pages, preservation was fruitless; I really liked where it was going but I also wasn’t about to page through it and simply discard every page as I finished it, which is where that exercise would have headed. Oh well, I just read something else.About a y This is a true story: I first saw The Seven Minutes at a resale shop, immediately bought the weathered copy for 50 cents and about 120 pages into it, the spine cracked something fierce, and no matter how delicately I tried flipping the following pages, preservation was fruitless; I really liked where it was going but I also wasn’t about to page through it and simply discard every page as I finished it, which is where that exercise would have headed. Oh well, I just read something else.About a year later, I came across the same book, in the same store, and figured ‘what the hell’, and bought yet another 50 cent copy.
Now, I am not an authority on the subject ('resale shop inventory and its reflection of public acceptance'), but I think this unlikely circumstance is a pretty good indication that the book pretty much sucks; finding two copies averaging about 35 years-old apiece within a year of each other, donated (of all things) to the same store located in a crappy little town about 30 miles from Chicago. Let’s face it, the book pretty much has to suck.Well, here I am spitting out the feathers after another serving of crow. I actually enjoyed this book somehow!
Not only were the origins of my obtaining this book enough to make me wary, but let’s just take a look at the elements involved; none of which I am particularly fond of:Courtroom Drama: Anyone who has been on the receiving end of a bitch-slap from the farcical entity known as the American Justice System doesn’t need to immerse themselves in a novel concerning ‘courtroom drama’. Once involved in such an unfortunate chain of events, reading about a bunch of high-falutin’ windbags and morons plying their trade under the auspices of serving the public is just f.cking ridiculous, and can only serve to reopen deep & jagged wounds which the tender touch of time has slowly started to heal.Censorship: Some people will carry on in regards to this issue with a zealousness bordering on the imbecilic; either defending the need for censorship with such preposterous evidence as to make one wonder how they manage to survive with a turnip for a brain ('Oh look, Mr. Pivotal Character is screwing a squid, heaven forbid the children should read this. They'll all be compelled to screw squids!' ), or boneheadedly acknowledging utter garbage as reputable fare worthy of literary praise for reasons unbeknownst to me ('Oh look, Mr. Pivotal Character is screwing a squid, we can now certify this work justifies humanity’s introduction into the grand chain of existence').Pornography: I find it distasteful; a pitiful excuse for art or entertainment, shameless exploitation of men and women for unsavory ends, the culmination of the distilled dregs of degradation.
“Style, structure, imagery should never distract the reader from his tepid lust.the passages in between must be reduced to sutures of sense, logical bridges of the simplest design, brief expositions and explanations, which the reader will probably skip”: thus Nabokov on smut. You can disagree with me, but are you really going to lock horns with the lauded sensibilities of Nabokov?Actually, scratch that. I had an epiphany recently which brought upon the uncomfortable revelation that I can probably be classified as a fan of porn, if not an outright addict. Upon alphabetizing my media after moving a week ago, it appeared that there was a shelf of movies without a single pornographic filmbut at the 11th hour, while opening a box labeled ‘Chris – Misc.’ what should appear but my g/f’s copy of ‘Jail Whores’, finally giving some porn representation to the “H” through “L” rank and restoring balance to my life. Granted, this isn’t technically my DVD, but only those reading this review will ever be any the wiser.Anyway, The Seven Minutes didn’t appear to have anything remotely adhering to my own narrow scope of reading preferences, not only for the reasons above, but also because it didn’t meet my two basic criteria; it was not a Harlequin romance nor was it written by Dr. Despite the glaring fact this was probably way above my own stunted reading level, I gave it a shot.Well-meaning attorney Michael Barret has paid his dues slumming it as a defense attorney for the unfortunate in the gritty 1960’s; for years he’s stayed true to his youthful idealism that doing the right thing trumps getting paid (his stoner clientele has paid him with everything from incense to patchouli-reeking seashell necklaces) but things have finally turned around.
While he has a standing offer to join forces with his old chum, Abe Zelkin (another defense attorney with his same basic tenets on justice), his splendid work for his current firm has brought his skills to the attention of the Los Angeles county elite, where he is quickly endeared by mogul Willard Osborn, which leads to his courtship of Osborn’s daughter, society woman Faye. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,Evelyn Beatrice Hall once said, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” In spite of stepping into the twenty-first century with aplomb, we as a human race have not progressed to a point where all written word is cherished and published. Censorship is very much a reality and books are routinely suppressed and banned.The censorship debate is age-old and has often been used to suppress the voices of those who are either perceived as dissenters by some po Evelyn Beatrice Hall once said, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” In spite of stepping into the twenty-first century with aplomb, we as a human race have not progressed to a point where all written word is cherished and published. Censorship is very much a reality and books are routinely suppressed and banned.The censorship debate is age-old and has often been used to suppress the voices of those who are either perceived as dissenters by some political groups or whose ideas are regarded as immoral when viewed with the subjective lens of some community.
The statute books all across the world, in one form or another, still contain an arbitration provision of censorship which has led to some of the infamous trials in the literary history of the world.Published in 1969, Wallace’s The Seven Minutes still remains relevant. Dealing with the subject of censorship, the plot revolves around the trial of a controversial fictitious book, The Seven Minutes written by J J Jadway, which is banned for obscenity. Opening with the arrest of the bookseller charged for selling the obscene material, the narrative takes a turn when a boy charged with rape reveals that Jadway’s book drove him to commit such a heinous act. And suddenly, the boy becomes the victim of Jadway’s book and the book becomes the actual culprit.
It becomes the rallying point of the State, “Protect the public from those lust-provoking books that lead to terror.”The battle lines are drawn – on one side of the prism is the trifecta between the State, the money and the religion represented by Elmo Duncan, the District Attorney, and on the other side is the publisher, Philip Sanford represented by Michael Barrett – the young and idealistic attorney. What unfolds behind the scenes is political manipulation – the trial publicised by the district attorney and his benefactor for political gain.Drawing on the vast material, the author presents both sides of the debate. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it,. Spoilers.Great premise but not very well executed. The book is unnecessarily long and drawn-out, with pages-long speeches and monologues and tangents. The plot is a bit dubious, with the ‘brilliant lawyer’ main character actually doing very little to try and put together a case and dropping any potential leads at the slightest bit of resistance. The rape victim’s dad threatens to hit you? Oh well, better drop all investigation into that crucial part of the crime that is the main piece.
Spoilers.Great premise but not very well executed. The book is unnecessarily long and drawn-out, with pages-long speeches and monologues and tangents. The plot is a bit dubious, with the ‘brilliant lawyer’ main character actually doing very little to try and put together a case and dropping any potential leads at the slightest bit of resistance.
The rape victim’s dad threatens to hit you? Oh well, better drop all investigation into that crucial part of the crime that is the main piece of evidence against your book.Oh, the nun who is the daughter of the second most important person in the entire trial, probably won’t want to speak to you, according to the mother superior? Best leave it alone then and don’t bother pushing for someone to actually ask her in that case.Oh, the poorly fleshed out female love interest (but that’s OK, she’s very pretty so her character doesn’t really need development) asks you to not to question the person whose crime will be used by the prosecution to hinge their entire case on?
Irving Wallace The Man
And in exchange for that she will give you some very dubious and unverified evidence that she won’t show you in advance? Hey, why not! It’s not like other people’s lives and careers are going to be impacted by the outcom of this case!Essentially the main character spent the entire book waiting for the deus ex machina to bail him out. And it does in a very predictable and un-explosive way. Disappointing, boring and a waste of several days’ reading. By Irving Wallace.
Grade: AIrving Wallace was born in Chicago. His best-selling and award-winning novels have been translated into numerous languages and have sold some 250 million copies around the world. He is considered one of the five most widely read authors of modern times.A bookstore owner is arrested for selling a copy of “the most obscene piece of pornography ever written.” The notorious work – telling a woman’s thoughts during seven minutes of sexual intercourse – is condemned not only By Irving Wallace.
The Plot Irving Wallace
Grade: AIrving Wallace was born in Chicago. His best-selling and award-winning novels have been translated into numerous languages and have sold some 250 million copies around the world. He is considered one of the five most widely read authors of modern times.A bookstore owner is arrested for selling a copy of “the most obscene piece of pornography ever written.” The notorious work – telling a woman’s thoughts during seven minutes of sexual intercourse – is condemned not only for obscenity, but for having driven a respectable college to brutal rape and murder.Overnight, the trial becomes a battleground where censors and anti-censors meet in open combat. At the centre of the storm is Michael Barrett, lawyer for the defense.
In his struggle to save the book, the trial, and his own future, Barrett encounters a gallery of unforgettable characters – the leering producers of filthy stag films, a sexually permissive society girl, a ruthless electronics tycoon, All are caught up in this dramatic conflict over sexual freedom, perversion, nudity, obscenity and human rights.The plot begins with an undercover investigation of a bookstore, after which he is arrested for distributed pornography and spreading obscenity by means of an extremely obscene book. The publisher, when asked for help by the bookstore owner, asks his friend Michael Barrett, a successful attorney to fight the case for him. Michael Barrett, a highly successful attorney in the upper circles of the society and who is about to make a decision that would change his life forever, is torn between his personal obligations, his inner values, ideals and beliefs and the life he could have – a life of luxury, fame and everything one could ask for.
Fighting this moral torment, Barrett decides to risk everything and fight this case, not just because his “inner conscience” tells him to do so, but because he is sick and tired of the charade that he has been carrying on for some time now and he really believes in the freedom of speech and non-censorship.Pitted against him is the District Attorney, Elmo Duncan, a devil in the courtroom, with an agenda of his own. Duncan is in the race of becoming a senator and he believes that the publicity during the trial and a win could secure him his ambition. Gathering all that he has and everyone he could find, he goes full throttle into the trial.
The twist comes in when the son of an electronics tycoon, accused of raping a girl, claims that it was the book which aggravated him and caused this heinous act as an end result. This drags the case to a whole new dimension.With the added disadvantage to the case, it is now upto Michael Barrett to take up a losing case and put up the fight of his life to make sure that whatever he believes in stays intact.
How he accomplishes the seemingly impossible and in the process how he uncovers the truth behind this landmark case, is what the story covers.In the very beginning, I’d like to mention the one USP of this novel. Half of the novel is covered by the proceedings of the trial. The best thing about the novel is the trial. The way the case in concern has been covered through the novel – the research involved, the gradual but failing investigation, the detailed analysis of every single aspect involved in the case, the prediction of every single, possible move of the opponent, the legal shenanigans involved, the courtroom witticism and cynicism – each and every aspect is really commendable. Another shining aspect is the way verbal references, legal or otherwise, have been given. It is exactly like how legal experts go about their dealings.An excerpt from the novel which best illustrates the point:He ached to relate what might be an effective anecdote. He wanted to say, “Can anyone dictate tastes and taboos differ so?
They differ from state to state of this Union, and in every country of this world. One is reminded of Sir Richard Burton’s story about a group of Englishmen who went to visit a Moslem sultan in the desert.
As the party of Englishmen watched, the Moslem’s wife tumbled off her camel. In doing so, her dress slipped up and her private parts were revealed to all. Was the Sultan embarrassed? On the contrary, he was pleased – because his wife had kept her face covered during her accident.And just when you think that it has all been said and done, the closing argument between Barrett and Duncan is the cherry on the cake.To sum it up, The Seven Minutes is what could be termed an “intellectual treat”.
If you’re interested in intellectual pursuits and are up for a smooth, suave ride, this is your novel.Originally reviewed at. So many of you have rated this book 5 out of 5. I just cannot.
I enjoy Wallace very much, and I enjoyed this one as well. But, there are some significant areas of shortfall that prevent me from giving it 5 stars. The story is pretty slow-going at first, but it does pick up toward the end, I just don't appreciate being manipulated quite as blatently as Mr. Wallace did this time. Just before revealing each new element, he has Mr. Barrett 'remember' or 'review' all the preceding information.
Nee So many of you have rated this book 5 out of 5. I just cannot.
I enjoy Wallace very much, and I enjoyed this one as well. But, there are some significant areas of shortfall that prevent me from giving it 5 stars. The story is pretty slow-going at first, but it does pick up toward the end, I just don't appreciate being manipulated quite as blatently as Mr.
Wallace did this time. Just before revealing each new element, he has Mr. Barrett 'remember' or 'review' all the preceding information. Needlessly adding pages of pedagogy to an already long book, and totally ruining the mood of suspense. However, my main complaint regarding this book is that NO ONE, not law professors, lawyers, nor professional debaters speaks entirely through paragraphs of quotations from obscure sources. I found myself mentally yelling 'CAN YOU NOT SPEAK FOR YOURSELF?!'
And finally, in the last few pages when Barrett and Duncan are speaking after the trial is over, Barrett sounds like a more formal and erudite version of Tom Joad. Steinbeck should have been given a little credit here.In summary, great topic well covered; enough suspense and mystery to keep me reading through frustration, but not Wallace's best in my opinion. Would have liked to give it 5 stars, but the ending was short and abrupt (we do get the explanation and loose ends are wrapped up nice and tidy - but outside of courtroom drama)First half of the book is massive build up to the case that then plays out in court. We get POV from both sides - while that prepares the reader in advance, the author still manages to introduce elements of surprise. Seasoned readers would spot many of the twists easily and yet the detail and depth of treatment by the aut Would have liked to give it 5 stars, but the ending was short and abrupt (we do get the explanation and loose ends are wrapped up nice and tidy - but outside of courtroom drama)First half of the book is massive build up to the case that then plays out in court. We get POV from both sides - while that prepares the reader in advance, the author still manages to introduce elements of surprise. Seasoned readers would spot many of the twists easily and yet the detail and depth of treatment by the author keeps us engagedIt's funny in hindsight that I had judged the book by its cover and wouldn't have read it if my friend hadn't pitched in with his raving review.
I had read couple of books by Irving Wallace before and liked them as well. By the end of book, I actually wanted to read 'The Seven Minutes - by J J Jadway'.
Lots of interesting discussion and debate on the historical censorship of novels. Ultimately, it's about the First Amendment, bravely focusing on sexual topics in publication.Though it is unbelievable that someone can attribute his raping a girl to his reading of a dirty book, or that a convent is so strict that it wouldn't let a nun meet a lawyer even on serious business; despite its flaws, the author makes this over-the-top story super entertaining, each chapter with a cliff hanger ending.H Lots of interesting discussion and debate on the historical censorship of novels. Ultimately, it's about the First Amendment, bravely focusing on sexual topics in publication.Though it is unbelievable that someone can attribute his raping a girl to his reading of a dirty book, or that a convent is so strict that it wouldn't let a nun meet a lawyer even on serious business; despite its flaws, the author makes this over-the-top story super entertaining, each chapter with a cliff hanger ending.Half literary legal novel/half pulp fiction. It's 630 pages long and will appeal more to persons interested in courtroom drama.This would make a good movie.
One reason is because it has many roles for beautiful actresses. Irving Wallace was an American bestselling author and screenwriter.
His extensively researched books included such page-turners as The Chapman Report (1960), about human sexuality; The Prize (1962), a fictional behind-the-scenes account of the Nobel Prizes; The Man, about a black man becoming president of the U.S. In the 1960s; and The Word (1972), about the discovery of a new gospel.Wallace was b Irving Wallace was an American bestselling author and screenwriter.
His extensively researched books included such page-turners as The Chapman Report (1960), about human sexuality; The Prize (1962), a fictional behind-the-scenes account of the Nobel Prizes; The Man, about a black man becoming president of the U.S. In the 1960s; and The Word (1972), about the discovery of a new gospel.Wallace was born in Chicago, Illinois. Wallace grew up in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He was the father of Olympic historian David Wallechinsky and author.Wallace began selling stories to magazines when he was a teenager. In World War II Wallace served in the Frank Capra unit in Fort Fox along with Theodor Seuss Geisel - more popularly known as Dr Seuss - and continued to write for magazines. He also served in the First Motion Picture Unit of the Army Air Force.
In the years immediately following World war II Wallace became a Hollywood screenwriter. He collaborated on such films as The West Point Story (1950), Split Second (1953),and Meet Me at the Fair (1953).After several years in Hollywood, he devoted himself full-time to writing books. Wallace published 33 books during his lifetime.