Sober As A Judge

Roger Thursby #3

by Henry Cecil

This is the third Roger Thursby novel. He is now a High Court judge, aged 46. He is married to Anne. He has calmed down and has to be careful his private life doesn’t cause any comment. The novel details a number of cases Roger has to preside over. This includes a libel case where the libel consisted of an inedible ice-cream and another case where a delivery of oranges turns to juice before arrival. The book has a series of eccentric witnesses. The tone is still light and good-humoured.

The Author: Judge Henry Cecil Leon was born in Norwood Green Rectory near London in 1902. In 1923 he was called to the Bar and between 1949 to 1967 he served as a county court judge. He developed his writing skills while serving with the British Army during the Second World War, telling stories to officers to keep their minds off alcohol while sailing on ‘dry’ ships. These formed the basis of his first collection, Full Circle, published in 1948. Thereafter the law and official functions provided the main source for many of his stories and plays. Cecil had an extraordinary ability to examine the law in both a humorous and a more serious, analytical way, providing a series of thought provoking works. The titles being published by House of Stratus include some of his best known work, many of which have been filmed, notably 'Brothers in Law' and 'Alibi for a Judge'. Though his books deal with the legal system many have more than an element of the mystery/thriller genre about them.

Genres: Fiction, Humor

144 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1958

About the author

Henry Cecil Leon (19 September 1902 – 23 May 1976), who wrote under the pen-names Henry Cecil and Clifford Maxwell, was a judge and a writer of fiction about the British legal system. He was born near London in 1902 and was called to the Bar in 1923. Later in 1949 he was appointed a County Court Judge, a position he held until 1967. He used these experiences as inspiration for his work. His books are works of great comic genius with unpredictable twists of plot, but are not intended to be realistic or strong on characterization. They typically feature educated and genteel fraudsters and blackmailers who lay ludicrously ingenious plots exploiting loopholes in the legal system. There are several recurring characters, such as the drunken solicitor Mr Tewkesbury and the convoluted and exasperating witness Colonel Brain. He writes well about the judicial process, usually through the eyes of a young barrister but sometimes from the viewpoint of the judge; Daughters in Law contains a memorable snub from a County Court judge to a barrister who is trying to patronise him.

His 1955 novel Brothers in Law was made into a film in 1957 and, later, a television and radio series starring Richard Briers. While at Paramount Pictures, Alfred Hitchcock worked on adapting No Bail for the Judge for the screen several times between 1954 and 1960, and hoped to co-star Audrey Hepburn, Laurence Harvey, and John Williams, but the film was never produced.

Reviews

[Saurabh · Rating 2 out of 5]

The humour is utterly dated and the book is virtually pointless. Just a bunch of unconnected happenings at court that are at best of minor educational value. A wisp of a story does run through, but only a page here and paragraph there, ultimately reaching an unsatisfactory end. I had read *a* Henry Cecil in college some 25 years ago which I'd liked, but it wasnt the same as this one. All I remember from it is it had a lawyer who deliberately forgot his clients' names so he could remember important details about the case. Now I dont know that I'd like it, because this one was quite bad, and maybe I just was an easily pleased reader then.

[Suryamouli Datta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good but certainly cannot consider it to be one of the Cecil's best works.

[Shravan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the wittiest novels I have read.Henry Cecil, through his humour, manages to show how law can sometimes be absurd and questions the ability of the legal system to deliver justice.Silly law suits, court room humour , mischievous (and funny) scams it contains all.Overall, completely worth your time and money