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The Paradine Case (Classic Reprint): A Novel
Excerpt from The Paradine Case
Going home to your wife, Keane? Said the Judge, turning a little from the men by the fire and stretching his thin lips in a faint smile.
Going home to your wife, Keane? Said the Judge, turning a little from the men by the fire and stretching his thin lips in a faint smile.
533 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1933
1 person is currently reading
165 people want to read
About the author
Robert Smythe Hichens
243 books25 followersRobert Smythe Hichens was a satirist and critic, having studied at Clifton College, the Royal College of Music, and the London School of Journalism. He was a friend of Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas.
Also wrote as Robert S. Hichens and Robert Hichens
Also wrote as Robert S. Hichens and Robert Hichens
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 15, 2021
I picked this book up from an op (charity) shop quite some time ago. I was surprised it wasn't available as a kindle, especially as Hitchcock made this book into a film with the same name.
I'm no longer surprised
For one thing, at over 500 pages, this book is very long - & for the first 300 pages, very slow moving. Minute details are repeated endlessly.
Jewishness of some characters was repeated endlessly - I mean what are Jewish shoulders?
Accused poisoner Ingrid Paradine is probably meant to be enigmatic, but for most of the book her character comes across as...well she doesn't have much character. Or personality. Her barrister, Sir Malcolm Keane's infatuation can be partly explained by Ingrid's resemblance to the wife Keane had previously adored (after all many of us go for the same type time after time.) & Keane will sacrifice everything & everyone for this blank doll...
Most people would have given up. I have no idea why I didn't. But as slow moving as this book was, it was well written, with very vivid descriptions of the different scenes. It certainly reminded me of the old black & white movies I used to watch with my Mum on Sunday afternoons. But the last two hundred pages may have been melodramatic, but they were totally gripping - I had several ideas in my head how it was going to turn out - & they were all wrong!
For the patient reader.
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshess...
I'm no longer surprised
For one thing, at over 500 pages, this book is very long - & for the first 300 pages, very slow moving. Minute details are repeated endlessly.
Jewishness of some characters was repeated endlessly - I mean what are Jewish shoulders?
Accused poisoner Ingrid Paradine is probably meant to be enigmatic, but for most of the book her character comes across as...well she doesn't have much character. Or personality. Her barrister, Sir Malcolm Keane's infatuation can be partly explained by Ingrid's resemblance to the wife Keane had previously adored (after all many of us go for the same type time after time.) & Keane will sacrifice everything & everyone for this blank doll...
From the film Alida Valli & Louis Jordan
Most people would have given up. I have no idea why I didn't. But as slow moving as this book was, it was well written, with very vivid descriptions of the different scenes. It certainly reminded me of the old black & white movies I used to watch with my Mum on Sunday afternoons. But the last two hundred pages may have been melodramatic, but they were totally gripping - I had several ideas in my head how it was going to turn out - & they were all wrong!
For the patient reader.
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshess...
January 6, 2022
An interesting story despite being mired down by detail. There is a lot going on in this story and I mean a lot.
While the characters are well fleshed out and the mystery is a viable story line, those who are not into reading long detailed stories will find this one a bit difficult to get through.
More of a character study than your typical solve the crime arrest the villain, this is more about the people and their lives than it is about the crime.
While the characters are well fleshed out and the mystery is a viable story line, those who are not into reading long detailed stories will find this one a bit difficult to get through.
More of a character study than your typical solve the crime arrest the villain, this is more about the people and their lives than it is about the crime.
January 2, 2018
La trama è molto intrigante. Tutto ruota attorno all'accusa di omicidio mossa alla vedova Paradine, sospettata di aver ucciso il marito. Non è particolarmente intricato il caso giuridico di per sè perché si capisce abbastanza facilmente chi sia il colpevole, ma sono interessanti le dinamiche che si sviluppano fra i vari attori di questa vicenda.
Ciò che attrae in questo romanzo è la profonda introspezione che lo pervade. Ciascun personaggio vive momenti di forti dubbi e timori che sono ampiamente (fin troppo) analizzati dall'autore. In ciò stanno la forza e la debolezza del libro. Spesso le riflessioni dei protagonisti diventano noiose perché tirate troppo per le lunghe e il lettore, per una sorta di autodifesa, deve saltare alcune pagine a piè pari, cosa che io ho ampiamente fatto.
Terminato il libro ho avuto la curiosità di guardarmi anche il film che ne ha tratto Hitchcock. Decisamente più snello rispetto al libro e, per questo, molto più godibile.
Ciò che attrae in questo romanzo è la profonda introspezione che lo pervade. Ciascun personaggio vive momenti di forti dubbi e timori che sono ampiamente (fin troppo) analizzati dall'autore. In ciò stanno la forza e la debolezza del libro. Spesso le riflessioni dei protagonisti diventano noiose perché tirate troppo per le lunghe e il lettore, per una sorta di autodifesa, deve saltare alcune pagine a piè pari, cosa che io ho ampiamente fatto.
Terminato il libro ho avuto la curiosità di guardarmi anche il film che ne ha tratto Hitchcock. Decisamente più snello rispetto al libro e, per questo, molto più godibile.
October 27, 2014
This 1933 British novel presents a murder trial from the point of view of the defense team from the suspect’s arrest through the announcement of the verdict. Mrs. Ingrid Paradine has been accused of poisoning her blind husband, the war hero Colonel Paradine. Her solicitor Sir Simon Flaquer arranges for Sir Malcolm Keane to defend her. Complications arise when Lord Horfield, a harsh judge with a well known antipathy to Keane, as well as a less well known lust for Keane’s wife Gay, is named to preside over the case.
Mention is made throughout this novel of the glory of British Justice, but the paeans all have an ironic tone as those on both sides of the case – those who wish to see Mrs. Paradine acquitted and those who wish to see her convicted and executed – do so from personal motives without regard to her actual innocence or guilt. Sir Malcolm falls in love with his client and harbors a hope of his love being reciprocated after an acquittal, his wife Gay, against her better nature, sees Mrs. Paradine’s possible conviction as the elimination of a rival, Lord Horfield would welcome a conviction as both revenge against Keane and as a satisfaction to his own sadistic pleasure in the pronouncing of a death sentence, and Lady Horfield hopes for acquittal as a way of preventing the further degradation of her husband by the frustration of his sadism.
The book sets up a interesting set of characters and motives, but the execution leaves much to be desired. The trial itself takes up the last 200 pages of the book and is well presented, making for compelling reading. Unfortunately, 300 pages precede the start of the trial and these are filled with repetition and irrelevancy. Hichens will describe something, such as the nature of the antagonism between Keane and Horfield, in third person narration and then, a few pages later, repeat the point in dialogue between Keane and his wife. He has characters describe their train itineraries where the sequence of stations and transfers has absolutely no relevance to the plot. The thoughts of characters are described and, with little or no additional information, rehashed in the next chapter. Sir Simon is introduced as “a devout son of Israel” and very few of his many subsequent appearances fail to reiterate this point in some fashion. Three examples from various points in the book:
He lifted his rather Oriental-looking hands in a very un-English gesture. (pg 40)
Sir Simon leaned forward with his expressive and very un-English hands folded one over the other. (pg. 96)
He lifted his hands in an expressive and very un-English gesture. (pg. 276)
At one point Horfield’s ”real nature” is described as “compounded of Satyr and Faun” which seems to me a distinction without a difference.
To be fair to Hichens, I’ll end with one of his better passages, a succinct description of the femme fatale as Keane confronts Mrs. Paradine during a recess in the trial:
Mention is made throughout this novel of the glory of British Justice, but the paeans all have an ironic tone as those on both sides of the case – those who wish to see Mrs. Paradine acquitted and those who wish to see her convicted and executed – do so from personal motives without regard to her actual innocence or guilt. Sir Malcolm falls in love with his client and harbors a hope of his love being reciprocated after an acquittal, his wife Gay, against her better nature, sees Mrs. Paradine’s possible conviction as the elimination of a rival, Lord Horfield would welcome a conviction as both revenge against Keane and as a satisfaction to his own sadistic pleasure in the pronouncing of a death sentence, and Lady Horfield hopes for acquittal as a way of preventing the further degradation of her husband by the frustration of his sadism.
The book sets up a interesting set of characters and motives, but the execution leaves much to be desired. The trial itself takes up the last 200 pages of the book and is well presented, making for compelling reading. Unfortunately, 300 pages precede the start of the trial and these are filled with repetition and irrelevancy. Hichens will describe something, such as the nature of the antagonism between Keane and Horfield, in third person narration and then, a few pages later, repeat the point in dialogue between Keane and his wife. He has characters describe their train itineraries where the sequence of stations and transfers has absolutely no relevance to the plot. The thoughts of characters are described and, with little or no additional information, rehashed in the next chapter. Sir Simon is introduced as “a devout son of Israel” and very few of his many subsequent appearances fail to reiterate this point in some fashion. Three examples from various points in the book:
He lifted his rather Oriental-looking hands in a very un-English gesture. (pg 40)
Sir Simon leaned forward with his expressive and very un-English hands folded one over the other. (pg. 96)
He lifted his hands in an expressive and very un-English gesture. (pg. 276)
At one point Horfield’s ”real nature” is described as “compounded of Satyr and Faun” which seems to me a distinction without a difference.
To be fair to Hichens, I’ll end with one of his better passages, a succinct description of the femme fatale as Keane confronts Mrs. Paradine during a recess in the trial:
… he realized in a flash the immense physical power this woman had over him. He hated it because it made him feel like a slave, but the whole of him without question acknowledged it. She was evidently the woman among women, who, for some mysterious reason entirely unfathomable by him, had the power to hold his flesh in thrall. And that was the secret of his whole obsession for her. It was not a question of spirit but of flesh. … She had the secret, inexplicable gift that here and there a woman possesses, and by its possession makes men do what are called ‘mad’ things, not to be ever understood, explained, or forgiven by those who are held far off from her.
August 23, 2019
Hitchens is an excellent writer, his style is unaffected and conspicuous. While there isn't a great deal of incident in this book, an especially long one, by the way, he holds the interest throughout. I can't say, however, that I necessarily found this to be an ENJOYABLE book, as there is a lingering sense of dread throughout. But there was also a strong desire on my part to discover just how things were going to turn out, and if there was going to be any real resolution to the issues being battled by the leading characters.
October 5, 2023
6/10 for the first half and 8/10 for the second half. so 3,5 stars rounded up to 4.
The first half of the book was very very slow paced and had very unnecessary details. However, the last third of the book, the court case scenes, was excellent in pacing. The book overall has very interesting and clever details.
The first half of the book was very very slow paced and had very unnecessary details. However, the last third of the book, the court case scenes, was excellent in pacing. The book overall has very interesting and clever details.
Read
April 13, 2021watched the 1947 flick last night on youtube. worth a gander for sets and personalities, but Hitchcock's film was 3 hours before producer Selznick cut it to 2. that's one reason nothing makes sense. the real reason is, I guess, that old school passions don't translate to post-war Blighty.
read Michael Anderegg's essay on film, now realize must read book, so searching for cheap copy. found THE GARDEN OF ALLAH at my local thriftshop years ago for $1.25.
read Michael Anderegg's essay on film, now realize must read book, so searching for cheap copy. found THE GARDEN OF ALLAH at my local thriftshop years ago for $1.25.
Want to read
February 17, 2020Synopsis: a happily married London barrister falls in love with the accused poisoner he is defending. Now there's a situation.
November 10, 2015
"Il caso Paradine", interessante parabola dello stato emotivo catartico che ha il suo buio in un'aula di tribunale.
Mark Keane (Sir) è un avvocato difensore incaricato di difendere Mrs Paradine, accusata dell'omicidio del marito. Nonostante sia felicemente sposato da 11 anni, si innamora della misteriosa e altera cliente. La moglie di Keane, Gay, capisce che l'infatuazione del marito è profonda e potrà causarle problemi.
E' un libro ben scritto, certo la trama non è il punto forte poiché si comprende l'esito già dalle prime pagine, e che altrettanto facilmente si legge (nonostante le pagine).
Interessante e necessaria la quarta di copertina di Remo Cesarani che ne anticipa l'introduzione:
«Il genere dei romanzi giudiziari offre una sfida stimolante ai lettori. Cosa succede quando, come avviene nei romanzi giudiziari, la trama principale, quella che ha portato l'accusato a compiere il delitto, è data fin dall'inizio e semmai viene riraccontata più volte nel corso del dibattimento processuale, con angolature diverse? Succede che i partecipanti al dibattito, e dietro di loro gli spettatori del dramma o i lettori del racconto, sono invitati a sottoporre ad analisi critica il racconto, a non accettarne nessuna delle versioni date, a scoprire le ragioni vere dell'azione del personaggio non nel meccanismo ferreo e binario delle scelte delle sue azioni, ma nel ventaglio di tutte le sue azioni possibili e in definitiva nel suo carattere. I romanzi giudiziari offrono il modello di un tipo di narrazione in cui quasi tutto sembra dipendere dal personaggio del protagonista. I giurati, e con loro gli spettatori e i lettori, sono chiamati a leggere i volti dei protagonisti, ad ascoltare, con inevitabile partecipazione emotiva ma anche con un distacco metodico, i dialoghi e i discorsi che si svolgono davanti a loro».
Mark Keane (Sir) è un avvocato difensore incaricato di difendere Mrs Paradine, accusata dell'omicidio del marito. Nonostante sia felicemente sposato da 11 anni, si innamora della misteriosa e altera cliente. La moglie di Keane, Gay, capisce che l'infatuazione del marito è profonda e potrà causarle problemi.
E' un libro ben scritto, certo la trama non è il punto forte poiché si comprende l'esito già dalle prime pagine, e che altrettanto facilmente si legge (nonostante le pagine).
Interessante e necessaria la quarta di copertina di Remo Cesarani che ne anticipa l'introduzione:
«Il genere dei romanzi giudiziari offre una sfida stimolante ai lettori. Cosa succede quando, come avviene nei romanzi giudiziari, la trama principale, quella che ha portato l'accusato a compiere il delitto, è data fin dall'inizio e semmai viene riraccontata più volte nel corso del dibattimento processuale, con angolature diverse? Succede che i partecipanti al dibattito, e dietro di loro gli spettatori del dramma o i lettori del racconto, sono invitati a sottoporre ad analisi critica il racconto, a non accettarne nessuna delle versioni date, a scoprire le ragioni vere dell'azione del personaggio non nel meccanismo ferreo e binario delle scelte delle sue azioni, ma nel ventaglio di tutte le sue azioni possibili e in definitiva nel suo carattere. I romanzi giudiziari offrono il modello di un tipo di narrazione in cui quasi tutto sembra dipendere dal personaggio del protagonista. I giurati, e con loro gli spettatori e i lettori, sono chiamati a leggere i volti dei protagonisti, ad ascoltare, con inevitabile partecipazione emotiva ma anche con un distacco metodico, i dialoghi e i discorsi che si svolgono davanti a loro».
October 12, 2012
Dicono che il film di Hitchcock sia migliore del romanzo, io non l'ho visto e mi riprometto di vederlo, perché il romanzo mi è piaciuto molto. Trama intricata e torbida, ma anche romantica: giovane e bellissima vedova straniera, un tempo cameriera, accusata di aver avvelenato il vecchio marito cieco, oltre che, a detta di tutti, dal carattere burbero e insopportabile. Sarà stata lei? Oppure il fidato maggiordomo ed ex attendente del marito ai tempi in cui con il grado di colonnello combatteva valorosamente per la sua patria? La sera prima della morte il colonnello ha avuto una discussione accesa con il maggiordomo, tanto da licenziarlo. Avrà scoperto una relazione amorosa tra i due? L’affascinante Ingrid segue impassibile in tribunale le tesi dell’accusa e manipola il suo avvocato sedotto e travolto dalla passione per lei. Non è un giallo perché è chiaro dall’inizio chi ha avvelenato, è la storia di un processo intrigante.
May 30, 2016
Lawyer falls for alluring French Femme Fatale murderess.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews