ThismeticulousstudyofthelynchingofthreeinnocentmeninaWesterntowndrewyawningreviewswhenfirstpublished.Itscynicalviewofanüber-masculinesenseofjusticeplayedpoorlytoanAmericanaudiencestilllockedinaromancewithitsfrontierpast.Overtime,however,criticshavecometorecognizeClark’suncompromisingviewofmobjusticeasaworkofgenius.
Note:DirectorWilliamWellman’s1943filmversionofthenovelgotanOscarnominationforbestpicture,butitwasnotnominatedinanyothercategory.
24
TheFountainhead
byAynRand
(1943)
《源泉》
Whetherviewedasaworkofphilosophicalgeniusoracrashing,narcissisticbore,thereseemsnomiddlegroundforthisinvestigationintotheproperroleoftheintellectualinaworldof―secondhanders.‖Inthebook’spivotaltrial,anarchitectwhohaschosentodestroythebuildinghedesignedwinshisownacquittalbydescribingtoajurythevaluetosocietyofahealthyego.Whetheryouhateitorloveit,TheFountainheadisanimportantliterarywork.
Note:BasedpartlyonascreenplayRandwroteforCecilB.DeMille,thebookwasoriginallytitledSecond-HandLives.
23
AnatomyofaMurder
byRobertTraver
(1958)
《桃色血案》
AformerdistrictattorneyinruralMichiganopenshisdefensepracticebytakingonafoul-temperedclientaccusedofmurder.Thebook,whichbecameanOttoPremingerfilm,sizzleswithcourtroomconfrontationsgroundedinthenuancesofreal-lifetrials.
Note:TraverwasthepennameofJohnD.Voelker,ajusticeoftheMichiganSupremeCourt.
22
TheHandmaid'sTale
byMargaretAtwood
(1985)
《使女的故事》
SetinGilead,adystopiannationonceknownastheUnitedStates,Atwood’sbest-sellerexploresanoverthrowoftheConstitutioninfavorofaChristiantheocracythatresultsinawholesalereversalofwomen’srights.Womenareforbiddentoreadorwriteorvote.AndalthoughthedarkestfearspresentedbyAtwoodhaveprovedunfoundedbythedecadessinceitwaspublished—duringtheprimeascendancyoftheChristianRightinnationalpolitics—thebook’sfundamentalapprehensionscouldbeappliedtoamoreglobalcontext.
Note:AtwoodisCanadian,andTheHandmaid’sTalewasshort-listedforthe1986BookerPrize.
21
TheCountofMonteCristo
byAlexandreDumas
(1844)
《基督山伯爵》
Inthislong-cherishedtaleofpost-Napoleonicintrigue,EdmondDant鑣iswronglyconvictedofapoliticallyinspiredchargeoftreason.Condemnedtoprisonforlife,heescapestotheislandofMonteCristo,whereanewidentityandafoundtreasureallowhimachancetoextracthisrevenge.
Note:Dumasacknowledgedthathebasedthecomplicatedplotonthereal-lifestoryofFran鏾isPicaud,aParisianshoemakerwhosestoryofimprisonmentandrevengewasdiscoveredbyDumasinpolicefiles.DumaswrotethebookincollaborationwithAugusteMaquet.
20
TheFirm
byJohnGrisham
(1991)
《陷阱》
MitchMcDeereisrecruitedtoajobalmostanyassociatewouldkillfor:ahigh-payinggigthatcomeswithacut-ratemortgageandaBMW.Hesoondiscoversthathe’sactuallyworkingforacrimefamily,andthattheaccidentaldeathsoflawyerswhoprecededhimweren’taccidentalatall.
Note:ThiswasGrisham’ssecondnovelafterATimeToKill,andhisfirstblockbuster.In2011,authorJohnGrishamreceivedtheinauguralHarperLeePrizeforLegalFictionforhisbookTheConfession
19
QBVII
byLeonUris
(1970)
《七号皇庭》
Thissprawlingnovelofpost-NazijusticeexploresachargeoflibelbroughtinaLondoncourtbyaPolishdoctor.Thedoctor,AdamKelno,isanaturalizedBritishcitizenwhostandsaccusedofcollaboratingwiththeNazisduringWorldWarII.KelnosuesbecausewriterAbrahamCadyhasaccusedhimofperformingthousandsofoperationsonconcentrationcampprisoners.Thetruthprovesdifferent,butnolessdisturbing.Andthejury’sdecisionbearsoutCady’spredictionthatbothsideswilllose.
Note:ThenovelisbasedlooselyonalibelactionbroughtagainstUrishimselfbyaPolishphysicianwhoworkedatAuschwitz.
18
TheirEyesWereWatchingGod
byZoraNealeHurston
(1937)
《凝望上帝》
Thisgroundbreakingnovel,firstpublishedin1937,chroniclestheriseofayoungAfrican-Americanwoman—thegranddaughterofaslave—andherstruggletoestablishcontroloverherchoicesinlife.Atthecenterofthenovelisachargethatshemurderedherestrangedhusband.Thenovel,writtenindialect,explorestheturbulenceofasexualityandhumanidentityrepeatedlydefinedbymen.
Note:ThebookwasoriginallycondemnedbymanymainstreamAfrican-Americancritics,butbecamerecognizedovertimeasaliterarymasterpiece.In2005,TimerecognizeditasonethegreatbookswrittenintheEnglishlanguagesince1923(theyearTimebeganpublishing).
17
TheCaineMutiny
byHermanWouk
(1951)
《叛舰凯恩号》
Wouk’snovelofhonor,cynicismandmoraljudgmentduringatimeofwarisbetterrememberedforthefilmtreatment,whichstarredHumphreyBogartasPhilipFrancisQueeg,thebeleagueredandoft-bewilderedcaptainofaWorldWarIIminesweeper.Buteveninprint,themutinyandsubsequentcourt-martialisamasterpieceofhumandramasetinsidealegalproceeding.
Note:TheCaineMutinynotonlydisplacedFromHeretoEternityontheNewYorkTimesbest-sellerlistbutalsowonthe1952PulitzerPrizeforfiction.
16
ATimetoKill
(1989)
《杀戮时刻》
ThisisGrisham’sfirstnoveland,manycriticsbelieve,hisbest.Itisadeceptivelycomplicated,character-drivennovelsetagainstasimpleactofrevenge.Grishamalmostsingle-handedlycreatedthelegalthrillergenrewiththe1991publicationofTheFirm,butthereal-lifecaseuponwhichATimetoKillisbasedpromptedhimtowritenovelsinthefirstplace.
Note:ThebookreflectedGrisham’scomplicatedjustificationofthedeathpenaltyatthetime.Hehassincebecomeavigorousopponentofcapitalpunishment.
15
ATaleofTwoCities
byCharlesDickens
(1859)
《双城记》
Attheendofthislabyrinthine,45-chaptersaga,ATaleofTwoCitiesis,atitscore,ataleofonelawyer.BarristerSydneyCartonisacynicalalcoholicwhoselifetakesadramaticturnwhenhefallsinlove.Carton’sfriendshipwithCharlesDarnay—aprisonerheisdefending—andhissubsequentsacrificeataFrenchguillotine,issetintomotionbyCarton’spresence,asalawclerk,attheOldBaileyduringDarnay’strialfortreason.TheirremarkableresemblanceisinstrumentalinDarnay’srelease.
Note:DickenswasinspiredtowriteATaleofTwoCitieswhileactinginaplaywrittenbyhisclosefriendWilkieCollins.
14
TheStranger
byAlbertCamus
(1942)
《陌生人》
SetinFrenchAlgeria,thisabsurdistnovelrevolvesaroundthemurdertrialofitsprincipalcharacter,knownonlyasMeursault.WhenMeursaultisimprisonedforthemurderinthedesertofanunnamedArabman,hislackofemotionisinterpretedasalackofremorseandheiscondemnedtotheguillotine.Butfacingdeath,hefindshimselfoddlycomfortedbythesimplefactofhisownlife.
Note:Camus,aformerjournalistandFrenchresistancefighter,wontheNobelPrizeforLiteraturein1957.
13
NativeSon
byRichardWright
《本地人》
Thisgripping,angrynovelpresentsthecaseofBiggerThomas,ayoungChicagoblackmanwhosediscomfortwithwhitesdriveshimdeeperanddeeperintotroubleforreasonshecannotseemtoexplain.Whenhetakesalive-injobwithawealthywhitefamily,hislifeisovertakenbyaseriesofcircumstancesthatendswithhimcondemnedtodeathfortwomurders.
Note:NativeSon—Wright’sfirstnovel—wasbasedonthereal-lifecaseofRobertNixon,whowasexecutedformurderin1938.
12
BartlebytheScrivener:AStoryofWallStreet
byHermanMelville
(1853)
《刺刀侠巴特比:华尔街的故事》
Thisnovel,actuallyalongshortstory,tellsthetaleofayoungcopyistwhoseadditiontoasmallManhattanlawofficebecomesasagaofinactionandaveryslow,perplexingdeath.Bartleby,thoughnotalawyer,hasbecomethepatronantiheroofeverylawyerstuckinthecycleofduediligenceandcontractlegalwork.
Note:BartlebywasoriginallypublishedintwopartsinPutnam’sMagazine
11
ThePaperChase
byJohnJayOsbornJr.
(1971)
《力争上游》
ThisiconiclawnovelmadelawschoolsexyandfictionallawprofessorCharlesW.KingsfieldJr.ahouseholdname.Therealstar,however,istheSocraticmethod,presentedforthefirsttimetoapopularaudience.
Note:Osbornpublishedthenovelin1971,theyearafterhegraduatedfromHarvardLawSchool.
10
AnAmericanTragedy
byTheodoreDreiser
(1925)
《美国悲剧》
Thisfictionalizationofareal-lifemurderintheAdirondackspitsayoungmanoflimitedmeansagainsthisowndreamsofsocialacceptanceamongthewealthy.Afterachild’saccidentaldeath,ClydeGriffithsfleestheMidwesttofictionalLycurgus,N.Y.,tobecomeamiddlemanagerinhisuncle’sshirtfactory.Heisaccusedofmurderinghispregnantgirlfriendtopreservehischanceswiththecharmingdaughterofalocalblueblood.Thetruth,however,ismorecomplicatedthanthat.
Note:Dreiser’sthinlyveiledbroadsideagainstthematerialismoftheRoaring’20swaspublishedthesameyearasF.ScottFitzgerald’sTheGreatGatsby.
9
TheBonfireoftheVanities
byTomWolfe
(1987)
《夜都迷情》
ShermanMcCoy,abondtraderandself-styled―MasteroftheUniverse,‖watcheshelplesslyashislifeunravelsafterahit-and-runaccidentintheBronx,causedbyhispanickymistress.Allofthecharactersfromthe’80sarehere—imperiousjudge,ambitiousprosecutor,alcoholicjournalist,communityactivistandpatronizingwhiteliberals—roilinginthedecade’scuriousbrewofscandalouswealth,permanentpovertyandracialtension,andcontributingtothestenchofmoraldecline.
Note:Wolfefirstproducedthebookastwo-dozenDickensianinstallmentsinRollingStone
8
TheScarletLetter
byNathanielHawthorne
(1850)
《红字》
Hawthorne’stranscendentalistnovelexploresthenotionsofjusticeandrevengerootedinAmerica’stheocraticpast.Hecontraststhehonorofafallenwoman,HesterPrynne,withthesadisticmanipulationsofhercuckoldhusband,whoexactshisownroughjusticethatprovesfarmoredemeaningthantheemblemofadulterysheisforcedtowear.
Note:Hawthorne,aclosefriendofPresidentFranklinPierce’s,descendedfromaNewEnglandfamilythatparticipatedintheSalemwitchtrials.
7
PresumedInnocent
byScottTurow
《无罪的罪人》
Turow’sfirstnovel,aboutastateprosecutoraccusedofmurderinghiscolleague/mistress,helpedestablishthelegalthrillerasaliterarygenre.Sure,there’splentyofpoliticalintrigue,legalmaneuveringandagenuinelyunexpectedpayoffattheend.ButbetweenthecoversTurowcommitsanactofliterature:jumblinggoodwithbad,jugglingwrongwithright,andbleedingtheinsider’sknowledgethatthelawcanbeasmuchaboutpoliticsasjustice.
Note:Alejandro―Sandy‖Stern,thoughasubordinatecharacter,iseverybitascharismaticandhonorableasAtticusFinch.Heevenwinsthecase.
6
BillyBudd
(1924)
《水手比利巴德》
MelvillewrotewhatmanyconsiderthegreatestAmericannovel,MobyDick,sowhynotoneofthegreatlegalnovelse
BillyBuddisamodelsailoraboardtheHMSBellipotent,aBritishwarship.Buddiswell-likedandrespected,especiallybytheship’scaptain,EdwardFairfaxVere,soheisslowtorecognizethathehasrunafouloftheship’smaster-at-arms,JohnClaggart.WhenClaggartfalselyaccuseshimofmutiny,BuddstrikeshimwithsuchforcethatClaggartdies.Triedatsea,BuddiscondemnedtohangafterCapt.VereexpressestheneedtoplacetheruleoflawabovehisaffectionforBudd.Convincedofthecaptain’sargument,Budddieshappilyeverafter.
Note:BillyBudd,anovella,waspublishedfromanunfinishedmanumorethan30yearsafterMelville’sdeath.
5
LesMiserables
byVictorHugo
(1862)
《悲惨世界》
Noneedtorecountindetailtheparticularsofthisepictaleoftwistedjusticeaboutapeasantcondemnedtoprisonforstealingaloafofbread.ThisHugomasterworkisonmostshortlistsforthegreatestnovelsofalltime.HissavageviewofcontemporaryFrenchsocietywasnotwell-receivedbycontemporarycriticsbutprovedwildlypopularalloverEurope.Theworkhasenduredasaclassic,ifsentimental,workofart.Note:ThepopularTVseriesTheFugitivewasinspired,inpart,byLesMiserables.ThedoggedhuntforRichardKimblebyLt.PhilipGerardwasapurposefulnodtoInspectorJavert’ssimilarlyobsessivepursuitofJeanValjean.
4
TheTrial
byFranzKafka
《审判》
JosephK.isaninnocuousbankassessoraccusedofanunspecifiedcrime.Attemptingtofindajustresolutionfortheaccusationsagainsthim—oreventhenatureoftheaccusationsagainsthim—hefindsonlyfruitlessconfrontationwithadead-endbureaucracythatplacesformoversubstanceinthemostliteralfashionimaginable.TheironyofTheTrialistheKafkaesquerealitythatthereisnotrial,nojustice,noendbutaninevitabledeath.
Note:TheTrialwasessentiallyanunfinishednovel,publishedasDerProzessshortlyafterKafka’sdeath.
3
BleakHouse
(1852)
《荒凉山庄》
IntheforefrontofthisDickensclassicisthestoryofEstherSummerson,wholivesatBleakHouseoblivioustothefactthatsheistheillegitimatechildofLadyDedlock.Thereisamurder,ofcourse,andLadyDedlockissuspected.ButlawyersarenotattractedtoBleakHouseforthewhodunit.WhattheyloveisDickens’ongoingaccountofJarndycev.Jarndyce,anestatecasethatdragsfromgenerationtogenerationuntilthemoneyrunsout.Dickenshitsanerveinhisclassicdeionoftheunderlyingcynicismthattoooftendriveslitigation.
Note:DickensbasedJarndycev.Jarndyce,atleastthecynicismbehindit,onhisownlitigationagainstpublisherswhoturnedoutunauthorizedcopiesofhisimmenselypopularAChristmasCarol.
2
CrimeandPunishment
byFyodorDostoevsky
(1866)
《罪与罚》
UnlikeJosephK.—thetorturedprotagonistofTheTrial—Dostoevsky’sRodionRaskolnikovhasactuallycommittedacrime.Hehasmurderedanelderlypawnbrokeraspartofapremeditatedmurder/robberyduringwhichhekillsthepawnbroker’ssisteraswell.Atfirstdelusional,evengrandiose,aboutthenatureofhiscrime,Raskolnikovfindshimselfunabletobearthepsychologicalburdenofguilt.Hiselaborateplanforthemoneyhe’sstolenisunderminedbythesteadyintrusionofshame.Thisisoneofthegreatworksofmodernliteraturethatpresumesthepsychologicalfoundationofmoralbehavior,andexaminesthepalliativenatureofguilt.
Note:DostoevskybasedRaskolnikov’sultimatebanishmenttoaprisoncampinSiberiaonhisownexperiencesasapoliticaldissident.
1
ToKillAMockingbird
byHarperLee
(1960)
《杀死一只知更鸟》
Seriously,areyousurprisedThismostbelovedoflawnovelsfeaturesAtticusFinch—alawyerwholoseshisbiggestcase,hashiskidscallhimbyhisfirstnameandstruggleswiththenotionofturningoneofthemovertothelocalsheriff.Andyet,sinceitsintroductiontothedecadeofthe’60s,thisclassicDepression-erabildungsromanhasbeentheinspirationfortensofthousandsoflawschoolapplicationsand,amongpracticinglawyers,morethanalittlereflectiveglory.