Get Carman In court with George Carman QC, Britain’s most feared lawyer – The man behind the advocate
George Carman QC was, and perhaps still is, Britain’s most famous lawyer within living memory. Equally feared and respected, he made his name as an erudite and incisive advocate largely in the field of libel. Coming to prominence with his superb defence of disgraced former Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe on a charge of conspiracy to murder, Carman subsequently defended many well-known faces from the worlds of entertainment, sport, politics and business, including Ken Dodd, Richard Branson and Elton John.
Away from court, Carman was a complex and private yet not unsociable man. In 1986, he met barrister Karen Phillipps and, although she turned down his immediate marriage proposal, the two would have a close platonic relationship for the rest of Carman’s life.
Carman intended to write his memoirs but became too ill to complete the book and died in 2001. Using his papers, press cuttings and court transcripts – along with the testimonies of some of those who saw him in action and her own extensive memories of her close friend –Phillipps presents a portrait of this eminent advocate through the cases that made him famous. All the drama of the courtroom world that Carman belonged to is here, along with some of the best and most entertaining theatre the English justice system has ever seen.
Reviews
“George Carman was a titan of the English Bar and Karen Phillipps knew him better than anyone.”
Thomas Grant KC, barrister and author of Court Number One
“As for many barristers of my generation, George Carman was my legal idol. He possessed a matchless gift for court craft. His piercing cross-examinations and unparalleled talent for devastating one-line zingers were truly the stuff of legend. In this wonderful and beautifully written book, Karen Phillipps reminds us all why anybody in legal trouble – the bad, the sad and sometimes the mad – would (if they could) do anything to get Carman.”
Rob Rinder MBE
“Because of her close friendship with George Carman, Karen Phillipps is uniquely qualified to write this gripping account of the triumphs of Britain’s greatest advocate in recent years. There may have been better lawyers, but Carman was without equal when it came to convincing a jury and winning cases. Karen analyses each case – from Jonathan Aitken’s libel case to Jeremy Thorpe’s murder trial – and pinpoints the often unexpected turning points that made Carman so feared.”
Norman Lamont, former Chancellor of the Exchequer
“George Carman was a Technicolor figure in an often monochrome profession. Few people knew him better than Karen Phillipps. Her insight into and affection for him pervade every sentence of this book and help create the nuanced and vivid portrait this formidable and compelling man deserves.”
Simon Heffer, historian and journalist
“A giddy romp through the most famous trials led by one of Britain’s greatest barristers. Phillipps skilfully showcases George Carman’s unrivalled courtroom skills and brilliance, making this book a must-read for anyone interested in legal drama and the art of advocacy.”
Sasha Swire, author of Diary of an MP’s Wife
“George Carman was a legend in his own lifetime, sadly cut short by cancer. In this interesting book, Karen Phillipps explains that the secret of his success at the Bar was not natural talent but hard work. His triumphs are well told. This is a valuable insight into a memorable man.”
Geoffrey Robertson KC, barrister and author
“George Carman’s clients were some of the most bizarre, talented and complex figures in British public life. Carman was as talented and enigmatic as those he represented. This is a brilliantly vivid insider’s account of Carman and his astonishing triumphs in the courtroom.”
Steve Richards, author of The Prime Ministers
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- Hardback, 352 pages
- ISBN: 9781785908989
- 21 November 2024
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- Hardback, 352 pages
- ISBN: 9781785908989
- 21 November 2024
- £25.00
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