Some legal fiction

The Fortunes of Law

This is a debut novel with a difference. It was written by a friend of mine, Philip Skelsey.

I approached it with some apprehension. Disliking it would be awkward. Happily I can tell you it is a delightful book and very elegantly written.

‘The Fortunes of Law’ is divided into three interlinking sections, spanning most of the last century. Each section is about a different solicitor, the first is the Edwardian - Charles; the second is the inter-war - Jack and the third is loosely based on the 88-year old author. The backdrop is London and its changes during the 20th century. The author’s intimate knowledge and love of London is evident. The strong sense of place drove me to Google many times to further explore different places and occasions.

The background period details are handled subtly. There is a rare art to handling historical fiction. Too often, authors lard the text with details that appear significant to us in 2009. The result is a book set in aspic. Instead, Philip Skelsey includes the detail as the characters themselves would have perceived them. He writes the period detail as the characters’ present. Small details are well done – a cane is a ‘Malacca cane’; Art Deco is described not named; like the yellow cover of a Gollanz book.

Equally deft is the depiction of the changing social and political mores. Real people and real events are interwoven with fictional characters. Once again I was off to Google to find out more about a judge or two. The minor characters are tantalising, with Mr Skelsey giving us glimpses of fully-realised personalities.

The strongest section is perhaps the middle section. This, the longest section, covers the depression and the approach of war and the characters have an emotional complexity that draws the reader to become thoroughly engaged. In the third section, (as mentioned earlier, loosely based on the author’s own experiences) his natural reticence may have prevented too deep an unveiling.

Interwoven with the story are engaging accounts of law cases and the emerging conviction that the courts are a lottery. The Law is not an ass; it is human and sometimes flawed.

A very accomplished book.

This book can be purchased online at http://www.booktopia.com.au/the-fortunes-of-law/prod9780755204267.html

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