How to be rich and famous and serious
Cosima von Billow
THE ADVOCATE'S DEVIL by Alan M. Dershowitz Headline, £16.99, pp. 311 As the 0. J. Simpson ordeal drags into its second month, even the most die-hard trial addicts are switching over to the Private Life of Plants where the advantage of Attenborough's high-speed photography at least gives the impression of time passing. For those of us who have managed, however, to retain an interest in the American legal system, the publication of Alan Dershowitz's debut novel provides a satisfying and eminently well-timed fix. Though only a bench-warming member of Simpson's 'Dream Team', the fact that Dershowitz is there in spirit, waiting for someone to slip up, goes a long way to explain Judge Ito's apparent fondness for recess. A ubiquitous presence in the Amer- ican media, this Harvard Law Professor is acknowledged, even by his adversaries, as one of the most distinguished and promi- nent legal thinkers of his time.
With his inside view of practically every sensational trial of the last decade, it must have been a challenge indeed to create a work of fiction as bizarre and fascinating as his life. Keeping this in mind, Dershowitz has fortunately gone to very little trouble to disguise himself from his fans. While The Advocate's Devil is entirely fictional, it does give an accurate account of both the pro- fessional and personal conflicts of its author's life. In the familiar heart of Cam- bridge Massachussetts, a respected Jewish lawyer is hired to defend a famous white basketball player accused of rape. Eager to reverse his recent losing streak, Abe Ringel takes on what initially appears to be an easy and highly publicised victory.
A devoted basketball enthusiast, Ringel is instantly charmed by his handsome and affable client and plunges wholeheartedly into proving his innocence. Blinded by his desire to win this case, the hero obstinately overlooks the mounting evidence against his client. Disregarding the instincts of his girlfriend and assistants, he allows himself to bask in the reflected glory of the defen- dant's celebrity. Whereas Dershowitz would be far too shrewd to fool himself to such an extent, it is to his credit that he recognises his own susceptibility to the seduction of fame. In emphasising the initial misjudgments of his hero, Dershowitz also succeeds in setting the tone for the moral dilemma to come. As Ringel becomes increasingly suspicious of the defendant, the novel delves into the classic struggle between a lawyer's responsibilities to his client and his ethical duty to serve justice. Indulging in a bit of advocate soul-searching Ringel seeks out his mentor, an ageing talmudic scholar who imparts pearls of wisdom from his death bed. With his references to the Old Testament, he helps Ringel to choose the right path in his predicaments. Ripe for a Hollywood studio, this somewhat hack- neyed theme is nevertheless handled by the author with characteristic bravado.
Bursting at the seams with topical issues, The Advocate's Devil keeps its finger on the pulse of the American legal system today. Date rape, sexual harrassment, the death penalty and even criminal computer games are thrown into the ring for examination and debate. Given his experience with such contemporary topics, it is not surprising that Professor Dershowitz's courses at Har- vard are always oversubscribed. No tedious depositions here, this is the stuff of law stu- dents' dreams. Part Sherlock Holmes and part Robin Hood, the tireless hero gathers
So Little It Can Take
One leaf on the line cannot delay a train, but many fallen together heaped and damped by rain can halt the screaming express, disrupt appointments, prevent meetings, decisions, break contacts and bonds of love, can shake dice from a ladder's foot to the head of a snake.
So little it can take to change design to disorder, man into a bone as, with time, a drop of water can change the face of a stone.
Phoebe Hesketh
Winter Moths
Thin gusts Caught in the car's headlights, A flare of blown snow.
No, not snow, but a swirl of moths Bleached by the cold Finding thin sweetness In the winter night.
Lke tiny, ragged holes Torn in the darkness, They promise daylight Until we dip the beam.
Mike Sharpe
his assistants in the frantic race for justice. And, of course, no legal drama would be complete without some poor client perish- ing on Death Row.
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