This is an interesting and thought-provoking book, although it is written in an irritatingly breathless style at times. This is not a biography of Darrow's life but instead focusses on his three greatest and most famous trials: the Loeb/Leopald trial, the Monkey Scopes trial and the Ossian Sweet trial. The book is written in a sort of tandem narrative switching between Darrow and his lover Mary (who comes across as quite annoying in my opinion).

I am ashamed to say that before I picked up this book I really did not know anything about Darrow, and I am so glad I read this book and read about one of the great advocates of history. I never realised before that Rumpole is clearly based on Darrow; the crumpled suit, defiance of authority and epic speeches which make the jury cry.

In it's coverage of the trials, the book was tense, tightly paced and I felt caught up as if I were there, in the courtroom. The description of the hounding of the Sweet family by racists made me feel physically sick. Elsewhere the book is dull and you get the impression that the author is outside of his comfort zone. Nonetheless this book is a great achievement and a thought-provoking read. ( )