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阅读约翰·格里森姆 John Grisham在小说之家的作品!!! |
自1985年到1987年，约翰·格里森姆花了三年的时间完成了他的第一部长篇小说《杀戮时刻》，1988年出版时并未受到出版商的青睐,只印了五千册。但他并未因此放弃写作,而是以更大的热情全身心地投入下一部长篇《律师事务所》(又译《陷阱》)的创作。当他把这部小说的版权卖给著名的派拉蒙电影公司时，约翰·格里森姆顷刻间成为各出版商趋之若鹜的人物。该小说连续47周位于《纽约时报》最畅销书之列，并成为1991年度最畅销书。
继《终极证人》首次荣登榜首之后，他的又一部力作《鹈鹕案卷》(又译《塘鹅暗杀令》)再次名列《纽约时报》最畅销书榜首,确立了约翰·格里森姆作为法律题材流行小说大师的地位。他的成功甚至重新引起了出版界对他的处女作《杀戮时刻》的极大兴趣，以至于双日出版公司和戴尔出版公司先后用精装和平装再版，而这都成了畅销书。
自1988年出版《杀戮时刻》以来，约翰·格里森姆就以每年一部长篇的速度出书，而且都成了畅销书。它们是《毒气室》、《失控的陪审团》、《合伙人》、《贫民律师》及《超级说客》(以上作品译林出版社均有中文译本)。这些都是法律题材，惟一的例外是两部长篇《油漆的房子》和《跳跃的圣诞节》。
约翰·格里森姆-作品编年
约翰·格里森姆
1989年出版《A Time To Kill》《杀戮时机》，又译《杀戮时刻》。
1991年出版《The Firm》《糖衣陷阱》。
1992年出版的《The Pelican Brief 》《塘鹅暗杀令》，又译《鹈鹕案件》。
1993年出版的《The Client》《致命内幕》，又译《终极证人》。
1994年出版的《The Chamber》《毒室裁决》，又译《毒气室》。
1995年出版的《The Rain maker》《造雨人》，又译《超级说客》。
1996年出版的《The Run away Jury》《失控的陪审团》。
1997年出版的《The Partner》《合伙人》。
1998年出版的《The Street Lawyer》《街头律师》，又译《贫民律师》。
1999年出版的《The Testament》《疯人遗嘱》。
2000年出版的 《The Brothers》《兄弟们》。
2002年出版的《The Summons》《传票》。
2003年出版的《The King of Torts》《诉讼之王》。
2004年出版的《The Last Juror》《最后的陪审员》。
约翰·格里森姆-作品简介
《杀戮时机》，又译《杀戮时刻》讲述利美国南部密西西比州的一个黑人工人约翰·格里森姆CarlHailey，他
约翰·格里森姆
十岁的女儿被两个白人种族主义者抢劫和蹂躏了。但是他不相信法律会为黑人主持公正，找到那两个凶手后便把他们枪杀了，然后投案自首。雄心勃勃的年轻税务律师JakeBrigance被指派为Carl辩护。但是两者之间也无法取得共识，而且不出Carl所料，法官的确偏向控方。案件审讯期间，Jake自己的生活、他的家庭和同事都陷入了危险之中。他不断收到死亡威胁，气焰嚣张的三K党甚至在Jake的门前焚烧十字架，并威胁要炸毁他的住宅。虽然有资深律师RufusBuckley的帮助，杰克还是对自己能否面对无情的检控官而产生怀疑。
《糖衣陷阱》讲述刚自哈佛大学毕业的法学院学生MitchMcDeere，受雇于纽约一家律师事务所，即获得公司许多优厚的待遇，还帮他偿助学贷款，租给他一辆宾士骄车代步，然而天下没有白吃的午餐，不久他就发现，原来事务所由芝加哥黑手党持有，主要事务为洗黑钱等勾当。不久，美国联邦调查局向他施压，迫使他成为他们的告密者。
《塘鹅暗杀令》，又译《鹈鹕案件》，讲述法律系女学生DarbyShaw就一宗高院法官被刺杀的案件，收集资料之际，无意中发现暗杀事件可能与贪污丑闻有关，背后更涉及石油大亨及美国政府高层人员。因此，黛比遂编写了一份推论报告，准备辗转呈交联邦密探，但她所付出的代价实在太大。
《致命内幕》，又译《终极证人》，讲述11岁的男童MarkSway和他的弟弟在偷吸香烟时目击一名律师在车里自杀，该律师临终前把一个尸体的埋藏地告诉了MarkSway。事後男童成了司法界和杀手争夺的人物。前者不择手段要男童开口，後者极力要他闭嘴，而男童的唯一盟友ReggieLove，一个会不惜任何代价，誓死保护他的律师。
《毒室裁决》，又译《毒气室》，讲述死囚SamCayhall即将被送入毒气室，多年来他的律师已经用尽一切可能的方法挽救他的生命，现在只剩下最后一点时间了。一个年轻有为的律师AdamHall出现，这个人是Sam最后的希望，可是Adam自己也有一些不为人知的秘密。
《造雨人》，又译《超级说客》。讲述刚踏进律师这一行的新手RudyBaylor，想尽早大展宏图，在这个早已心向往之的领域里有所建树。然而，他迎面碰上的却是污泥浊水，与当初设想的完全不同。好在鲁迪身上那股韧劲还在，凭着良知，他要为向保险公司索赔保险的母亲以及受虐的已婚少妇这样的普通人说话，做一个旱地送水的造雨人。
《诉讼之王》，讲述《公众辩护人办事处》实在不是一个适合年青才俊律师实习受训的地方，ClayCarter在这个地方呆得太久了，他就像他其馀的同事们一样，梦想著离开这个鬼地方，到一所真正的律师楼打工。当他极不愿地接了一椿案子，替一位涉嫌在街头杀了人的年轻人辩护後，他以为这案子只是像华盛顿每周都会发生的杀人事件一样的简单。在他探讨他代表的那个嫌疑人的背景时，ClayCarter偶然发现一个不可思议的恐怖阴谋，他突然发觉自己负责的这个案子的对头人，竟然是世界最大的制药商。假如他胜诉，赔偿金不但会是天文数子，而且他会因这个案子，在一夜之间，成为新任的《诉讼之王》。
约翰·格里森姆-创作风格
格里森姆的小说，总是一种基调：主人公“我”，通常是一名法学院才毕业，刚取得律师专业资格的愣头青，远大前程，满怀憧憬，对社会抱着热望，对人性尚未失望，一心想以自己的专业知识伸张正义，维护公道。
约翰·格里森姆
丑陋的现实摆在眼前，“我”很快地察觉到这一行业的黑暗：司法制度的弊洞，官商勾结，为非作歹，肆无忌惮，同行运用专业知识泯灭良心，为虎作伥，而平民百姓的权益，永远没有也永远无法得到完全的，十足的保障和公平的对待。
格里森姆小说里的“我”，是稀珍的理想主义者，同情弱小，嫉恶如仇;又有一股牛脾气倔劲，面对利诱，恐吓，甚至人身安全受到威胁，誓不低头。善良，正直的性格和敏锐，机智的头脑完美结合（这怎么可能呢？基本上，善良的人比较呆，聪明的人会使坏）。
格里森姆不会辜负我的寄望，笔下的主人公，“我”，热忱永不会熄灭，执着自己的信念，坚守心中的理想，锄强扶弱，一次又一次，自愿当孤胆英雄，和强权，大鳄，恶势力开战，用专业知识智取，以牙还牙，不屈不饶。读来，欢畅淋漓。
格里森姆让阳光照进我的梦想：邪不胜正，主人公“我”，总可以凭自己的聪明才智，取得胜利，打赢官司，──虽然，那可能只是表面上的，暂时性的胜利。
读格里森姆的小说，是一次愉快的精神旅行，满足我对“公平公正”的法律精神的幻想。它好像告诉大家坚持理想的应该，执着信念的美好，鼓励大家不要失望，不能绝望；不要气馁，不能放弃，在这物欲横流的时代，在这乌烟瘴气的社会。格里森姆的小说，总是让人看得心簜神移，激动不已。
约翰·格里森姆-文学成就
约翰·格里森姆，当代美国法律题材流行小说的代名词，于1998年一月被美国《出版家周刊》冠以“九十年代最流行小说作家”称号。近几年来，他的作品已被译成二十九国文字，全球发行量超过六千万册，其中许多都被改编成电影。在2002年的美国，格里森姆已成为畅销小说领域超重量级人物，也是整个娱乐业的一个重要“现象”，格里森姆小说的效应被新闻界称为“格里森姆飓风”。目前一共出了18本小说，11本拍成电影，一本拍成电视剧。
John Grisham graduated from Mississippi State University before attending the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1981 and practiced criminal law for about a decade. He also served in the House of Representatives in Mississippi from January 1984 to September 1990. Beginning writing in 1984, he had his first novel A Time To Kill published in June 1989. As of 2008, his books had sold over 250 million copies worldwide.
Grisham's first best seller was The Firm. Released in 1991, it sold more than seven million copies. The book was adapted as a feature film. In addition, seven more of his novels: The Chamber, The Client, A Painted House, The Pelican Brief, The Rainmaker, The Runaway Jury, and A Time to Kill, were adapted as movies. His books have been translated into 29 languages and published worldwide. His other best-selling books include The Testament, The Summons and The Broker.
Early Life and education
John Grisham, the second oldest of five siblings, was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas, to Wanda Skidmore Grisham and John Grisham. His father worked as a construction worker and a cotton farmer, while his mother was a homemaker. The family relocated frequently, until they decided to settle in the town of Southaven in DeSoto County, Mississippi; Grisham was four then. As a child, Grisham wanted to be a baseball player. Despite the fact that Grisham's parents lacked formal education, his mother encouraged her son to read and prepare for college.
He went to the Northwest Junior College in Senatobia, Mississippi and later attended Delta State University in Cleveland. Grisham drifted so much during his time at the college that he changed colleges three times before completing a degree. He graduated from Mississippi State University in 1977, receiving a BS degree in accounting. He later enrolled in the Ole Miss Law School to become a tax lawyer, but his interest shifted to general civil litigation. He graduated with a specialty in criminal law.
[edit]Marriage and family
Grisham married Renee Jones on 8 May 1981, and the couple have two children together: Shea and Ty. The "family splits their time between their Victorian home on a farm" outside Oxford, Mississippi, "and a home near Charlottesville, Virginia." In 2008, he and his wife bought a condominium at McCorkle Place in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
[edit]Career
[edit]Early career
John Grisham as a teenager started working for a nursery - watering bushes for $1.00 an hour. He was soon promoted to a fence crew for $1.50 an hour. He wrote about the job: "there was no future in it." At 16, Grisham took a job with a plumbing contractor; he "never drew inspiration from that miserable work."
Through a contact of his father, he managed to find work on a highway asphalt crew in Mississippi. He was seventeen then. It was during this time, that an unfortunate incident got him "serious" about college. A fight had broken out among the crew on a Friday, with gun fire that Grisham ran to the restroom to escape. He didn't come out until after the police had "hauled away rednecks". He hitchhiked home and started thinking about college
His next work was in retail, where he was a salesclerk at a department store, in the men's underwear section, which he described as "humiliating". After deciding to quit, he stayed when offered a raise. He was given another raise after asking to be transferred to toys and then to appliances. A confrontation with a company spy posing as a customer convinced him to leave the store.
By this time, Grisham was halfway through college. Planning to become a tax lawyer, he was soon overcome by "the complexity and lunacy" of it. He decided to return to his hometown as a trial lawyer.
[edit]Law and politics
Grisham practiced law for about a decade, also winning election as a Democrat in the Mississippi state legislature from 1983 to 1990 at an annual salary of $8,000. By his second term at the Mississippi state legislature, he was not only the vice-chairman of the Apportionment and Elections Committee but also a member of the Military Affairs Committee, Judiciary A and the Insurance.
Grisham's writing career blossomed with the success of his second book, The Firm, and he gave up practicing law, except for returning briefly in 1996 to fight for the family of a railroad worker who was killed on the job. His official site states that "He was honoring a commitment made before he had retired from the law to become a full-time writer. ...Grisham successfully argued his clients' case, earning them a jury award of $683,500 - the biggest verdict of his career."
[edit]Writing career
This house in Lepanto, Arkansas was the house used in the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie A Painted House
Each year after being elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives, Grisham would spend from January to March in the state capitol dreaming of a big case.
Grisham said the big case came in 1984, but it was not his case. As he was hanging around the court, he overheard a 12-year-old girl telling the jury what had happened to her. Her story intrigued Grisham and he began watching the trial. He saw how the members of the jury cried as she told them about having been raped and beaten. It was then, Grisham later wrote in The New York Times, that a story was born. Musing over "what would have happened if the girl's father had murdered her assailants", Grisham took three years to complete his first book, A Time to Kill.
Finding a publisher was not easy. The book was rejected by 28 publishers before Wynwood Press, an unknown publisher, agreed to give it a modest 5,000-copy printing. It was published in June 1989. The day after Grisham completed A Time to Kill, he began work on his second novel, the story of an ambitious young attorney "lured to an apparently perfect law firm that was not what it appeared." The Firm remained on the The New York Times' bestseller list for 47 weeks, and became the bestselling novel of 1991.
Beginning with A Painted House in 2001, the author broadened his focus from law to the more general rural South, but continued to write legal thrillers. Most of the titles to Grisham's legal thrillers begin with the word "The."
[edit]Named in libel suit
On September 28, 2007, former Pontotoc County, Oklahoma District Attorney Bill Peterson, former Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agent Gary Rogers, and criminalist Melvin Hett filed a civil suit for libel against Grisham and two other authors. They claimed that Grisham and the others critical of Peterson and his prosecution of murder cases conspired to commit libel and generate publicity for themselves by portraying the plaintiffs in a false light and intentionally inflicting emotional distress. Grisham was named due to his publication of the non-fiction book, The Innocent Man. He examined the faults in the investigation and trial of defendants in the murder of a cocktail waitress in Ada, Oklahoma, and the exoneration by DNA evidence more than 12 years later of wrongfully convicted defendants Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz. The judge dismissed the libel case on September 18, 2008, saying, "The wrongful convictions of Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz must be discussed openly and with great vigor."
[edit]John Grisham Room
The Mississippi State University Libraries, Manuscript Division, maintains the John Grisham Room, an archive containing materials generated during the author's tenure as Mississippi State Representative and relating to his writings.
Grisham's lifelong passion for baseball is expressed in his novel A Painted House and in his support of Little League activities in both Oxford, Mississippi, and Charlottesville, Virginia. He wrote the original screenplay for and produced the baseball movie Mickey, starring Harry Connick, Jr.. The movie was released on DVD in April 2004. He remains a fan of Mississippi State University's baseball team and wrote about his ties to the university and the Left Field Lounge in the introduction for the book Dudy Noble Field: A Celebration of MSU Baseball.
Grisham is well known within the literary community for his efforts to support the continuing literary tradition of his native South. He has endowed scholarships and writers' residencies in the University of Mississippi's English Department and Graduate Creative Writing Program. He was the founding publisher of the Oxford American, a magazine devoted to literary writing. The magazine is famous for its annual music issue, copies of which include a compilation CD featuring contemporary and classic Southern musicians in genres ranging from blues and gospel to country western and alternative rock.
In an October 2006 interview on the Charlie Rose Show, Grisham stated that he usually takes only six months to write a book and that his favorite author is John le Carré.
[edit]Works
Complete collection of 25 John Grisham books, including the latest, The Confession
[edit]Novels
A Time to Kill (1989)
The Firm (1991)
The Pelican Brief (1992)
The Client (1993)
The Chamber (1994)
The Rainmaker (1995)
The Runaway Jury (1996)
The Partner (1997)
The Street Lawyer (1998)
The Testament (1999)
The Brethren (2000)
A Painted House (2001)
Skipping Christmas (2001)
The Summons (2002)
The King of Torts (2003)
Bleachers (2003)
The Last Juror (2004)
The Broker (2005)
Playing for Pizza (2007)
The Appeal (2008)
The Associate (2009)
Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer (2010)
The Confession (2010)
[edit]Short Stories
Ford County (2009)
[edit]Non Fiction
The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town (2006)
[edit]Film adaptations
The Firm (1993)
The Pelican Brief (1993)
The Client (1994)
A Time to Kill (1996)
The Chamber (1996)
The Rainmaker (1997)
The Gingerbread Man (1998)
A Painted House (2003) TV movie
Runaway Jury (2003)
Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
[edit]Television adaptations
The Client (1995-1996) 1 season, 20 episodes
The Street Lawyer (2003) TV pilot