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閱讀約翰·格裏森姆 John Grisham在小说之家的作品!!! |
自1985年到1987年，約翰·格裏森姆花了三年的時間完成了他的第一部長篇小說《殺戮時刻》，1988年出版時並未受到出版商的青睞,衹印了五千册。但他並未因此放棄寫作,而是以更大的熱情全身心地投入下一部長篇《律師事務所》(又譯《陷阱》)的創作。當他把這部小說的版權賣給著名的派拉蒙電影公司時，約翰·格裏森姆頃刻間成為各出版商趨之若鶩的人物。該小說連續47周位於《紐約時報》最暢銷書之列，並成為1991年度最暢銷書。
繼《終極證人》首次榮登榜首之後，他的又一部力作《鵜鶘案捲》(又譯《塘鵝暗殺令》)再次名列《紐約時報》最暢銷書榜首,確立了約翰·格裏森姆作為法律題材流行小說大師的地位。他的成功甚至重新引起了出版界對他的處女作《殺戮時刻》的極大興趣，以至於雙日出版公司和戴爾出版公司先後用精裝和平裝再版，而這都成了暢銷書。
自1988年出版《殺戮時刻》以來，約翰·格裏森姆就以每年一部長篇的速度出書，而且都成了暢銷書。它們是《毒氣室》、《失控的陪審團》、《合夥人》、《貧民律師》及《超級說客》(以上作品譯林出版社均有中文譯本)。這些都是法律題材，惟一的例外是兩部長篇《油漆的房子》和《跳躍的聖誕節》。
約翰·格裏森姆-作品編年
約翰·格裏森姆
1989年出版《A Time To Kill》《殺戮時機》，又譯《殺戮時刻》。
1991年出版《The Firm》《糖衣陷阱》。
1992年出版的《The Pelican Brief 》《塘鵝暗殺令》，又譯《鵜鶘案件》。
1993年出版的《The Client》《致命內幕》，又譯《終極證人》。
1994年出版的《The Chamber》《毒室裁决》，又譯《毒氣室》。
1995年出版的《The Rain maker》《造雨人》，又譯《超級說客》。
1996年出版的《The Run away Jury》《失控的陪審團》。
1997年出版的《The Partner》《合夥人》。
1998年出版的《The Street Lawyer》《街頭律師》，又譯《貧民律師》。
1999年出版的《The Testament》《瘋人遺囑》。
2000年出版的 《The Brothers》《兄弟們》。
2002年出版的《The Summons》《傳票》。
2003年出版的《The King of Torts》《訴訟之王》。
2004年出版的《The Last Juror》《最後的陪審員》。
約翰·格裏森姆-作品簡介
《殺戮時機》，又譯《殺戮時刻》講述利美國南部密西西比州的一個黑人工人約翰·格裏森姆CarlHailey，他
約翰·格裏森姆
十歲的女兒被兩個白人種族主義者搶劫和蹂躪了。但是他不相信法律會為黑人主持公正，找到那兩個兇手後便把他們槍殺了，然後投案自首。雄心勃勃的年輕稅務律師JakeBrigance被指派為Carl辯護。但是兩者之間也無法取得共識，而且不出Carl所料，法官的確偏嚮控方。案件審訊期間，Jake自己的生活、他的家庭和同事都陷入了危險之中。他不斷收到死亡威脅，氣焰囂張的三K黨甚至在Jake的門前焚燒十字架，並威脅要炸毀他的住宅。雖然有資深律師RufusBuckley的幫助，傑剋還是對自己能否面對無情的檢控官而産生懷疑。
《糖衣陷阱》講述剛自哈佛大學畢業的法學院學生MitchMcDeere，受雇於紐約一傢律師事務所，即獲得公司許多優厚的待遇，還幫他償助學貸款，租給他一輛賓士驕車代步，然而天下沒有白吃的午餐，不久他就發現，原來事務所由芝加哥黑手黨持有，主要事務為洗黑錢等勾當。不久，美國聯邦調查局嚮他施壓，迫使他成為他們的告密者。
《塘鵝暗殺令》，又譯《鵜鶘案件》，講述法律係女學生DarbyShaw就一宗高院法官被刺殺的案件，收集資料之際，無意中發現暗殺事件可能與貪污醜聞有關，背後更涉及石油大亨及美國政府高層人員。因此，黛比遂編寫了一份推論報告，準備輾轉呈交聯邦密探，但她所付出的代價實在太大。
《致命內幕》，又譯《終極證人》，講述11歲的男童MarkSway和他的弟弟在偷吸香煙時目擊一名律師在車裏自殺，該律師臨終前把一個屍體的埋藏地告訴了MarkSway。事後男童成了司法界和殺手爭奪的人物。前者不擇手段要男童開口，後者極力要他閉嘴，而男童的唯一盟友ReggieLove，一個會不惜任何代價，誓死保護他的律師。
《毒室裁决》，又譯《毒氣室》，講述死囚SamCayhall即將被送入毒氣室，多年來他的律師已經用盡一切可能的方法輓救他的生命，現在衹剩下最後一點時間了。一個年輕有為的律師AdamHall出現，這個人是Sam最後的希望，可是Adam自己也有一些不為人知的秘密。
《造雨人》，又譯《超級說客》。講述剛踏進律師這一行的新手RudyBaylor，想盡早大展宏圖，在這個早已心嚮往之的領域裏有所建樹。然而，他迎面碰上的卻是污泥濁水，與當初設想的完全不同。好在魯迪身上那股韌勁還在，憑着良知，他要為嚮保險公司索賠保險的母親以及受虐的已婚少婦這樣的普通人說話，做一個旱地送水的造雨人。
《訴訟之王》，講述《公衆辯護人辦事處》實在不是一個適合年青纔俊律師實習受訓的地方，ClayCarter在這個地方呆得太久了，他就像他其餘的同事們一樣，夢想著離開這個鬼地方，到一所真正的律師樓打工。當他極不願地接了一椿案子，替一位涉嫌在街頭殺了人的年輕人辯護後，他以為這案子衹是像華盛頓每周都會發生的殺人事件一樣的簡單。在他探討他代表的那個嫌疑人的背景時，ClayCarter偶然發現一個不可思議的恐怖陰謀，他突然發覺自己負責的這個案子的對頭人，竟然是世界最大的製藥商。假如他勝訴，賠償金不但會是天文數子，而且他會因這個案子，在一夜之間，成為新任的《訴訟之王》。
約翰·格裏森姆-創作風格
格裏森姆的小說，總是一種基調：主人公“我”，通常是一名法學院纔畢業，剛取得律師專業資格的愣頭青，遠大前程，滿懷憧憬，對社會抱着熱望，對人性尚未失望，一心想以自己的專業知識伸張正義，維護公道。
約翰·格裏森姆
醜陋的現實擺在眼前，“我”很快地察覺到這一行業的黑暗：司法制度的弊洞，官商勾結，為非作歹，肆無忌憚，同行運用專業知識泯滅良心，為虎作倀，而平民百姓的權益，永遠沒有也永遠無法得到完全的，十足的保障和公平的對待。
格裏森姆小說裏的“我”，是稀珍的理想主義者，同情弱小，嫉惡如仇;又有一股牛脾氣倔勁，面對利誘，恐嚇，甚至人身安全受到威脅，誓不低頭。善良，正直的性格和敏銳，機智的頭腦完美結合（這怎麽可能呢？基本上，善良的人比較呆，聰明的人會使壞）。
格裏森姆不會辜負我的寄望，筆下的主人公，“我”，熱忱永不會熄滅，執着自己的信念，堅守心中的理想，鋤強扶弱，一次又一次，自願當孤膽英雄，和強權，大鰐，惡勢力開戰，用專業知識智取，以牙還牙，不屈不饒。讀來，歡暢淋漓。
格裏森姆讓陽光照進我的夢想：邪不勝正，主人公“我”，總可以憑自己的聰明才智，取得勝利，打贏官司，──雖然，那可能衹是表面上的，暫時性的勝利。
讀格裏森姆的小說，是一次愉快的精神旅行，滿足我對“公平公正”的法律精神的幻想。它好像告訴大傢堅持理想的應該，執着信念的美好，鼓勵大傢不要失望，不能絶望；不要氣餒，不能放棄，在這物欲橫流的時代，在這烏煙瘴氣的社會。格裏森姆的小說，總是讓人看得心簜神移，激動不已。
約翰·格裏森姆-文學成就
約翰·格裏森姆，當代美國法律題材流行小說的代名詞，於1998年一月被美國《出版傢周刊》冠以“九十年代最流行小說作傢”稱號。近幾年來，他的作品已被譯成二十九國文字，全球發行量超過六千萬册，其中許多都被改編成電影。在2002年的美國，格裏森姆已成為暢銷小說領域超重量級人物，也是整個娛樂業的一個重要“現象”，格裏森姆小說的效應被新聞界稱為“格裏森姆颶風”。目前一共出了18本小說，11本拍成電影，一本拍成電視劇。
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