No Ordinary Man: A Life of George Carman

Out of Print

George Carman QC was the most famous advocate of his generation and the only barrister who was a household name.

The successful defence of former Liberal leader, Jeremy Thorpe, on charges of conspiracy to murder, made him famous. His mastery of cross¬examination and speech-making succeeded in winning a string of high-profile cases that earned. him the titles of Great Defender and King of Libel. Notable criminal successes included:-

• Dr Leonard Arthur, a paediatrician acquitted of murdering a baby;
• Peter Adamson, a.k.a. Coronation Street!s Len Fairclough, cleared of indecent assault;
• and Ken Dodd, acquitted on tax evasion charges.

Gorgeous George attracted a string of celebrity clients: George Best, Richard Branson, the Marquess of Bristol, Tom Cruise & Nicole Kidman, Lawrence Dallaglio, Mohammed Al-Fayed, Elton John, Imran Khan, Robert Maxwell and Marco-Pierre White. His victims included Sonia Sutcliffe, wife of the Yorkshire Ripper, EastEnders actress Gillian Taylforth, Neil & Christine Hamilton and Jonathan Aitken.

George Carman's public triumphs made front-page news. Yet this very private man remained a mystery. In a full and frank account of his life, Dominic Carman explains how his father, the ambitious boy from Blackpool, fought to become the star of the Bar. A master of control, deeply insecure, obsessed with his work, an addictive personality and capable both of courtroom genius and flawed personal judgement, he wanted, above all, to win. The combination took its toll.

This sad but compelling account reveals the story of a man whose private life was as extraordinary as his public life was successful.