The Burden of Proof (Barlow novel)
![]() First edition (UK) | |
Author | James Barlow |
---|---|
Language | English |
Genre | Crime |
Publisher | Hamish Hamilton (UK) Simon and Schuster (US) |
Publication date | 1968 |
Publication place | United Kingdom |
Media type | |
Pages | 258 |
The Burden of Proof is a 1968 crime novel by the British writer James Barlow.[1]
Synopsis
[edit]Vic Dakin, a crime lord with a vast empire across London takes place on a raid on a wages van that goes wrong. Needing an alibi he arranges to blackmail a corrupt MP with evidence of his sexual wrongdoing to give perjured testimony in court. However, the police are doggedly on Dakin's trail.
Reception
[edit]The Daily Telegraph praised "a remarkably taut, fast moving narrative".[2]
The Chicago Tribune called it a "sizzling, compelling book."[3]
Adaptation
[edit]In 1971, it was adapted into the British film Villain directed by Michael Tuchner and starring Richard Burton, Ian McShane and Nigel Davenport.[4][5] As a tie-in with the film, the novel was reissued with the alternative title Villain.
References
[edit]- ^ Richardson, Maurice (21 July 1968). "CRIME RATION". The Observer. p. 23.
- ^ "Recent fiction". The Daily Telegraph. 25 July 1968. p. 20.
- ^ Rosenzweig, A.L. (8 September 1968). "THRILLERS". Chicago Tribune. p. 14.
- ^ Goble p.24
- ^ Clinton p.229
Bibliography
[edit]- Clinton, Franz Anthony. British Thrillers, 1950-1979: 845 Films of Suspense, Mystery, Murder and Espionage. McFarland, 2020.
- Goble, Alan. The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Walter de Gruyter, 1999.
- Turner, Alwyn W. Crisis? What Crisis?: Britain in the 1970s. Aurum, 2009.