Nelson & His World

'Garrow's Law' - the series on the 18th century lawyer that we've discussed elsewhere - returns to our TV screen on 13 November - BBC1, as usual.

As I have mentioned in another post, Nelson himself was cross-examined by the famous Mr Garrow when he appeared as a character witness for a seaman facing a charge of murder.

Great! I love this series; so informative for the life and times, too.

- Mil -

Anna,

I imagine this is the new series 3 you are talking about. I enjoyed watching the DVD of series 1, so am thinking of buying series 2. (I like courtroom drama's in any case, be they historical or otherwise, although my wife doesn't – so she didn't like Judge John Dee either!)

Anyway, what I wanted to ask was, does the series evolve as it progresses or is it more of the same. To put it another way do any of his reforms, for which he is famous, come into the later series, such as the accused having to be proved guilty and the non-bias of the jury? There are glimpses of his frame of mind in the first series, but I presumed because of his age and comparative inexperience, he could not alter any fundamental law.

One has to ask, if there aren't any such changes, what is the real purpose of the programme other than to just entertain, and doesn't it do Garrow a diservice?

Kester:

I think the series was devised as entertainment - and none the worse for that! TV drama departments are always looking for interesting angles and Garrow's cases cast fascinating light on the 18th century world, and confirm my oft-repeated comment that morals and manners may change but the human heart doesn't change. This is a series that explores the complexities of human relationships, which is ultimately what good drama is about. It's not actually a 'docu-drama' that aims primarily to inform us about the evolution of the judicial system in England, and Garrow's role in it. Informing us about the legal background is merely a sub-text that enriches the series but isn't its main purpose. These are just rattling good yarns, wonderfully atmospheric, brilliantly acted, full of tension, trickery, reversals of fortune, illicit love...Yay! The appetite of human beings for stories is insatiable; the historical instruction just a plum or two adding richness to the juicy cake!

Well, ok – I thought you might say something like that! I'm not doubting it's entertainment value, and given what I said about my liking court room dramas, I'll probably buy it (to watch when the wife's out). However, I was hoping there would be more in it about the man and his battle to change the legal system.

Perhaps I should buy the book.