The Burden of Proof (Barlow novel)

For the novel by Scott Turow, see The Burden of Proof (Turow novel).

The Burden of Proof

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	Print
Pages	258

The Burden of Proof is a 1968 crime novel by the British writer James Barlow. ^[1]

Synopsis

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

The Daily Telegraph praised "a remarkably taut, fast moving narrative". ^[2]

The Chicago Tribune called it a "sizzling, compelling book." ^[3]

Adaptation

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

1. Richardson, Maurice (21 July 1968). "CRIME RATION". The Observer . p. 23.
2. "Recent fiction". The Daily Telegraph. 25 July 1968. p. 20.
3. Rosenzweig, A.L. (8 September 1968). "THRILLERS". Chicago Tribune . p. 14.
4. Goble p.24
5. Clinton p.229

Bibliography

• 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.