So what exactly, in the world of novel writing, is a Ford 99? The answer, a test for a new book devised by novelist Ford Madox Ford – read page 99 and let that be the guide to whether you wish to read more.
The Orangeberry Summer Splash has
taken this a step further, inviting its author entrants to dissect page 99 of
their books in pursuit of a positive answer to the question. Very ingenious. Here goes.
To have described Thursday 11th
March as simply One Of Those Days for solicitor Alex Harris would have been a
woeful understatement.
With his newspaper clients’ libel
trial only days away, he realises just how dirty a fight his opponents intend
to contest, as they pull a last minute rabbit out of the hat in the form of
printed apologies to past libel victims that Bill Holroyd, the editor, had been
compelled to publish in days gone by. Apologies that are now to feature in the
documents bundle that will be placed before the judge and jury, in the hope of
poisoning their minds against the editor, regardless of the fact that he was
then in charge of a downmarket tabloid, not the same newspaper that is now on
trial.
Thinking on his feet, Alex finds
a counter-measure to demonstrate that whenever Holroyd decided in his past
editorial role to stand firm against a libel allegation and go to trial, he was
never defeated. Little did Alex know that this would not be the last dirty
trick…
But the clients’ problems and
Alex’s fightback on their behalf almost pale into insignificance alongside a
sudden escalation of his firm’s internal political struggle. Breaking into his
working day, by way of direct response to his defiance of a recent personal
affront, a decision from the Management Committee to spark off a formal process
that will put his status and his livelihood on the line. And all because of
what?
Just at the wrong moment, in
comes Stewart Robbins, Alex’s head of department, for a private word, evidently
knowing about the Management Committee’s intentions and looking to play the
part of some kind of honest broker. If ever a man was in the wrong place at the
wrong time…
Page 99 is where what had been a
steady build up of tension in Alex’s working life becomes a virtual torrent.
There is no turning back. From this point onwards, it is evident that neither
the libel trial nor the partnership conflict stand any chance of striking a
happy medium and reaching an outcome where everyone involved can make a
concession or two, resolve the disputes and feel that they have achieved
something. They will both move remorselessly towards an outcome where there can
only be one winner. And one loser.
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