Murder, theft, rape… The criminal is caught — the trial is underway. In the court — the temple of Themis, the goddess of justice — the parties argue in search of fairness. But is it always found?.. Oh, how difficult it is for Themis, this heroic woman! In her hands, a piercing sharp sword, but her eyes are blindfolded, and the judges, lawyers, and jurors — they are all just people, not angels… Alexey Kuznetsov, a renowned historian, radio host, author and editor of the magazine “Dilettante,” uses the example of 30 famous legal cases to show how humanity has been seeking the truth for centuries through laws, customs, and publicity. But often finds neither truth nor justice: evil goes unpunished, good goes unheard… Sometimes, it turns out that even the crimes themselves are not real. However, legal victories do happen, and the work of Themis is not in vain. On the pages of the book: - the trial of the historian Cremuzio Cord, accused of insulting the late emperor Octavian Augustus; - the trial of Jacques Le Gris accused of attempting to dishonor his neighbor Jean de Carrouges' wife; - the trial of Gustave Flaubert accused of publishing an immoral work; - the legendary trial of the old woman whose theft of a teapot “threatened the existence” of the Russian Empire; - the trial of Lieutenant William Kelly, accused of mass murder of civilians... And other sensational and instructive cases, of which films have been made and dozens of books written.
