The Paper Chase is a 1971 novel written by John Jay Osborn Jr., a 1970 graduate of Harvard Law School. The book tells the story of Hart, a first-year law student at Harvard, and his experiences with Professor Charles Kingsfield, a brilliant and demanding contracts instructor whom he both idolizes and finds incredibly intimidating.
Osborn wrote the novel as a third-year student at Harvard Law School. William Alfred, a Harvard humanities professor and playwright, coached him in writing the book.[1]
The story centers on Hart, a young law student from Minnesota who attends Harvard Law School and becomes obsessed with one of his teachers, Professor Charles W. Kingsfield Jr. Hart becomes an expert on Kingsfield's subject, contracts; he reads everything about the subject, including all of Kingsfield's papers, most of which are not on the reading list. He goes so far as to break into the law library to read Kingsfield's original law school notes. Hart becomes such an expert that Kingsfield asks him to contribute to a paper.
At the same time, he begins a relationship with Susan Field, who turns out to be Kingsfield's daughter. Susan stands aloof from the law school rat race and dismisses all the things Hart cares about most.
After much effort preparing for final exams, Hart's grades are delivered to him, but he simply makes a paper airplane out of the envelope, and sends it sailing into the Atlantic Ocean without looking at it.
Professor Charles W. Kingsfield Jredit
Professor Charles W. Kingsfield Jr. is one of the key characters in the novel, film and television series. Kingsfield is an imperious, highly respected (and feared) professor of contracts at Harvard Law School, known for his unrelenting use of the Socratic method on his students. Kingsfield was a law student at Harvard, as shown by the presence of his own class notes in the institution's archives. Kingsfield has a daughter with a fiercely independent personality.
During an event at Harvard Law School to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of the book's release, Osborn said that the character was a composite of several of his professors at Harvard Law School, saying, "It wasn't like it was hard to find role models."[2][3] Many Harvard Law graduates believe the character to be a composite of Contracts professor Clark Byse[4][5] and Property Law professor A.J. Casner, legendary intimidating users of the Socratic method. Osborn has stated that Contracts was his favorite law school course.[6] Actor John Houseman, who played the role in the film and television series, said that he based his performance, in part, on stories he was told by former students of Edward Henry Warren, a professor at the law school from 1904 to 1945. Warren, who taught a first-year property law course, was famous at the school for his sarcastic comments during lectures and intimidating manner. Houseman's performance was also based on his experience as a professor and director of the drama department at the Juilliard School.[7]
40th-anniversary editionedit
In 2010, a 40th-anniversary edition of The Paper Chase was released by Peninsula Road Press, which contains a new preface. This edition is the only one prepared by the author.
CBS aired a one-hour drama series in the 1978–1979 season based on the movie. John Houseman reprised his movie role, and James Stephens played Hart. In 1983, pay cable network Showtime brought back the show with both Houseman and Stephens. At the end of three seasons on Showtime, Hart finally graduated.
Referencesedit
^"Former Professor, Playwright Alfred Dies". The Harvard Crimson. May 24, 1999. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
^Walsh, Colleen (October 2, 2012). "'The Paper Chase' at 40". Harvard Gazette. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
^'The Paper Chase' at 40: A conversation with author John Jay Osborn Jr. '70
^(PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-02-02. Retrieved 2014-01-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^Garcia, Ken (January 28, 2003). "Father of the 'Paper Chase' / San Francisco writer helped define Harvard". The San Francisco Chronicle.
^Houseman, John (August 9, 1986). "Tyrannical? Terrifying? You Should Have Met the Real Professor Kingsfield!". TV Guide. pp. 36–8. Retrieved 29 June 2013.[permanent dead link]
October 29, 2023
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The Paper Chase is a 1971 novel written by John Jay Osborn Jr a 1970 graduate of Harvard Law School The book tells the story of Hart a first year law student at Harvard and his experiences with Professor Charles Kingsfield a brilliant and demanding contracts instructor whom he both idolizes and finds incredibly intimidating First edition Houghton Mifflin 1971 The novel inspired an eponymous 1973 film and then a television series which ran from 1978 to 1979 and from 1983 to 1986 Osborn wrote the novel as a third year student at Harvard Law School William Alfred a Harvard humanities professor and playwright coached him in writing the book 1 Contents 1 Plot 2 Professor Charles W Kingsfield Jr 3 40th anniversary edition 4 Adaptations 4 1 Film 4 2 Television series 5 ReferencesPlot editThe story centers on Hart a young law student from Minnesota who attends Harvard Law School and becomes obsessed with one of his teachers Professor Charles W Kingsfield Jr Hart becomes an expert on Kingsfield s subject contracts he reads everything about the subject including all of Kingsfield s papers most of which are not on the reading list He goes so far as to break into the law library to read Kingsfield s original law school notes Hart becomes such an expert that Kingsfield asks him to contribute to a paper At the same time he begins a relationship with Susan Field who turns out to be Kingsfield s daughter Susan stands aloof from the law school rat race and dismisses all the things Hart cares about most After much effort preparing for final exams Hart s grades are delivered to him but he simply makes a paper airplane out of the envelope and sends it sailing into the Atlantic Ocean without looking at it Professor Charles W Kingsfield Jr editProfessor Charles W Kingsfield Jr is one of the key characters in the novel film and television series Kingsfield is an imperious highly respected and feared professor of contracts at Harvard Law School known for his unrelenting use of the Socratic method on his students Kingsfield was a law student at Harvard as shown by the presence of his own class notes in the institution s archives Kingsfield has a daughter with a fiercely independent personality During an event at Harvard Law School to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of the book s release Osborn said that the character was a composite of several of his professors at Harvard Law School saying It wasn t like it was hard to find role models 2 3 Many Harvard Law graduates believe the character to be a composite of Contracts professor Clark Byse 4 5 and Property Law professor A J Casner legendary intimidating users of the Socratic method Osborn has stated that Contracts was his favorite law school course 6 Actor John Houseman who played the role in the film and television series said that he based his performance in part on stories he was told by former students of Edward Henry Warren a professor at the law school from 1904 to 1945 Warren who taught a first year property law course was famous at the school for his sarcastic comments during lectures and intimidating manner Houseman s performance was also based on his experience as a professor and director of the drama department at the Juilliard School 7 40th anniversary edition editIn 2010 a 40th anniversary edition of The Paper Chase was released by Peninsula Road Press which contains a new preface This edition is the only one prepared by the author Adaptations editFilm edit Main article The Paper Chase film According to Osborn the 1973 film is based almost word for word on the novel It starred John Houseman as Kingsfield and Timothy Bottoms as Hart Television series edit Main article The Paper Chase TV series CBS aired a one hour drama series in the 1978 1979 season based on the movie John Houseman reprised his movie role and James Stephens played Hart In 1983 pay cable network Showtime brought back the show with both Houseman and Stephens At the end of three seasons on Showtime Hart finally graduated References edit Former Professor Playwright Alfred Dies The Harvard Crimson May 24 1999 Retrieved 29 June 2013 Walsh Colleen October 2 2012 The Paper Chase at 40 Harvard Gazette Retrieved 29 June 2013 The Paper Chase at 40 A conversation with author John Jay Osborn Jr 70 Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2014 02 02 Retrieved 2014 01 23 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Issues Archive Harvard Law Today Garcia Ken January 28 2003 Father of the Paper Chase San Francisco writer helped define Harvard The San Francisco Chronicle Houseman John August 9 1986 Tyrannical Terrifying You Should Have Met the Real Professor Kingsfield TV Guide pp 36 8 Retrieved 29 June 2013 permanent dead link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Paper Chase Osborn novel amp oldid 1160593498, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
