The successful defence of former Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe, on charges of conspiracy to murder, made George Carman QC famous. His mastery of cross-examination and speech-making succeeded in winning him a string of high-profile cases that earned him the titles of Great Defender and King of Libel. "Gorgeous George" attracted a string of celebrity clients, including George Best, Richard Branson, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, Imran Khan and Robert Maxwell, and his public triumphs made front-page news. Yet, this very private man remained a mystery. In this frank account of his life, Dominic Carman explains how his father, the ambitious boy from Blackpool, fought to become the star of the Bar.