This chronicle of ten controversial mid-Victorian trials features brother versus brother, aristocrats fighting commoners, an imposter to a family's fortune, and an ex-priest suing his ex-wife, a nun. Most of these trials--never before analyzed in depth--assailed a culture that frowned upon public displays of bad taste, revealing fault lines in what is traditionally seen as a moral and regimented society. The author examines religious scandals, embarrassments about shaky family trees, and even arguments about which architecture is most likely to convert people from one faith to another. “Gives a rare glimpse into the controversies, large and small, that made their way into the courtrooms of 19th century Britain and the intriguing, nefarious and sometimes hapless characters who were caught up in them.”― Capitol Hill Tom Zaniello is a former professor of literature and film studies. He is currently a film festivals organizer in Washington, DC, and London.