Sir Alan Patrick Herbert (September 24, 1890 - November 11, 1971) was a British humorist, Member of Parliament, barrister, and novelist. September 24 is the 267th day of the year (268th in leap years). ... 1890 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 50 days remaining. ... 1971 is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). ... Humour (Commonwealth English) or humor (American English) is the ability or quality of people, objects or situations to evoke feelings of amusement in other people. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters of an electoral district to a parliament; in the Westminster system, specifically to the lower house. ... The legal profession in England and Wales is divided between solicitors and barristers. ... DeFoes Robinson Crusoe, Newspaper edition published in 1719 A novel (from French nouvelle, new) is an extended fictional narrative in prose. ...

He studied at New College, Oxford, and was admitted to the bar in 1918. In 1935 he became a member of Parliament for Oxford University, where he was returned until the University seats were abolished in 1950. While in Parliament, he advocated the abolition of the entertainments tax, and for reform of the laws of divorce and obscenity. He was knighted in 1945. College name New College Named after Blessed Virgin Mary Established 1379 Sister College Kings College Warden Prof. ... 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... 1935(MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The University of Oxford, located in the city of Oxford, England, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. ... 1950 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Divorce or dissolution of marriage is the ending of a marriage before the death of either spouse, which can be contrasted with an annulment which is a declaration that a marriage is void, though the effects of marriage may be recognized in such unions, such as spousal support, child custody... Obscenity has several connotations. ... The silver Anglia knight, commissioned as a trophy in 1850, intended to represent the Black Prince. ... 1945 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

He wrote eight novels, including The Water Gypsies, The Secret Battle, and Holy Deadlock, and wrote fifteen plays. His work appeared often in Punch magazine, where the work for which he was best remembered, his series of Misleading Cases in the Common Law, was first published. Over his lifetime he published sixteen collections of the Misleading Cases. These were satirical pieces on various aspects of the British legal and judicial system; they often had a sharp political point beneath their satire. Many of them featured the exploits of Albert Haddock, a tireless and veteran litigant. The Misleading Cases series were collected into two volumes, Uncommon Law and More Uncommon Law, in 1982. Punch was a British weekly magazine of humour and satire published from 1841 to 1992 and from 1996 to 2002. ... This article concerns the common-law legal system, as contrasted with the civil law legal system; for other meanings of the term, within the field of law, see common law (disambiguation). ... Satire is a literary technique of writing or art which exposes the follies of its subject (for example, individuals, organizations, or states) to ridicule, often as an intended means of provoking or preventing change. ...

A P Herbert's Misleading Cases were successfully adapted for television by the BBC, with Roy Dotrice as Haddock, and Alastair Sim as the judge. Corporate logo of the British Broadcasting Corporation The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is the national broadcaster of the United Kingdom. ... Roy Dotrice (born 26 May 1923) is a British actor. ... Alastair Sim Alastair Sim (October 9, 1900 – August 19, 1976) was a Scottish character actor, whose comic appearance ensured him success in a string of classic British films. ...

Quotation

In recent years, it appears, there has entered for the first time, systematically, and unashamed, into the administration of British justice the repellent figure of the agent provocateur, which is a French expression signifying an official spy who causes an offence to secure a conviction; and I use that phrase partly to impress upon you your own profound ignorance and partly because there is no other. There is no other phrase, and for a very good reason; the idea is so repugnant to British notions of fair play and decency that it has never found expression in our language. I have seen no comment, judicial or other, upon the importation of this loathsome practice; it has stolen in, unblessed and almost unobserved, and has taken a firm place in the national life. It is not employed for the suppression of the major crimes, where official dishonour might be forgiven in a noble cause; no constable causes himself to be murdered or robbed for the protection of the public by the apprehension of a dangerous person. But it is the constant support of small prosecutions for small offences wisely invented by righteous people for the hindrance or prevention of public enjoyment.

--- Rex v. The Commissioner of Metropolitan Police, Chief Inspector Charles, Inspector Smart, Sergeant Oliphant, and Constable Boot (1930)