THE BEST LAWYER IN A ONE-LAWYER TOWN: A Memoir

Former Arkansas governor Bumpers served in the Senate for 24 years and is currently with a Washington law firm. However, this witty book indicates he may have a new career as a humorist on the printed page. Born in 1925, he grew up in tiny, poverty-stricken Charleston, Ark., where his father ran the Charleston Hardware and Funeral Home. He paints an affectionate yet haunting portrait of smalltown, Depression-era American family life. Bumpers has had a long, eventful life, but his amusing anecdotes and razor-sharp recollections of the 1930s and '40s are the most appealing portions of this engrossing memoir. He made extra money picking cotton, peas and potatoes, and at 15, started working at a grocery store and began dating his future wife. "I smelled like a goat barn from cleaning the meat box, and Betty's devotion got tested every Saturday night," he remembers. A WWII Marine, Bumpers was at Northwestern Law on the GI Bill in 1949 when his parents were killed in a car crash. "Flat broke" after graduation, he returned to Charleston, took over the family business and became the town's only lawyer. Although he "had no idea of how to begin practicing law... no office, no library, no clients," his career eventually took off. These charming tales from a country lawyer turned national politician are thoroughly enjoyable. Photos not seen by PW. (On sale Feb. 18)

Forecast: In addition to national media appearances, Bumpers's author tour includes stops throughout Arkansas (Blytheville, Conway, Fayetteville, Jonesboro and Little Rock). Blurbs from Bill Clinton and Norman Mailer, among others, will boost sales.