66 pages 2 hours read

John Grisham

The Rainmaker

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1995

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Chapters 1-5Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 1 Summary

Rudy Baylor went into law school to spite his father, with whom he had a strained relationship. His father died a few weeks after Rudy was accepted and Rudy, now in his third year at Memphis State, isn’t close to his mother or stepfather. Scheduled to graduate in a few weeks, he has timed everything well so that he has easier classes, which provides him more time to study for the bar exam. One of these classes is Legal Problems of the Elderly. As part of the curriculum, the students, including Rudy’s best friend Booker Kane, tag along with the instructor, Dr. Smoot, to a senior center.

A kind, energetic woman named Miss Birdie emcees the day’s activities and introduces Dr. Smoot and his students to the seniors in attendance. The seniors are invited to ask Rudy and his classmates for free legal advice. Only a few take advantage of the offer.

Miss Birdie, who is worth millions, meets with Rudy. She wants him to redraft her will. She feels slighted by her family and wants to cut them out. She doesn’t trust lawyers, though, and that’s why she wants Rudy to draft a simple will for her.