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Forever Rumpole: The Best of the Rumpole Stories
A wonderful collection of 14 stories, starring the world's most beloved barrister.
John Mortimer died in 2009, but will never be forgotten. While still a practicing barrister, Mortimer took up the pen, and the rest is literary history. His stories featuring the cigar-chomping, cheap- winetippling Rumpole and his wife, Hilda (aka She Who Must Be Obeyed"), have justly earned their place in the pantheon of mystery fiction legends. The stories became a very successful PBS television series starring Leo McKern as Rumpole.
Forever Rumpole brings together fourteen of Rumpole's most entertaining adventures, together with a fragment of a new story.
Rumpole and the Younger Generation
Rumpole and the Showfolk
Rumpole and the Tap End
Rumpole and the Bubble Reputation
Rumpole à la Carte
Rumpole and the Children of the Devil
Rumpole on Trial
Rumpole and the Way through the Woods
Rumpole and the Angel of Death
Rumpole and the Old Familiar Faces
Rumpole Rests His Case
Rumpole and the Primrose Path
Rumpole Redeemed
Rumpole and the Christmas Break
Rumpole and the Brave New World
John Mortimer died in 2009, but will never be forgotten. While still a practicing barrister, Mortimer took up the pen, and the rest is literary history. His stories featuring the cigar-chomping, cheap- winetippling Rumpole and his wife, Hilda (aka She Who Must Be Obeyed"), have justly earned their place in the pantheon of mystery fiction legends. The stories became a very successful PBS television series starring Leo McKern as Rumpole.
Forever Rumpole brings together fourteen of Rumpole's most entertaining adventures, together with a fragment of a new story.
Rumpole and the Younger Generation
Rumpole and the Showfolk
Rumpole and the Tap End
Rumpole and the Bubble Reputation
Rumpole à la Carte
Rumpole and the Children of the Devil
Rumpole on Trial
Rumpole and the Way through the Woods
Rumpole and the Angel of Death
Rumpole and the Old Familiar Faces
Rumpole Rests His Case
Rumpole and the Primrose Path
Rumpole Redeemed
Rumpole and the Christmas Break
Rumpole and the Brave New World
532 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2011
144 people are currently reading
255 people want to read
About the author
John Mortimer
252 books232 followersJohn Clifford Mortimer was a novelist, playwright and former practising barrister. Among his many publications are several volumes of Rumpole stories and a trilogy of political novels, Paradise Postponed, Titmuss Regained and The Sound of Trumpets, featuring Leslie Titmuss - a character as brilliant as Rumpole. John Mortimer received a knighthood for his services to the arts in 1998.
Series:
Rumpole of the Bailey
Rapstone Chronicles
Series:
Rumpole of the Bailey
Rapstone Chronicles
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
November 7, 2020
My friend Jeff Crompton led me to this book. I'd seen episodes from the TV series Rumpole at the Bailey, but had never read any of John Mortimer's Rumpole books. (I should mention that Jeff also turned me on to P.G. Wodehouse's books, so he's batting 1.ooo.)
As many know, Rumpole is a classic fictional character in all senses of that word, and John Mortimer was a writer who could make readers laugh. In my experience, that's not an easy thing to do.
If you need to smile, chuckle, or laugh - and who doesn't these days? - I recommend a dosage of John Mortimer's Rumpole stories.
The essence of Rumpole (or at least part of it):
"As I rested, I looked for a moment at His Honour, Judge Bullingham, an Old Bailey judge now promoted to trying murders. To call them trials is perhaps to flatter the learned judge, who conducts the proceedings as though the Old Bailey were a somewhat prejudiced and summary offshoot of the Spanish Inquisition. One of my first jobs as a defending counsel in the present case was to taunt and tempt, by many daring passes of the cape and neat side-steps in the sand, the bellowing and red-eyed bull to come out as such a tireless fighter on behalf of the prosecution that the jury began to see him as I did. They might perhaps, acquit my client because an ill-tempered judge was making it so desperately clear that he wanted her convicted."
And a classic exchange between Rumpole and his wife Hilda (She Who Must Be Obeyed):
"I didn't like the way he kept telling the jury my client was guilty."
"Well, isn't he guilty Rumpole?" In all innocence, Hilda had asked the awkward question.
"Well. Quite possibly. But that's for the jury of twelve honest citizens to decide, not Mr. Justice Gravestone."
"Gravestone? Is that his name?"
No. His name's Graves. I call him Gravestone."
"You would, wouldn't you, Rumpole?"
"He speaks like a voice from the tomb. It's my personal belief that he urinates iced water."
"Really, Rumpole. Do try not to be vulgar."
The last exchange reminds me of dialogues that my wife and I have had when I've made what she considers to be an offensive or distasteful comment about someone (usually a politician). Needless to say, I play the part of Rumpole.
As many know, Rumpole is a classic fictional character in all senses of that word, and John Mortimer was a writer who could make readers laugh. In my experience, that's not an easy thing to do.
If you need to smile, chuckle, or laugh - and who doesn't these days? - I recommend a dosage of John Mortimer's Rumpole stories.
The essence of Rumpole (or at least part of it):
"As I rested, I looked for a moment at His Honour, Judge Bullingham, an Old Bailey judge now promoted to trying murders. To call them trials is perhaps to flatter the learned judge, who conducts the proceedings as though the Old Bailey were a somewhat prejudiced and summary offshoot of the Spanish Inquisition. One of my first jobs as a defending counsel in the present case was to taunt and tempt, by many daring passes of the cape and neat side-steps in the sand, the bellowing and red-eyed bull to come out as such a tireless fighter on behalf of the prosecution that the jury began to see him as I did. They might perhaps, acquit my client because an ill-tempered judge was making it so desperately clear that he wanted her convicted."
And a classic exchange between Rumpole and his wife Hilda (She Who Must Be Obeyed):
"I didn't like the way he kept telling the jury my client was guilty."
"Well, isn't he guilty Rumpole?" In all innocence, Hilda had asked the awkward question.
"Well. Quite possibly. But that's for the jury of twelve honest citizens to decide, not Mr. Justice Gravestone."
"Gravestone? Is that his name?"
No. His name's Graves. I call him Gravestone."
"You would, wouldn't you, Rumpole?"
"He speaks like a voice from the tomb. It's my personal belief that he urinates iced water."
"Really, Rumpole. Do try not to be vulgar."
The last exchange reminds me of dialogues that my wife and I have had when I've made what she considers to be an offensive or distasteful comment about someone (usually a politician). Needless to say, I play the part of Rumpole.
March 17, 2018
Absolutely wonderful for me. I loved the BBC series and find it hard to believe it has been so many years since Rumpole of the Bailey was produced. This is a marvelous collection of shorts, each one entertaining and full of wit.
Reading the stories in between murder mystery books gives one great comic relief, and I hope to return in the future for more amusement.
Reading the stories in between murder mystery books gives one great comic relief, and I hope to return in the future for more amusement.
November 5, 2011
As many a comedian-turned-writer has found to his or her cost, writing good humorous fiction is a whole different level of difficulty to simply being funny on stage. I can count on the fingers of one hand the authors who have consistently managed to combine genuinely funny writing with style and readability. Wodehouse, of course, has to be one of those digits. (But don't get me started on so called humorous Booker Prize nominees - they wouldn't know funny if it bit them.) And one chubby finger surely must be allocated to John Mortimer and Rumpole of the Bailey.
Mortimer wasn't the first to combine the law and humour. There was a lot of gentle amusement to be had from Henry Cecil's series of law-based novels like Brothers in Law. Cecil's was observational humour. His stories were based on experiences real barristers might go through, just exaggerated to bring out the funny side. Rumpole, on the other hand, is full scale legal pantomime, bringing on full scale laughter to Cecil's gentle smile.
As a character, Horace Rumpole has everything going for him. He is a supporter of the underdog, always the defender, always prepared to pull a success from the jaws of failure, despite the whole legal system weighing against him. If he has a tendency to resort to catch phrases... it's not exactly unheard of in comedy. He is a relic in his chambers, for ever battling the forces of modernization and efficiency, forever injecting the human touch... plus a cigar, and a large glass of Chateau Thames Embankment.
Rumpole is, simply one of the best literary creations of the twentieth century. If you haven't read any Rumpole, the new collection I've just got hold of is going to be the ideal introduction. It combines seven stories chosen by the author as his favourites in 1993 with seven of a more recent vintage. This gives an excellent feel for the whole opus, around 80 stories and a handful of novels. If, like me, you are a long term Rumpole fan, I admit there is less to make you rush to the bookstore, as they've all been published before, though the most recent of the stories, Rumpole and the Christmas Break, is one that had so far evaded me.
For the out-and-out Rumpole devotees there are also the first three chapters of a Rumpole novel, left unfinished on Mortimer's death. I really can't bring myself to read this, as once I've started a Rumpole I need to finish it, and as soon as possible. To venture into that would be cruel indeed.
If you haven't read much Rumpole (or none at all), or if you want a Rumpole-oid gift it's hard to go wrong with this 500 page collection, as pleasingly rotund as the great man himself. It's pure legal comedy gold.
Review originally published at http://brianclegg.blogspot.com and reproduced with permission
Mortimer wasn't the first to combine the law and humour. There was a lot of gentle amusement to be had from Henry Cecil's series of law-based novels like Brothers in Law. Cecil's was observational humour. His stories were based on experiences real barristers might go through, just exaggerated to bring out the funny side. Rumpole, on the other hand, is full scale legal pantomime, bringing on full scale laughter to Cecil's gentle smile.
As a character, Horace Rumpole has everything going for him. He is a supporter of the underdog, always the defender, always prepared to pull a success from the jaws of failure, despite the whole legal system weighing against him. If he has a tendency to resort to catch phrases... it's not exactly unheard of in comedy. He is a relic in his chambers, for ever battling the forces of modernization and efficiency, forever injecting the human touch... plus a cigar, and a large glass of Chateau Thames Embankment.
Rumpole is, simply one of the best literary creations of the twentieth century. If you haven't read any Rumpole, the new collection I've just got hold of is going to be the ideal introduction. It combines seven stories chosen by the author as his favourites in 1993 with seven of a more recent vintage. This gives an excellent feel for the whole opus, around 80 stories and a handful of novels. If, like me, you are a long term Rumpole fan, I admit there is less to make you rush to the bookstore, as they've all been published before, though the most recent of the stories, Rumpole and the Christmas Break, is one that had so far evaded me.
For the out-and-out Rumpole devotees there are also the first three chapters of a Rumpole novel, left unfinished on Mortimer's death. I really can't bring myself to read this, as once I've started a Rumpole I need to finish it, and as soon as possible. To venture into that would be cruel indeed.
If you haven't read much Rumpole (or none at all), or if you want a Rumpole-oid gift it's hard to go wrong with this 500 page collection, as pleasingly rotund as the great man himself. It's pure legal comedy gold.
Review originally published at http://brianclegg.blogspot.com and reproduced with permission
April 17, 2013
I really enjoy British literature. It is foreign but not so strange that I cannot follow the motivation. There is always new vocabulary - 'mustard-keen team' and "grass" apparently a stool-pigeon. The Rumpole books are full of succinct but apt descriptions.
"... across the plastic table-top our client sat smiling in a way which seemed to show he was either sublimely self-confident or drugged."
"Cut Above had massive shoulders, a large pink face and small, gold half-glasses. They perched on him as inappropriately as a thin gold necklace on a ham."
There are the odd bits of history: "in the words of the historian, Lord Macaulay: 'The Puritan hated bear-baiting, not because it gave pain to the bear, but because it gave pleasure to the spectators.'"
Rumpole never changes. "I had just sunk another glass of the beaded bubbles as passed by Albert, and I felt a joyous release from my usual strong sense of tact and discretion." And even when he is being tactful we, the readers, hear his thoughts.
"I suppose it makes a change from bowing three times and offering to black the judge's boots for him."
"Marigold's smile didn't waver. 'He says you're most amusing out of court, too. Don't you quote poetry?'"
There was once a road through the woods
Before they planted the trees.
It is underneath the coppice and heath,
And the thin anemones
Only the keeper sees
That, where the ring-dove broods,
And the badgers roll at ease,
There was once a road through the woods.
The local policeman responded, "I'm not quite sure that I follow you, Mr Rumpole." But we do and it tickles us (me) no end.
"... across the plastic table-top our client sat smiling in a way which seemed to show he was either sublimely self-confident or drugged."
"Cut Above had massive shoulders, a large pink face and small, gold half-glasses. They perched on him as inappropriately as a thin gold necklace on a ham."
There are the odd bits of history: "in the words of the historian, Lord Macaulay: 'The Puritan hated bear-baiting, not because it gave pain to the bear, but because it gave pleasure to the spectators.'"
Rumpole never changes. "I had just sunk another glass of the beaded bubbles as passed by Albert, and I felt a joyous release from my usual strong sense of tact and discretion." And even when he is being tactful we, the readers, hear his thoughts.
"I suppose it makes a change from bowing three times and offering to black the judge's boots for him."
"Marigold's smile didn't waver. 'He says you're most amusing out of court, too. Don't you quote poetry?'"
There was once a road through the woods
Before they planted the trees.
It is underneath the coppice and heath,
And the thin anemones
Only the keeper sees
That, where the ring-dove broods,
And the badgers roll at ease,
There was once a road through the woods.
The local policeman responded, "I'm not quite sure that I follow you, Mr Rumpole." But we do and it tickles us (me) no end.
November 18, 2012
Britain's most famous Old Bailey hack, Horace Rumpole returns in this collection of stories that the author felt were his best efforts. The reader will follow the exploits of Rumpole and his continuing cast of associates in chambers and out from the infamous Timson family of petty thieves to his wife Hilda (She Who Must Be Obeyed) to the efficient and inefficient barristers and judges with whom Rumpole does battle. The word "delightful" comes to mind....these are humorous tales that will cause the reader to chuckle or even laugh out loud as Rumpole takes on the legal system against all odds.....and usually wins. Highly recommended.
March 21, 2016
The writing might not be of the highest order, but the case for the Rumpole stories is indisputable.They are great.Your Honour.
November 3, 2024
I picked up this book because it caught my eye at the library, and because I was fairly certain I'd read a Rumpole short story in a different collection the past. I knew nothing of the series, of English law in general, or that there was a beloved TV series based on the same.
The first seven stories, chosen by the author himself as favorites (and originally published as The Best of Rumpole: Chosen By the Author in 1993) were riotously funny. I was thisclose to joining the Bad Decisions Book Club for about 3 days, because I wanted to read "just one more" even though it was late, and the stories were 40-50 pages long, so not exactly on the short side. For this half of the book, a no-brainer 5 stars, easily.
The last seven stories were chosen by the editors of this volume as "the best of the later stories" and these aren't nearly as good. They are shorter, simpler, and not really very funny. There is a fairly sharp divide from when the author himself was still in practice and after he retired, and the stories in this half represent what happened to English law after the author retired. There is a distance, an almost disinterest even, as the world around Rumpole changes. These were more on the "meh" side, around 2 stars for me. So, for the book as a whole, 3 stars.
I will definitely be seeking out the earliest collections of stories, and may even dip my toes into the TV series, because the characters and the world are so lovingly built around Rumpole, who himself is rather lovely, if curmudgeonly.
The first seven stories, chosen by the author himself as favorites (and originally published as The Best of Rumpole: Chosen By the Author in 1993) were riotously funny. I was thisclose to joining the Bad Decisions Book Club for about 3 days, because I wanted to read "just one more" even though it was late, and the stories were 40-50 pages long, so not exactly on the short side. For this half of the book, a no-brainer 5 stars, easily.
The last seven stories were chosen by the editors of this volume as "the best of the later stories" and these aren't nearly as good. They are shorter, simpler, and not really very funny. There is a fairly sharp divide from when the author himself was still in practice and after he retired, and the stories in this half represent what happened to English law after the author retired. There is a distance, an almost disinterest even, as the world around Rumpole changes. These were more on the "meh" side, around 2 stars for me. So, for the book as a whole, 3 stars.
I will definitely be seeking out the earliest collections of stories, and may even dip my toes into the TV series, because the characters and the world are so lovingly built around Rumpole, who himself is rather lovely, if curmudgeonly.
February 14, 2012
One should not confuse Horace Walpole and Horace Rumpole, as I did when I checked this one out of the library. The OED identifies the former as the coiner of the word "serendipity" and the penner of the bon mot, "This world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel." Rumpole is the more pedestrian fictional invention of John Mortimer, a criminal attorney whose language is either abbreviated in the style of the clientele he typically defends ("offey," "perf," etc.) or else punctuated with quotes from Shakespeare and Wordsworth that they couldn't be expected to understand. (Here, I am deliberately confusing author and invention as a cheap way of referencing the author's witty lamentations that preface this anthology.)
Readers will find this work -- a collection of Rumpole's "greatest hits" compiled and issued after the author's death -- to be a sui generis collection of an unsophisticated genre... pretty much stock television entertainment along the lines of Law & Order, if Law & Order were at all irreverent. Mortimer's strengths lie in his depiction of life at the Old Bailey (the London criminal bar) and its denizens. His weaknesses lie in a world that is easily unpacked.
Every character but Rumpole is a Wodehouse-style caricature: all but the villains (of whom there are but few) tend to be simpletons, easily fooled. The judges are over-educated, ambitious, out-of-touch snobs; the fellow barristers and solicitors at chambers fops, delinquents, crusading buffoons, or drudges; and out-of-towners hopelessly provincial. Rumpole's typical client is a socially harmless thief, a predator of (meaning both "belonging to" and "upon") the lower economic classes, who but recycles well-worn property, jeopardizes only his or her own life and limb (usually in slapstick fashion), and thus represents a threat to no one who would be a Rumpole fan. This all should be great fun, but Mortimer soft-peddles it, forswearing the (more risky) heights of exaggeration or confusion necessary for farce or a satire with genuine bite.
Rumpole's cases (and the plots of his episode-length stories) are likewise undistinguished. No tedious discovery process is ever required or pursued, and what ambiguities they contain are readily exposed either by straightforward, efficient cross-examination or the single evening's work of a private investigator. Rumpole mutters clever comebacks a-plenty that never quite rise to the level of a Gregory MacDonald character (see, e.g., the Fletch or Flynn series), nor does his dialogue as a whole have the distinct ring that distinguishes the crime fiction of Elmore Leonard or David Mamet. As such, Rumpole is neither comedy nor tragedy but the comfort food of fiction, a bland English television staple that is temporarily diverting, but ultimately not all that memorable.
I'd offer up a quote from the book, but I returned it to the library this morning. Try here; it's all representative content. Who's for porridge?
Readers will find this work -- a collection of Rumpole's "greatest hits" compiled and issued after the author's death -- to be a sui generis collection of an unsophisticated genre... pretty much stock television entertainment along the lines of Law & Order, if Law & Order were at all irreverent. Mortimer's strengths lie in his depiction of life at the Old Bailey (the London criminal bar) and its denizens. His weaknesses lie in a world that is easily unpacked.
Every character but Rumpole is a Wodehouse-style caricature: all but the villains (of whom there are but few) tend to be simpletons, easily fooled. The judges are over-educated, ambitious, out-of-touch snobs; the fellow barristers and solicitors at chambers fops, delinquents, crusading buffoons, or drudges; and out-of-towners hopelessly provincial. Rumpole's typical client is a socially harmless thief, a predator of (meaning both "belonging to" and "upon") the lower economic classes, who but recycles well-worn property, jeopardizes only his or her own life and limb (usually in slapstick fashion), and thus represents a threat to no one who would be a Rumpole fan. This all should be great fun, but Mortimer soft-peddles it, forswearing the (more risky) heights of exaggeration or confusion necessary for farce or a satire with genuine bite.
Rumpole's cases (and the plots of his episode-length stories) are likewise undistinguished. No tedious discovery process is ever required or pursued, and what ambiguities they contain are readily exposed either by straightforward, efficient cross-examination or the single evening's work of a private investigator. Rumpole mutters clever comebacks a-plenty that never quite rise to the level of a Gregory MacDonald character (see, e.g., the Fletch or Flynn series), nor does his dialogue as a whole have the distinct ring that distinguishes the crime fiction of Elmore Leonard or David Mamet. As such, Rumpole is neither comedy nor tragedy but the comfort food of fiction, a bland English television staple that is temporarily diverting, but ultimately not all that memorable.
I'd offer up a quote from the book, but I returned it to the library this morning. Try here; it's all representative content. Who's for porridge?
May 6, 2012
A self-proclaimed hack of the Old Bailey and defender of those who very well might be guilty, Horace Rumpole is certainly no one's idea of a saint. He drinks too much, has a love-hate relationship with his wife and is often guilty of employing underhanded means to get his way in chambers. And yet, we just can't help but love him and cheer for him when he wins a particularly difficult case. Each of the fourteen stories included in this collection remind us of all of Rumpole's most endearing qualities and his skill (or is it just luck?) at the Bar, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles like Judges Bullingham or Graves. Horace's triumphs at the bar, in Equity Court and at home in Gloucester Road are sweet, especially when they occur after he faces a near-death experience. Though not all of my own personal favorites were included in the collection, I was glad to see a few, including "Rumpole Rests His Case" and "Rumpole and the Primrose Path." Whether you're an old Rumpole fan like me or new to the character, I would highly recommend this superb collection.
December 27, 2011
This is a very difficult book to 'score'.
Contents deserve 5***** for being first-rate Rumpole and Mortimer.
But what a lost opportunity this was to give faithful Rumpole readers an essay-length 'Rumpole - an Appreciation', by way of Introduction. Interesting though the introduction was, it was weak, and worthy of no more than a couple of stars on its own.
Shame. Both Rumpole and John Mortimer deserved better.
Contents deserve 5***** for being first-rate Rumpole and Mortimer.
But what a lost opportunity this was to give faithful Rumpole readers an essay-length 'Rumpole - an Appreciation', by way of Introduction. Interesting though the introduction was, it was weak, and worthy of no more than a couple of stars on its own.
Shame. Both Rumpole and John Mortimer deserved better.
April 19, 2012
Once you get used to the British legal system and terms dating back a few decades, the Rumpole character is clever and tells a good story with good humor. I love that he refers to his wife as She Who Must Be Obeyed. By the time I got to the last story, I felt like I had really gotten to know this Rumpole character and was sad I had reached the end of the book.
April 5, 2015
This book (15 short stories) is one of those that I hated to see end. If you ever enjoyed "Rumpole of the Bailey" on PBS, you will also enjoy the original stories. Leo McKern's portrayal of the irascible old barrister was spot-on. These are sort of mysteries, sort of comedies, and really great reading. England's legal system is so different from ours that it's sometimes confusing, but - hey - that makes it educational too. I heartily recommend it.
February 1, 2024
I've kept this as my emergency back-up book on my phone for about a year, and finally finished it today. The Rumpole stories are always entertaining, and have surprising endings. They're gentle mysteries, puncutated by quotations from Wordsworth - what's not to like?
July 10, 2015
I like it. It's funny but at the same time a little boring and helps me get to sleep.
July 20, 2015
liked well enough, would have liked more if i had an understanding of the british judicial system.
January 30, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed Rumpole. I've caught myself laughing out loud several times. The mysteries are clever. The characters are, well, characters. Perfect mix of intrigue and droll wit.
August 21, 2019
This book is a must read for any fan of the Rumpole series. Why?, because it contains the best of the Rumpole stories, an introduction and short biographical sketch by Ann Mallalieu, and some commentary by John Mortimer, in which he describes how and why Rumpole came to be. This reviewer recommends that these added features be read before and after reading the brilliantly developed stories, this can only add to the pleasure of these stories and provide insight into John Mortimer and his fictional character Horace Rumpole. Horace Rumpole is John Mortimer, Mortimer acknowledges this fact and says that Rumpole is an amalgamation of himself, his father and some other personalities he encountered during his career at the “Old Bailey”.
Ann Mallalieu, who was a junior for the defense, a quasi-trainee of Mortimer, worked with and daily observed Mortimer in business and pleasure, she therefore had a lot of insight into the personality of John Mortimer as it morphed into Rumpole. She shared a story about Mortimer entertaining friends by telling a funny story in a restaurant, while she noticed that diners at other tables did not speak to each other while they silently listened; they just listened to John tell his stories at his table. Mortimer became exasperated by the interruptions from waiters just as he built to the punch line and he exploded in frustration which made the restaurant patrons hysterical; to me, this was the essential Horace Rumpole.
Beyond being as we say, some what eccentric, Mortimer was a distinguished QC (abbreviation for Queen's Counsel: a British lawyer with a high position, who can argue cases in higher law courts) and noted playwright. Therefore, we can assume that he was somewhat more sophisticated than his alter ego, Horace Rumpole. This reviewer thinks that a psychiatrist could do a lot with this information! Mortimer tells us that Rumpole can say many things that Mortimer thinks, but cannot say, and by itself this is funny. Rumpoles will say anything, sometimes at the worst possible moment, for instance, when Rumpole fights with Judges. Rumpole has a total lack of respect for authority and this gets him in perpetual trouble, and these “tempest in a tea pot” are very funny, this reviewer can only wish he had the ability to inflict a stiletto type quip at the right moment like good old Rumpole. It is hilariously funny when Mortimer describes Rumpoles’ home life with wife Hilda, aka, “She who must be obeyed”. These exchanges between husband and wife add another dimension to his stories.
These best of Rumpole stories while very entertainingly funny, are also well written “who done its’”. There are at least 3 or 4 sub plots in each of Rumpoles stories that all come to fruition in the end. The reader develops a sense after a few stories of where Rumpole is going and can follow along quite nicely, when all is explained the conclusion is quite well reasoned out to the satisfaction of the reader.
The series was written in the nineties, and back then Rumpoles thirst for alcohol and beef and kidney pie was not such a glaring health issue. You must wonder is this Mortimer wishing that he could indulge is such delectables, but can’t?
Of the people that this reviewer would like to talk with and even spend some time with is now added the name of John Mortimer, Irreverent of authority, funny in his views on the world, intellectual and a gifted writer. This is a book you go to in order to escape your troubles, have a few laughs and enjoy a good, “who done it”.
Ann Mallalieu, who was a junior for the defense, a quasi-trainee of Mortimer, worked with and daily observed Mortimer in business and pleasure, she therefore had a lot of insight into the personality of John Mortimer as it morphed into Rumpole. She shared a story about Mortimer entertaining friends by telling a funny story in a restaurant, while she noticed that diners at other tables did not speak to each other while they silently listened; they just listened to John tell his stories at his table. Mortimer became exasperated by the interruptions from waiters just as he built to the punch line and he exploded in frustration which made the restaurant patrons hysterical; to me, this was the essential Horace Rumpole.
Beyond being as we say, some what eccentric, Mortimer was a distinguished QC (abbreviation for Queen's Counsel: a British lawyer with a high position, who can argue cases in higher law courts) and noted playwright. Therefore, we can assume that he was somewhat more sophisticated than his alter ego, Horace Rumpole. This reviewer thinks that a psychiatrist could do a lot with this information! Mortimer tells us that Rumpole can say many things that Mortimer thinks, but cannot say, and by itself this is funny. Rumpoles will say anything, sometimes at the worst possible moment, for instance, when Rumpole fights with Judges. Rumpole has a total lack of respect for authority and this gets him in perpetual trouble, and these “tempest in a tea pot” are very funny, this reviewer can only wish he had the ability to inflict a stiletto type quip at the right moment like good old Rumpole. It is hilariously funny when Mortimer describes Rumpoles’ home life with wife Hilda, aka, “She who must be obeyed”. These exchanges between husband and wife add another dimension to his stories.
These best of Rumpole stories while very entertainingly funny, are also well written “who done its’”. There are at least 3 or 4 sub plots in each of Rumpoles stories that all come to fruition in the end. The reader develops a sense after a few stories of where Rumpole is going and can follow along quite nicely, when all is explained the conclusion is quite well reasoned out to the satisfaction of the reader.
The series was written in the nineties, and back then Rumpoles thirst for alcohol and beef and kidney pie was not such a glaring health issue. You must wonder is this Mortimer wishing that he could indulge is such delectables, but can’t?
Of the people that this reviewer would like to talk with and even spend some time with is now added the name of John Mortimer, Irreverent of authority, funny in his views on the world, intellectual and a gifted writer. This is a book you go to in order to escape your troubles, have a few laughs and enjoy a good, “who done it”.
April 5, 2022
I've been a fan of the Rumpole stories and TV series since my teens, and have just dipped a toe into legal fiction myself with Death At Friar's Inn, so this volume was a must for me. It's a highly entertaining and witty collection of cases from Britain's most famous fictional barrister. There's a great introduction from author/barrister Sir John Mortimer's former junior, as well as the original introduction from Mortimer himself (six of these stories were published as his favourites, in the Nineties). Over a decade after his death, we can still relish his humorous social observations, his concern for the principles of justice, and his first-hand knowledge of courtroom battles.
It's hard to escape the conclusion that the post-1990s stories saw a gradual decline and some repetition of ideas, and this is on show in the concluding fragment of a final Rumpole novel left by Mortimer at his death. There are a couple of Christmas stories already much-published elsewhere, which aren't his best and which I wouldn't have chosen for a best-of collection. On the other hand, some earlier triumphs ('Rumpole and the Last Resort' and 'Rumpole and the Quality of Life') should definitely have been included. But no matter - it's a fine collection on the whole, a great tribute and I devoured it in much the same way that Rumpole would devour a steak and kidney pudding. Great work.
(Showing off: Mortimer and I belonged to the same Inn of Court.)
It's hard to escape the conclusion that the post-1990s stories saw a gradual decline and some repetition of ideas, and this is on show in the concluding fragment of a final Rumpole novel left by Mortimer at his death. There are a couple of Christmas stories already much-published elsewhere, which aren't his best and which I wouldn't have chosen for a best-of collection. On the other hand, some earlier triumphs ('Rumpole and the Last Resort' and 'Rumpole and the Quality of Life') should definitely have been included. But no matter - it's a fine collection on the whole, a great tribute and I devoured it in much the same way that Rumpole would devour a steak and kidney pudding. Great work.
(Showing off: Mortimer and I belonged to the same Inn of Court.)
August 24, 2018
*** Possible Spoilers ***
John Mortimer died in 2009. Although this book was published in 2011 and is a collection of his shorter works, I don't seen any reference to an editor so I think the stories were selected by Mr. Mortimer himself.
Although this is a work of short stories, they range mostly between 30 and 40 pages so they aren't all that short; nevertheless, they are interesting to read. There wasn't one that I would suggest was out of place in the book. A few pages of what would have been a novel had Mr. Mortimer lives were included at the end and I doubt that the author had anything to do with that but I suspect he chose the rest. They portray Rumpole at his best, irascible, sly, witty, and frequently at odds with the judges he faces.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would highly recommend it. Not being in the legal profession myself I can't say how close the author comes to the reality of the court system in Britain, and, frankly, some of it seems a little questionable; but this is a work of fiction so I think a few liberties might be taken. For those who are taken with character arcs or more modern trends in writing this may not be an ideal book but for everyone who likes seeing a mystery unraveled I recommend it.
John Mortimer died in 2009. Although this book was published in 2011 and is a collection of his shorter works, I don't seen any reference to an editor so I think the stories were selected by Mr. Mortimer himself.
Although this is a work of short stories, they range mostly between 30 and 40 pages so they aren't all that short; nevertheless, they are interesting to read. There wasn't one that I would suggest was out of place in the book. A few pages of what would have been a novel had Mr. Mortimer lives were included at the end and I doubt that the author had anything to do with that but I suspect he chose the rest. They portray Rumpole at his best, irascible, sly, witty, and frequently at odds with the judges he faces.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would highly recommend it. Not being in the legal profession myself I can't say how close the author comes to the reality of the court system in Britain, and, frankly, some of it seems a little questionable; but this is a work of fiction so I think a few liberties might be taken. For those who are taken with character arcs or more modern trends in writing this may not be an ideal book but for everyone who likes seeing a mystery unraveled I recommend it.
April 4, 2020
Horace Rumpole lives on in this collection of John Mortimer's stories. Rumpole and his fellow barristers go to battle in a series of tales that became in part the British television program Rumpole of the Bailey.
I loved this book! I was engrossed in every story as Rumpole himself tells the stories of his greatest accomplishments as an old Bailey hack, commiserating with his legal peers at Pommeroy's Wine Bar, and bringing home some Chateau Thames Embankment before dueling with his wife Hilda, forever known to us all as She Who Must Be Obeyed.
If you're a fan of the show, of legal programs, or even if you aren't, I thoroughly encourage you to read Forever Rumpole. It's a bloody good read, what?!
I loved this book! I was engrossed in every story as Rumpole himself tells the stories of his greatest accomplishments as an old Bailey hack, commiserating with his legal peers at Pommeroy's Wine Bar, and bringing home some Chateau Thames Embankment before dueling with his wife Hilda, forever known to us all as She Who Must Be Obeyed.
If you're a fan of the show, of legal programs, or even if you aren't, I thoroughly encourage you to read Forever Rumpole. It's a bloody good read, what?!
January 7, 2021
A gentle collection of Rumpole tales. Mortimer inhabited Rumpole so completely that one feels as if reading a wry memoir of a somewhat jocular anti-establishment figure. Rather wistfully nostalgic but for me, reading Rumpole and watching again, the wonderful Detectorists, was an effective escape from today's fissured world. A little repetitive in references but then any collection of short stories read one after the other, would expect to be so formatted as as to stand alone if read singularly.
Very enjoyable in that easy way we need sometimes. Chronological narratives with a dramatis personae that becomes familiar and comfortable. I will read more of Mortimer's Rumpole and am sure they'd be similar but similarly enjoyable nonetheess.
Very enjoyable in that easy way we need sometimes. Chronological narratives with a dramatis personae that becomes familiar and comfortable. I will read more of Mortimer's Rumpole and am sure they'd be similar but similarly enjoyable nonetheess.
February 2, 2017
At least 3.5 stars, but hard to rate. I think my mistake was getting a 500 page compilation of his books, instead of just reading one at a time. I was a little overwhelmed (it was a library book that I had to get back). There were times I found myself laughing out loud, and I enjoyed the mystery aspect of it. I wish I knew more about the British legal system. I often felt lost. I did like it enough to put the Rumpole DVDs in my queue on Netflix.
August 17, 2020
I had read a John Mortimer novel before, but never even watched the BBC series years ago. What a delight!!
Once you get a little feel for the British structure of lawyers that is so different than the US, you start diving deeply into the droll wit and glorious characterizations of Rumpole. These are short stories to give you a nice break from today's world. And multiple examples of justice being served!
We all need more laughs at cleverly-portrayed eccentricities. Enjoy.
Once you get a little feel for the British structure of lawyers that is so different than the US, you start diving deeply into the droll wit and glorious characterizations of Rumpole. These are short stories to give you a nice break from today's world. And multiple examples of justice being served!
We all need more laughs at cleverly-portrayed eccentricities. Enjoy.
October 27, 2020
Crime, logic, wit and language in one convenient location
The humor of Horace Rumpole is often found in his mutterings as he finds himself in front of an array of quirky judges. However, what initially appear to be no-win cases turn out to be so much more. Rumpole has an insight into human nature which sees him unravel these cases edict turn 180 degrees from the opening chapter. A pleasure to read and savor the wonderful language.
The humor of Horace Rumpole is often found in his mutterings as he finds himself in front of an array of quirky judges. However, what initially appear to be no-win cases turn out to be so much more. Rumpole has an insight into human nature which sees him unravel these cases edict turn 180 degrees from the opening chapter. A pleasure to read and savor the wonderful language.
March 3, 2026
Forever Rumpole contains seven stories originally chosen by the author himself as his favourites, together with a further seven from the later period and the opening chapters of a Rumpole novel that Sir John was working on when he died in 2009.
"Rumpole, like Jeeves and Sherlock Holmes, is immortal" P. D James, Mail on Sunday
"I thank heaven for small mercies. The first of these is Rumpole" Clive James, Observer
"Rumpole, like Jeeves and Sherlock Holmes, is immortal" P. D James, Mail on Sunday
"I thank heaven for small mercies. The first of these is Rumpole" Clive James, Observer
August 6, 2020
With my library being closed due to 'IT' ...I found this on my bookshelf...and in minutes I was back into this most engaging series. I loved the TV adaptation and easily 'see' the characters when reading...
September 28, 2017
I recently discovered the Rumpole series and I've been enjoying all of the Rumpole stories. Rumpole is not a likable character but he is amusing and he has witty insights about modern life. The quotations from the Oxford Book of English Verse are fun. The whole series is entertaining.
March 31, 2019
Satire/pastiche/commentary on barristers, with a little bit of mystery thrown in each. If you read mysteries for deductive reasoning, you'll be a bit disappointed; if you read them for character and cultural studies, you'll enjoy these.
April 3, 2020
Very good writer, forever in a groove, but I will say that I was not aching to get back to this. I started and completed dozens of books while I let this languish, and only decided to knock it it because of the virus circumstances.
April 24, 2025
I felt one story was enough to get an idea both of its charm and its limitations. It's somewhat Wodehouse-like, but definitely not Wodehousian, not quite as relentlessly funny and over the top. Enjoyable, yes.
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