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Rumpole of the Bailey #1
Rumpole of the Bailey
These six short stories introduce all the lovable (or not so lovable) characters from the delightful Rumpole series.
Horace Rumpole, the irreverent, iconoclastic, claret-swilling, poetry-spouting barrister at law, is among the most beloved characters of English crime literature. He is not a particularly gifted attorney, nor is he particularly fond of the law by courts if it comes to that, but he'd rather be swinging at a case than bowing to his wife Hilda, She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed.
In this first title of the popular series featuring Rumpole, all of the major characters who occupy the Rumpole stories make their introductions: the sneaky, slightly effeminate Erskine-Brown, the bumbling Guthrie Featherstone and various and sundry other lawyers and clerks whose lives weave in and out of these stories.
These six stories include: Rumpole and the Younger Generation, Rumpole and the Alternative Society, Rumpole and the Honourable Member, Rumpole and the Married Lady, Rumpole and the Learned Friends, and Rumpole and the Heavy Brigade.
Horace Rumpole, the irreverent, iconoclastic, claret-swilling, poetry-spouting barrister at law, is among the most beloved characters of English crime literature. He is not a particularly gifted attorney, nor is he particularly fond of the law by courts if it comes to that, but he'd rather be swinging at a case than bowing to his wife Hilda, She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed.
In this first title of the popular series featuring Rumpole, all of the major characters who occupy the Rumpole stories make their introductions: the sneaky, slightly effeminate Erskine-Brown, the bumbling Guthrie Featherstone and various and sundry other lawyers and clerks whose lives weave in and out of these stories.
These six stories include: Rumpole and the Younger Generation, Rumpole and the Alternative Society, Rumpole and the Honourable Member, Rumpole and the Married Lady, Rumpole and the Learned Friends, and Rumpole and the Heavy Brigade.
208 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
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2,403 people want to read
About the author
John Mortimer
289Ìýbooks223ÌýfollowersJohn 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 294 reviews
April 2, 2023
The splendours and miseries of an old Bailey hack!
In RUMPOLE OF THE BAILEY, John Mortimer has served up a veritable smorgasbord of short snappy tales that are the very best that British courtroom humour has to offer. Whether it's criminal trials in the old Bailey or civil trials in Chancery division, Horace Rumpole takes on all comers with a trademarked irreverent disdain for the sanctity of the law, the court, the judiciary and his learned colleagues at the bar. But, make no mistake, Rumpole's disarming attitude and appearance mask a razor sharp legal mind able to cut directly to the heart of the matter and an ability to draw on brutally cunning legal tactics which, for many American readers, will be reminiscent of the television detective, Columbo.
Whether Rumpole is in court or lighting up a cigar and quaffing a glass of Chateau Fleet Street at his favourite after-hours haunt, Pommeroy's Wine Bar, Rumpole is accompanied by an endearing supporting cast that is an integral part of the amusing, indeed often hilarious stories that Mortimer has produced - Guthrie Featherstone QC MP, the stiffly starched and prissy (yet often philandering) head of chambers; Claude Erskine-Brown, the slightly looser barrister who is head over heels in love with the only female member of chambers, the eloquent and deeply feminist Phillida Trant; Rumpole's wife, Hilda, the imposing "She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed"; and Percy Timson, the patriarch of a widespread London family of low-level criminals whose bumbling failures are destined to keep Rumpole supplied with a steady stream of defense briefs for as long as he cares to work.
Hilarious brain candy guaranteed to take you away from the worries of the workaday world for a blissful all-too-short few hours. Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss
In RUMPOLE OF THE BAILEY, John Mortimer has served up a veritable smorgasbord of short snappy tales that are the very best that British courtroom humour has to offer. Whether it's criminal trials in the old Bailey or civil trials in Chancery division, Horace Rumpole takes on all comers with a trademarked irreverent disdain for the sanctity of the law, the court, the judiciary and his learned colleagues at the bar. But, make no mistake, Rumpole's disarming attitude and appearance mask a razor sharp legal mind able to cut directly to the heart of the matter and an ability to draw on brutally cunning legal tactics which, for many American readers, will be reminiscent of the television detective, Columbo.
Whether Rumpole is in court or lighting up a cigar and quaffing a glass of Chateau Fleet Street at his favourite after-hours haunt, Pommeroy's Wine Bar, Rumpole is accompanied by an endearing supporting cast that is an integral part of the amusing, indeed often hilarious stories that Mortimer has produced - Guthrie Featherstone QC MP, the stiffly starched and prissy (yet often philandering) head of chambers; Claude Erskine-Brown, the slightly looser barrister who is head over heels in love with the only female member of chambers, the eloquent and deeply feminist Phillida Trant; Rumpole's wife, Hilda, the imposing "She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed"; and Percy Timson, the patriarch of a widespread London family of low-level criminals whose bumbling failures are destined to keep Rumpole supplied with a steady stream of defense briefs for as long as he cares to work.
Hilarious brain candy guaranteed to take you away from the worries of the workaday world for a blissful all-too-short few hours. Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss
March 24, 2025
Rumpole of the Bailey is former barrister (lawyer) John Mortimer's first crack at fictionalizing his former life. His hero, Horace Rumpole, toils down at London's Old Bailey defending morally tarnished persons, who usually didn't "do it"...at least not this time around.
This is a batch of humor to lighten the soul with a sprinkle of pathos for real world problems. Mortimer writes in a breezy, almost Wodehousian way, substituting the care-free, silly bachelor for a more curmudgeonly, sly near-retiree. But while Rumpole may be a bit grumpy with his colleagues and wife, and though he defends criminals, he is a thoroughly sympathetic character. Mortimer knows his boundaries and stays within them. He can also be relied upon to tell a satisfying tale competently.
I could've given this five stars, I enjoyed it that much. And there's hardly anything to complain about it. I didn't give a perfect score because it's a collection of light comedy, short stories and so for that reason alone it doesn't seem worthy of 5 stars. That's terribly unfair of me, I know, but it's how I feel right now. It's probably not how I've felt in the past, nor undoubtedly will it be how I feel in the future. It's a funny world, isn't it?
This is a batch of humor to lighten the soul with a sprinkle of pathos for real world problems. Mortimer writes in a breezy, almost Wodehousian way, substituting the care-free, silly bachelor for a more curmudgeonly, sly near-retiree. But while Rumpole may be a bit grumpy with his colleagues and wife, and though he defends criminals, he is a thoroughly sympathetic character. Mortimer knows his boundaries and stays within them. He can also be relied upon to tell a satisfying tale competently.
I could've given this five stars, I enjoyed it that much. And there's hardly anything to complain about it. I didn't give a perfect score because it's a collection of light comedy, short stories and so for that reason alone it doesn't seem worthy of 5 stars. That's terribly unfair of me, I know, but it's how I feel right now. It's probably not how I've felt in the past, nor undoubtedly will it be how I feel in the future. It's a funny world, isn't it?
April 3, 2022
Ah, Rumpole! This is one of my comfort reads which never makes me fail to smile at Rumpole's glorious irreverence. He may be down at heel with his shabby hat, his cigar-ash strewn waistcoat and his still junior status at the age of 68 but no-one knows how to appeal to a jury like Horace R.
This first book of stories introduces us to the Dickensian cast of Number 3, Equity Court: from posh Guthrie Featherstone QC to get-ahead Claude Erskine-Brown, from gentle, wishy-washy George Frobisher to newly-minted Miss Trant (later to morph into Portia and whose trajectory across the books is a sort of index to the changing role of women from the 1970s forwards).
What makes this series so divine is the comic voice, the humaneness of Rumpole and the subtext of melancholia: by all outward estimations, Rumpole is a failure both professionally and personally with the low-level constant warfare between him and She Who Must Be Obeyed. With the disappointments of his son, Nick, taking a post in Baltimore, and Rumpole's wistful romantic daydreams over various female figures, the jauntiness of triumphant wins at court are offset by the knowledge of failures of law and those of life. All the same, Mortimer keeps these tales irrepressibly witty and sharp as the anarchic cunning and craft of Rumpole comes up trumps.
This first book of stories introduces us to the Dickensian cast of Number 3, Equity Court: from posh Guthrie Featherstone QC to get-ahead Claude Erskine-Brown, from gentle, wishy-washy George Frobisher to newly-minted Miss Trant (later to morph into Portia and whose trajectory across the books is a sort of index to the changing role of women from the 1970s forwards).
What makes this series so divine is the comic voice, the humaneness of Rumpole and the subtext of melancholia: by all outward estimations, Rumpole is a failure both professionally and personally with the low-level constant warfare between him and She Who Must Be Obeyed. With the disappointments of his son, Nick, taking a post in Baltimore, and Rumpole's wistful romantic daydreams over various female figures, the jauntiness of triumphant wins at court are offset by the knowledge of failures of law and those of life. All the same, Mortimer keeps these tales irrepressibly witty and sharp as the anarchic cunning and craft of Rumpole comes up trumps.
April 15, 2022
Reading this was an experiment for me. I like stretching my borders; I enjoy testing books outside my favorite genres. I prefer long novels rather than short stories. Nevertheless, I do like this book. What is good here is that the stories come together in drawing a picture of a group of people, those Rumpole works with, as well as his wife and his son. You end up knowing who Rumpole is personality wise. Through his relationships with others, you come to know who he is. Character portrayal is important to me. This is as important an element of the book as the separate crime cases. Bit by bit, story by story, Rumpole’s personality traits come to the fore. I like Rumpole. I think you will come to like him too.
He is asked what he will be doing that day. The reply? “Go on asking distasteful questions.� Does he want to relax and sit around? No! He says, “I don’t want to take it easy.� He states, “Everyone is worth defending!� He is willing to oppose the conventional and set rules in the support of justice. He is not flashy, goes by his principles and appears at times gruffer than he really is. While he speaks of his wife as “she who must be obeyed�, there is a tenderness that lies at the core of their relationship. We watch and observe, rather than simply being told. Actions speak more than words.
The characters speak in a very British manner, and they should, but this was a stumbling block for me at times. As you come to really know the characters it is easier to make sense of their words.
Different crimes, different cases, are the focus of each story. Six stories make up the book. Each separate case interested me less than understanding Rumpole’s personality. Each story tells you a snippet more about Rumpole. Some get a bit schmaltzy, but this is fun. It is done with panache. Rumpole gets sick—does he stay in bed? No! He in fact maneuvers, using his illness to benefit his client. Rumpole has his friends and his foes. They become the reader’s friends and foes too!
Patrick Tull narrates the audiobook. He does a good job. He gives a performance, and he does it with skill. He switches fluidly between the completely different voices of the respective characters. Rumpole’s voice fits Rumpole. The intonation is very British. I had at times difficulty discerning what was said. This, along with the author’s heavy use of British slang, does not make listening easy for a non-Brit. Watching the TV show, you get visual feedback. This is lacking here. What I am saying is that the narration is expertly performed even if it is not a favorite of mine. The narration I have given three stars.
My ratings, both for the written text and the narration, always reflect my personal preferences.
**
* 4 stars
* 3 stars
* TBR
He is asked what he will be doing that day. The reply? “Go on asking distasteful questions.� Does he want to relax and sit around? No! He says, “I don’t want to take it easy.� He states, “Everyone is worth defending!� He is willing to oppose the conventional and set rules in the support of justice. He is not flashy, goes by his principles and appears at times gruffer than he really is. While he speaks of his wife as “she who must be obeyed�, there is a tenderness that lies at the core of their relationship. We watch and observe, rather than simply being told. Actions speak more than words.
The characters speak in a very British manner, and they should, but this was a stumbling block for me at times. As you come to really know the characters it is easier to make sense of their words.
Different crimes, different cases, are the focus of each story. Six stories make up the book. Each separate case interested me less than understanding Rumpole’s personality. Each story tells you a snippet more about Rumpole. Some get a bit schmaltzy, but this is fun. It is done with panache. Rumpole gets sick—does he stay in bed? No! He in fact maneuvers, using his illness to benefit his client. Rumpole has his friends and his foes. They become the reader’s friends and foes too!
Patrick Tull narrates the audiobook. He does a good job. He gives a performance, and he does it with skill. He switches fluidly between the completely different voices of the respective characters. Rumpole’s voice fits Rumpole. The intonation is very British. I had at times difficulty discerning what was said. This, along with the author’s heavy use of British slang, does not make listening easy for a non-Brit. Watching the TV show, you get visual feedback. This is lacking here. What I am saying is that the narration is expertly performed even if it is not a favorite of mine. The narration I have given three stars.
My ratings, both for the written text and the narration, always reflect my personal preferences.
**
* 4 stars
* 3 stars
* TBR
February 7, 2025
Horace Rumpole is an engaging character who has carved out a satisfactory although not stellar career as a criminal defence barrister.
His adventures here are short stories covering some of the cases Rumpole manages to win, alongside office politics and career criminals and judges, and how they impact him, and "She who must be obeyed," - his wife, Hilda.
There is wit, comedy, drama, and some element of farce within the stories and a world of law, courts, chambers, and indeed British society that has long disappeared.
Stories within the book:
Rumpole and the Younger Generation
Rumpole and the Alternative Society
Rumpole and the Honourable Member
Rumpole and the Married Lady
Rumpole and the Learned Friends
Rumpole and the Heavy Brigade
First published in 1978, Rumpole has much of Mortimer and his father, in himself, a divorce and probate barrister.
My copy was a Penguin Modern Classics copy.
His adventures here are short stories covering some of the cases Rumpole manages to win, alongside office politics and career criminals and judges, and how they impact him, and "She who must be obeyed," - his wife, Hilda.
There is wit, comedy, drama, and some element of farce within the stories and a world of law, courts, chambers, and indeed British society that has long disappeared.
Stories within the book:
Rumpole and the Younger Generation
Rumpole and the Alternative Society
Rumpole and the Honourable Member
Rumpole and the Married Lady
Rumpole and the Learned Friends
Rumpole and the Heavy Brigade
First published in 1978, Rumpole has much of Mortimer and his father, in himself, a divorce and probate barrister.
My copy was a Penguin Modern Classics copy.
March 24, 2022
I used to enjoy the television series with Leo McKern as Horace Rumpole back in the 1970s. Needless to say the book is very much in the same vein, with Rumpole defending a series of low life criminal types and indulging in plenty of wit and repartee whilst in court.
The only other book I've read by is which is the first part of his autobiography. I loved it and mean to read the other three volumes. Click here to read my review
(1978) contains a series of interlinked short stories concerning Rumpole's misadventures at, primarily, The Old Bailey and are a bitter sweet collection which all take place in the late 1960s and into the late 1970s. It is interesting to note how much social attitudes have changed, but also how much remains unchanged.
Horace Rumpole is a marvellous character: something of a curmudgeon who regularly quotes poetry, talks with a rude wit, and enjoys inappropriate, occasionally even grotesque, humour. Although he's hard to love, he has a great integrity, and heartily dislikes hypocrisy and smugness. I'd certainly enjoy sharing a bottle of wine with him at Pomeroy's Wine Bar. Ultimately Rumpole becomes an endearing and sympathetic character, and that is down to the splendid writing. writes with the same deft touch as and is a consummate storyteller.
I heartily recommend , and look forward to reading more Rumpole books, and more books by the splendid .
5/5
(1978) by
The only other book I've read by is which is the first part of his autobiography. I loved it and mean to read the other three volumes. Click here to read my review
(1978) contains a series of interlinked short stories concerning Rumpole's misadventures at, primarily, The Old Bailey and are a bitter sweet collection which all take place in the late 1960s and into the late 1970s. It is interesting to note how much social attitudes have changed, but also how much remains unchanged.
Horace Rumpole is a marvellous character: something of a curmudgeon who regularly quotes poetry, talks with a rude wit, and enjoys inappropriate, occasionally even grotesque, humour. Although he's hard to love, he has a great integrity, and heartily dislikes hypocrisy and smugness. I'd certainly enjoy sharing a bottle of wine with him at Pomeroy's Wine Bar. Ultimately Rumpole becomes an endearing and sympathetic character, and that is down to the splendid writing. writes with the same deft touch as and is a consummate storyteller.
I heartily recommend , and look forward to reading more Rumpole books, and more books by the splendid .
5/5
(1978) by
August 18, 2012
This was my first Rumpole book, and I have to say I'm going back for more. RUMPOLE OF THE BAILEY is a set of linked short stories, cataloging six of barrister Horace Rumpole's cases. The exact details are not particularly important, it's the tone and the style which carry the day. First of all, these stories are extremely funny, funny in that scathing British way. But they're also more than that - there is a strong vein of social criticism running through them, and in many of them a feeling of great sadness.
So, great fun but at the same time some real heft. I greatly enjoyed these stories and would recommend the book to anyone.
So, great fun but at the same time some real heft. I greatly enjoyed these stories and would recommend the book to anyone.
July 1, 2019
I hadn't realized this series of Rumpole books came secondary to a TV program. I swear the Brits get all the good shows!
Rumpole is a seasoned barrister, 67 years-of-age, as he decides to write a memoir of his career. Voila! We have this short story collection that provides a sampling of the cases Rumpole has participated in through the years. In addition, the reader is treated to peeks into Rumpole's home life -- the place where he feels he works the hardest and escapes to work each day to feel fully alive.
Be prepared for dry humor, interesting cases, and Rumpole's curmudgeonly words and actions.
Rumpole is a seasoned barrister, 67 years-of-age, as he decides to write a memoir of his career. Voila! We have this short story collection that provides a sampling of the cases Rumpole has participated in through the years. In addition, the reader is treated to peeks into Rumpole's home life -- the place where he feels he works the hardest and escapes to work each day to feel fully alive.
Be prepared for dry humor, interesting cases, and Rumpole's curmudgeonly words and actions.
April 3, 2022
These stories remain a complete delight. Rumpole’s narrative voice, the characters he portrays and the clever conundrums he encounters all make this a hugely enjoyable, engaging read.
Rumpole’s own attitudes are also interesting and rather thoughtfully portrayed amid the humour. He is a crusty, old-school barrister with a healthy scepticism about the traditions and dignitaries of the law, and about the comfortable Old Boy nature of the legal profession. He quotes copiously from The Oxford Book Of English Verse (the Arthur Quiller-Couch edition, of course) but also has a genuine concern for his clients and an understanding of their circumstances which is often lacking in his colleagues who regard court cases rather as they might a game of chess � genuinely trying to beat their opponents, but finding the result of no great consequence either way. Rumpole understands that to the boy going to prison for several years, the result is of very great consequence indeed.
One story here is rather more troubling. In Rumpole And The Honourable Member he defends someone accused of rape, which includes attacking the alleged victim in the witness box. It’s uncomfortable reading, even though it is an accurate portrayal of what did and does happen in such cases. In these #metoo times, Rumpole’s view of the matter looks, shall we say, dated, but it’s a fair example of some of the more serious matters which are considered in these very amusingly told stories.
That said, you can’t go wrong with Rumpole. I’m delighted to have re-visited these stories and can recommend them very warmly.
Rumpole’s own attitudes are also interesting and rather thoughtfully portrayed amid the humour. He is a crusty, old-school barrister with a healthy scepticism about the traditions and dignitaries of the law, and about the comfortable Old Boy nature of the legal profession. He quotes copiously from The Oxford Book Of English Verse (the Arthur Quiller-Couch edition, of course) but also has a genuine concern for his clients and an understanding of their circumstances which is often lacking in his colleagues who regard court cases rather as they might a game of chess � genuinely trying to beat their opponents, but finding the result of no great consequence either way. Rumpole understands that to the boy going to prison for several years, the result is of very great consequence indeed.
One story here is rather more troubling. In Rumpole And The Honourable Member he defends someone accused of rape, which includes attacking the alleged victim in the witness box. It’s uncomfortable reading, even though it is an accurate portrayal of what did and does happen in such cases. In these #metoo times, Rumpole’s view of the matter looks, shall we say, dated, but it’s a fair example of some of the more serious matters which are considered in these very amusingly told stories.
That said, you can’t go wrong with Rumpole. I’m delighted to have re-visited these stories and can recommend them very warmly.
May 30, 2022
The jacket blurb of my old Penguin paperback described Rumpole of the Bailey as "Pickwickian." I'll agree. Not as funny as Dickens, but very good nevertheless.
September 1, 2021
Riuscitissimo nel suo genere: scrittura elegante e garbatamente ironica, una punta di sarcasmo sul ruolo e la vita di un avvocato non “di grido�, che si occupa di ordinari fatti di cronaca, piccoli delinquenti a volte qualche caso più importante; un personaggio che racconta in prima persona senza prendersi troppo sul serio con giusta dose di humour, riflessione morale e sagacia, ben dipinto. Assolutamente godibile.
May 7, 2025
We (Simon and I) enjoy how the author plays with words and manipulates the judges. His wit is incisive. Rumpole is a very like-able fellow. We appreciate the character development and particularly enjoyed the relationship between Rumpole and his clients. Narrator, Robert Hardy modulates his voice perfectly.
April 22, 2020
In these strange and uncertain times, I'm finding it hard to concentrate on new reading material. I'm seeking comfort by returning to reliable old favorites, which must include the stories of "the old Bailey hack," Horace Rumpole.
March 24, 2017
Me ha gustado y ojalá Impedimenta edite otros libros de la serie. Las historias no tienen mucha intriga, son más legales que detectivescas pero son entretenidas, agradables de leer y muy british.
April 7, 2023
Much to my delight, I "discovered" Rumpole of the Bailey, champion of the underdog, a bit late in my life. Interestingly, I picked up Rumpole and the Primrose Path first, and then this book which is the first in the series.
When an ex-convict has been foolish enough to leave his fingerpints on a stick of explosive, or the scion of a family of thugs has blood splattered all over him at the scene of a stabbing, Rumpole stands between the suspect who doesn't stand a chance and the legal system that is straining to chew up the latter. He stands up to judges who seem to be quite certain about the merits of cases before they have heard the defence, and at one point he comes close to being barred from practice because he might have taken on more that he can handle.
Nothing fazes Rumpole. He faces his challenges, surviving on comfort food, smoking cheap cigars, drinking coarse wine, and wearing a hat that earns him much derision. In the process, as he quotes verse at the drop of a hat, he entertains the reader with his dry humour.
I am sure the series has a lot of detail that appeals to the British reader, but it is also universal in its appeal.
As other reviewers have pointed out, this book deserves a trigger warning: one of the men whom Rumpole defends in this book is accused of rape.
I listened to the audiobook read by Patrick Tull. I'm guessing this is one of the cases where the audiobook is probably a better experience than the paper version.
When an ex-convict has been foolish enough to leave his fingerpints on a stick of explosive, or the scion of a family of thugs has blood splattered all over him at the scene of a stabbing, Rumpole stands between the suspect who doesn't stand a chance and the legal system that is straining to chew up the latter. He stands up to judges who seem to be quite certain about the merits of cases before they have heard the defence, and at one point he comes close to being barred from practice because he might have taken on more that he can handle.
Nothing fazes Rumpole. He faces his challenges, surviving on comfort food, smoking cheap cigars, drinking coarse wine, and wearing a hat that earns him much derision. In the process, as he quotes verse at the drop of a hat, he entertains the reader with his dry humour.
I am sure the series has a lot of detail that appeals to the British reader, but it is also universal in its appeal.
As other reviewers have pointed out, this book deserves a trigger warning: one of the men whom Rumpole defends in this book is accused of rape.
I listened to the audiobook read by Patrick Tull. I'm guessing this is one of the cases where the audiobook is probably a better experience than the paper version.
July 24, 2020
No me ha parecido para tanto.
September 28, 2021
This one was sneaky. I thought I was enjoying a handful of entertaining short stories, and by the end of the book I realised I'd finished a particularly wonderful, moving novel, and I'd had no idea. There were actual tears in my eyes. So, apparently John Mortimer has created a character with so much life and zest that I couldn't help but feel for him, intensely, and weep tears of joy at both the happy ending, and the masterful writing. (I cry when things are good: when first seeing the "Kiss the Girl" scene from the Little Mermaid with the faux cinema verite camerawork, when turning the corner and discovering "La Grande Jatte" in Chicago's Art Institute, or upon walking into the interior of Gaudi's Sagrada Familia).
I'm racking my brain trying to think if I've cried at a mystery before. I think I must have at Kate Atkinson, but it's a rare phenomenon. As much as I adore Agatha Christie, she doesn't induce such emotions.
Anyway, back to the book and it's titular protagonist. He's considered a bit of a loser by his colleagues and counterparts, but he tries hard, he means well, and he doesn't back down. He's an easy character to like (but apparently not to work alongside). His cases vary: theft, murder, rape, divorce, and the emphasizing isn't so much on solving the mystery as in whether he will be able to clear his client (regardless of guilt), so it's actually about the legal action, which I appreciate. As fond as I was of Murder One season one, I felt that it could have ended with the verdict ... instead, the episode went on to solve the crime. That's not the show I thought I was watching!
Speaking of television, it's my understanding that this series began as television, and then was turned to book form, which is not a process that normally leads to spectacular writing, despite my early fondness for Earthquake, The Fantastic Voyage, or, in a sense, Peter Pan and Wendy. So kudos for Mr. Mortimer in doing a brilliant job of translating from one medium to another. So much of the impact of this story is predicated on the goings-on inside of Rumpole's head, I can hardly imagine what the show would have been like without it. (Or maybe they used voiceover for his hidden thoughts--I should find out. I'd probably like it!)
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s.)
I'm racking my brain trying to think if I've cried at a mystery before. I think I must have at Kate Atkinson, but it's a rare phenomenon. As much as I adore Agatha Christie, she doesn't induce such emotions.
Anyway, back to the book and it's titular protagonist. He's considered a bit of a loser by his colleagues and counterparts, but he tries hard, he means well, and he doesn't back down. He's an easy character to like (but apparently not to work alongside). His cases vary: theft, murder, rape, divorce, and the emphasizing isn't so much on solving the mystery as in whether he will be able to clear his client (regardless of guilt), so it's actually about the legal action, which I appreciate. As fond as I was of Murder One season one, I felt that it could have ended with the verdict ... instead, the episode went on to solve the crime. That's not the show I thought I was watching!
Speaking of television, it's my understanding that this series began as television, and then was turned to book form, which is not a process that normally leads to spectacular writing, despite my early fondness for Earthquake, The Fantastic Voyage, or, in a sense, Peter Pan and Wendy. So kudos for Mr. Mortimer in doing a brilliant job of translating from one medium to another. So much of the impact of this story is predicated on the goings-on inside of Rumpole's head, I can hardly imagine what the show would have been like without it. (Or maybe they used voiceover for his hidden thoughts--I should find out. I'd probably like it!)
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s.)
May 18, 2022
Having read, and loved, "Paradise Postponed," by John Mortimer, I decided to try his most famous creation. I remember, "Rumpole of the Bailey," from the television show and this is, surprisingly, very similar. You have the elderly, grumpy Rumpole, his wife, Hilda, 'she who must be obeyed' and the assorted members of chambers.
This is a collection of short stories and I do struggle with this form, so I never felt as engaged as I might have done in a novel. Also, although I know this was published in 1978, and I accept books as products of their era, this does involve some comments and cases that may cause some raised eyebrows in the 'me too' era.
That said, this was a return to a lot of characters I vaguely remembered, to 'old lags,' villains, safe crackers and, best of all, murder, alongside side stories about Rumpole's crumpled attire, his domestic arrangements and office politics. I enjoyed this but didn't quite love it.
This is a collection of short stories and I do struggle with this form, so I never felt as engaged as I might have done in a novel. Also, although I know this was published in 1978, and I accept books as products of their era, this does involve some comments and cases that may cause some raised eyebrows in the 'me too' era.
That said, this was a return to a lot of characters I vaguely remembered, to 'old lags,' villains, safe crackers and, best of all, murder, alongside side stories about Rumpole's crumpled attire, his domestic arrangements and office politics. I enjoyed this but didn't quite love it.
September 23, 2018
A wily, ignoble lawyer for the defense takes on a number of cases in this book of short stories based on a TV show.
Okay, imagine John Cleese of Monty Python fame as a defense lawyer. Seedy, mouthy, and deadly efficient. Now imagine the woman who played his wife on Fawlty Towers as his wife here. That's pretty much it. The writing isn't as brilliant as Fawlty Towers, the stories are more grounded in logic, and the characters are less acerbic. But I'm not wrong. Entertainingly cynical. Enjoyed but not adored.
Okay, imagine John Cleese of Monty Python fame as a defense lawyer. Seedy, mouthy, and deadly efficient. Now imagine the woman who played his wife on Fawlty Towers as his wife here. That's pretty much it. The writing isn't as brilliant as Fawlty Towers, the stories are more grounded in logic, and the characters are less acerbic. But I'm not wrong. Entertainingly cynical. Enjoyed but not adored.
November 11, 2022
Amusing, enjoyable, pleasurable reading. I particularly liked the portrayal of the barrister as just another working man, not evil for defending criminals, and not saintly either. Not utterly brilliant for knowing the law and court technique, but also not just a hack. Just an honest man doing an honest day's work.
June 17, 2017
Me ha gustado, sobre todo la ambientación en los años sesenta que no me la esperaba, me sorprendió muchÃsimo
September 27, 2018
I had no idea how fun these stories that are kinda a novel would be. Every time I saw the name I imagined they were some kind of really old timey court room stories. But they're witty and amusing and rather charming.
November 22, 2024
This was my first taste of Rumpole in written form, although I definitely watched at least a few episodes of the TV adaptation back in the 80s. He’s the narrator of these stories, a London barrister reflecting back in his career and some of the legal cases he was involved in. There’s a great deal of humour here and a wry dissection of British life and justice. Add to that some very memorable and well drawn characters and you have an enjoyable collection that was fun to spend time with.
January 28, 2019
I read some of the Rumpole books many years ago and I was delighted when I found several at my favorite UBS last week. I found that I enjoyed them every bit as much as before, plus now that I’m in the legal field myself, I “got� more of the jokes.
Mortimer has created a wonderful character in Rumpole: a terrific sarcastic wit; irreverent and unconventional; quotes poetry in an ironic manner; negligent in his dress; doesn’t take himself or life too seriously. And yet, Rumpole is scrupulously serious when he defends his clients, who are usually career petty criminals who may or may not actually be guilty of the crime for which they have been accused. It is this integrity that makes him a likeable curmudgeon.
The book consists of loosely connected short stories from Rumpole’s POV. Rumpole’s wife, Hilda, aka She Who Must Be Obeyed, is a rather nebulous figure - we get much better descriptions of Rumpole’s colleagues, particularly one Guthrie Featherstone, Q.C.
Rumpole isn’t always successful in his defense of the accused, but the accounts of the trials are always entertaining.
Mortimer has created a wonderful character in Rumpole: a terrific sarcastic wit; irreverent and unconventional; quotes poetry in an ironic manner; negligent in his dress; doesn’t take himself or life too seriously. And yet, Rumpole is scrupulously serious when he defends his clients, who are usually career petty criminals who may or may not actually be guilty of the crime for which they have been accused. It is this integrity that makes him a likeable curmudgeon.
The book consists of loosely connected short stories from Rumpole’s POV. Rumpole’s wife, Hilda, aka She Who Must Be Obeyed, is a rather nebulous figure - we get much better descriptions of Rumpole’s colleagues, particularly one Guthrie Featherstone, Q.C.
Rumpole isn’t always successful in his defense of the accused, but the accounts of the trials are always entertaining.
February 26, 2018
Horace Rumpole nos cuenta su vida, estas digamos, memorias de su vida nos las comienza a relatar en su mediana edad, nos cuenta además como llega a casarse su mujer Hilda, al que él apoda "Ella, la que ha de ser obedecida".
Un hombre de leyes, ama lo que hace, se siente orgulloso de ser un defensor de casos penales, cree firmemente en eso de "nadie deberÃa nunca declararse culpable" y conforme avanza en edad, lo vemos rememorar sus casos mas exitosos.
Sin embargo, para "Ella, la que ha de ser obedecida", sus colegas e incluso sus amigos, Rumpole es un hombre de poca aspiración, incluso mediocre, tiene sus buenas como tiene sus malas, pero cuidado con aquellos que minimizan la capacidad de Rumple y su mentalidad de abogado defensor.
Realmente me ha gustado mucho, entre batallas jurÃdicas, casos de violación, asesinatos, robo y demás vamos conociendo a un hombre que en su esencia es maquiavelico pero también muy muy bondadoso.
Muy recomendable
Un hombre de leyes, ama lo que hace, se siente orgulloso de ser un defensor de casos penales, cree firmemente en eso de "nadie deberÃa nunca declararse culpable" y conforme avanza en edad, lo vemos rememorar sus casos mas exitosos.
Sin embargo, para "Ella, la que ha de ser obedecida", sus colegas e incluso sus amigos, Rumpole es un hombre de poca aspiración, incluso mediocre, tiene sus buenas como tiene sus malas, pero cuidado con aquellos que minimizan la capacidad de Rumple y su mentalidad de abogado defensor.
Realmente me ha gustado mucho, entre batallas jurÃdicas, casos de violación, asesinatos, robo y demás vamos conociendo a un hombre que en su esencia es maquiavelico pero también muy muy bondadoso.
Muy recomendable
June 8, 2022
Horace Rumpole is a criminal barrister, often seen at the Old Bailey where he enjoys verbal jousts with demanding judges, or in his Chambers where he stubbornly resists the modern commercialism and cynicism of his colleagues in order to follow the noble cause of defending those who risk losing their liberty. This book contains six short stories, each dealing with one of Rumpole’s cases.
I loved the old Rumpole TV series with Leo McKern when I was much younger, but I didn’t really appreciate the subtlety of John Mortimer’s depiction of the legal world until I read these stories. Rumpole is a shabby figure who has never fulfilled the promise of his youth, but retains a pragmatic and decent attitude towards his profession. He is perceptive and ingenious, aware of the ambiguity around justice and the law, and with a gruff sense of humour and a taste for the poetic.
Thoroughly enjoyed these stories which were both thought provoking and entertaining.
I loved the old Rumpole TV series with Leo McKern when I was much younger, but I didn’t really appreciate the subtlety of John Mortimer’s depiction of the legal world until I read these stories. Rumpole is a shabby figure who has never fulfilled the promise of his youth, but retains a pragmatic and decent attitude towards his profession. He is perceptive and ingenious, aware of the ambiguity around justice and the law, and with a gruff sense of humour and a taste for the poetic.
Thoroughly enjoyed these stories which were both thought provoking and entertaining.
February 12, 2010
Applies to all of the Rumpole Series' Books:
How do you describe Horace Rumpole? A funny, drunk portly old British barrister, wed to She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and all that ensues in following along in his endless travails.
I stumbled on this series at the recommendation of my friend Liz years ago and devoured every book in it that same week.
Many are out of print now; go to your local library and get your Rumpole fix that way - well worth it!
How do you describe Horace Rumpole? A funny, drunk portly old British barrister, wed to She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and all that ensues in following along in his endless travails.
I stumbled on this series at the recommendation of my friend Liz years ago and devoured every book in it that same week.
Many are out of print now; go to your local library and get your Rumpole fix that way - well worth it!
November 4, 2017
Rumpole is a great great character and his stories are always full of wit and gentle humour. Rumpole cares deeply about justice and has a true understanding of the importance of a fair trial. Yet he hides his passion under a gruff exterior. John Mortimer created in Rumpole a lawyer who constantly reminds us why our legal system must never be undermined.
"Whenever I feel down I turn to Rumpole. "
"Whenever I feel down I turn to Rumpole. "
April 30, 2023
4.5 stars. A delightful, humorous, witty, interesting, engaging collection of six short stories. All six stories are about Horace Rumpole, an old, irreverent, iconoclastic, wine swirling, poetry sprouting, (Wordsworth being his favourite poet), barrister in law. He is married to Hilda, ‘she who must be obeyed�. The interlinked stories of court cases help the reader gain a better understanding of Rumpole’s character. He can be rude and grotesque, dislikes hypocrisy and smugness, and has integrity.
An entertaining, enjoyable reading experience.
This book was first published in 1978. It is the first book in the Rumpole series.
An entertaining, enjoyable reading experience.
This book was first published in 1978. It is the first book in the Rumpole series.
February 5, 2025
Superb characters and dry humour
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