The First Rumpole Omnibus: Rumpole of the Bailey/The Trials of Rumpole/Rumpole's Return

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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. While writing the series, John Mortimer still worked as a barrister. He would wake up at half past five in the morning to write the scripts. Then he would start his day at Old Bailey. 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. Published in United States as John Mortimer. The Secret Lives of Rumpole's Creator (New York, Thomas Dunne Books, 2006) He has sometimes been cited wrongly as one of the Lady Chatterley's Lover obscenity trial defence team. [15] He did, however, successfully defend publishers John Calder and Marion Boyars in a 1968 appeal against a conviction for publishing Hubert Selby Jr.'s Last Exit to Brooklyn. [7] He assumed a similar role three years later, this time unsuccessfully, for Richard Handyside, the English publisher of The Little Red Schoolbook. [7]

Rumpole and the Age for Retirement (1989) - stand-alone publication of short story first published in The Trials of Rumpole (1979) Albert is called "Mr. Tree" by Henry in both his appearances in Series 1, but his last name is thereafter Handyside. From the archive: John Mortimer on defending Felix Dennis at the Oz trial 24 June 2014 www.indexoncensorship.org, accessed 2 November 2020.Daily Telegraph Obituaries (16 January 2009). "Sir John Mortimer: QC who took on liberal causes but found most fame as the creator of the fictional barrister Rumpole". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 6 September 2012. John Mortimer was a member of English PEN. He was patron of the Burma Campaign UK, the London-based group campaigning for human rights and democracy in Burma and president of the Royal Court Theatre, having been the chairman of its board in 1990–2000. John Mortimer – Lasting Tribute [ dead link] New link: The obituary notice of SIR JOHN MORTIMER 16/01/2009 funeral-notices.co.uk, accessed 2 November 2020. His Honour Judge Roger Bullingham ( Bill Fraser) (Series 1–4 and Special): "The Mad Bull", Rumpole's most notorious courtroom enemy. Noted for his intense dislike of defending barristers in general, and of Rumpole in particular.

Percy Hoskins ( Norman Ettlinger) (Series 1, Episode 1 only); ( Denys Graham) (Series 3–6): A rather minor character, Hoskins seems chiefly concerned with keeping other lawyers from being admitted to Chambers, lest they take away his work. Often prefaces his arguments with the phrase "Speaking as a man with daughters..." Later promoted to a judgeship.

Publication Order of Rumpole of the Bailey Books

Rumpole enjoys smoking inexpensive cigars ( cheroots), drinking cheap red wine and a diet of fried breakfasts, overboiled vegetables and steak and kidney pudding. Every day he visits "Pomeroy's", [1] a wine bar on Fleet Street within walking distance of the Old Bailey and his chambers at Equity Court, at which he contributes regularly to an ever-increasing bar tab by purchasing glasses of red wine of questionable quality, which he calls variously "Cooking Claret", "Pomeroy's Plonk", "Pomeroy's Very Ordinary", "Chateau Thames Embankment", or "Chateau Fleet Street". (The last two terms are particularly derogatory: the subterranean Fleet river, which flows below Farringdon Street in a culvert and crosses under one end of Fleet Street at Ludgate Circus, served as the main sewer of Victorian London, [2] while the Thames Embankment in central London was a reclamation of marshy land that, until the 1860s, was notably polluted). Sir John Clifford Mortimer (1923-2009), barrister, playwright and writer Sitter in 7 portraits (National Portrait Gallery) Mortimer suffered a stroke in October 2008 and died on 16 January 2009, aged 85. [28] Attributes [ edit ] In total, seven series of Rumpole of the Bailey were made from 1978 to 1992, each consisting of six episodes. A special two-hour film, Rumpole's Return, was made and aired in 1980, between the 2nd and 3rd series. The author, John Mortimer, occasionally appeared as an extra.

Hilda Rumpole ( Joyce Heron) (Original Play for Today "Pilot"); ( Peggy Thorpe-Bates) (Series 1–3 and Special); ( Marion Mathie) (Series 4–7): Privately referred to by Rumpole as "She Who Must Be Obeyed" – a reference to the Rider Haggard novel She. She would dearly love to see Rumpole become a QC, Head of Chambers or a judge – none of which is a role to which Rumpole aspires. She is the daughter of Rumpole's late head of chambers, C. H. Wystan. Rumpole (1994) An illustrated Folio Society anthology comprising Rumpole stories personally chosen and introduced by John MortimerFred Timson ( Peter Childs) (Series 1–2); ( John Bardon) (Series 4–7): Head of the Timson clan, a family of "minor South London villains". The Timsons, who specialise in non-violent petty theft, often turn to Rumpole to defend them against charges arising from their latest brush with the law. Although many Timsons are seen through the course of the series, only Fred and Dennis (below) are series regulars. The Best of Rumpole: A Personal Choice (1993) Contains seven Rumpole stories personally selected as favourites by John Mortimer. The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (onlineed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi: 10.1093/ref:odnb/100790. ISBN 9780198614111. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

Peter "Peanuts" Molloy ( David Squire) (Series 1, Episode1; Series 4, Episode 6; Series 5, Episode 4): Member of the Molloy family, archrivals of the Timsons. This legume-lover has frequent run-ins with the law. Also known to date April Timson, wife of Tony Timson. Mr Justice Gerald Graves ( Robin Bailey) (Series 4–7): Another in a long line of judges who dislikes Rumpole's courtroom theatrics. Privately referred to by Rumpole as "Mr. Justice Gravestone", and once referred to as "Mr. Injustice Death's Head". Originally merely Judge Graves, elevated to high court status in the series 6 episode "Rumpole at Sea." These six short stories introduce all the lovable (or not so lovable) characters from the delightful Rumpole series.

What To Read Next

Henry Trench [17] ( Jonathan Coy): Albert's successor as the efficient but harried clerk of Chambers. Unhappily married, Henry is also an amateur dramatics enthusiast, frequently appearing in works by Noël Coward. Henry's wife is active in local politics and serves as a member and later mayor of their local borough council. His cigar smoking is often the subject of debate within his Chambers. His peers sometimes criticise his attire, noting his old hat (a battered Homburg), imperfectly aligned clothes, cigar ash trailing down his waistcoat and faded barrister's wig, "bought second hand from a former Chief Justice of Tonga" (or the Windward Islands: Rumpole is occasionally an unreliable narrator). F. I. G. "Fig" Newton (Full name: Ferdinand Isaac Gerald Newton) ( Jim Norton) (Series 3); ( Frank Mills) (Series 5–6): Rumpole's favourite private investigator, who is usually battling a cold as he's often called on to tail suspects through the pouring rain. In his first appearance, when played by Norton, he introduces himself as Ferdinand Ian Gilmour Newton. All later appearances were by Mills, and in these appearances Rumpole refers to him as Ferdinand Isaac Gerald Newton. 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.