The First Rumpole Omnibus
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Product Description
Product Description
Who rose to enduring fame on Blood and Typewriters, told the pregnant Portia of the Chambers it would come out in the end, advised Guthrie Featherstone, Q.C. to adopt a more judicial attitude, returned in the tender gloaming of each evening – via Pommeroy's and a glass of Chateau Fleet Street – to She Who Must Be Obeyed? The answer is Horace Rumpole whose legal triumphs, plundering sorties into the ‘Oxford Book of English Verse’ and less-than-salubrious hat are celebrated here in this first omnibus edition which includes ‘Rumpole of the Bailey’, ‘The Trials of Rumpole’ and ‘Rumpole’s Return’.
About the Author
John Mortimer is 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. He lives near Henley-on-Thames.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Of course, I have a distinct distaste for anything which uses the word 'omnibus' which is not in fact ALL, but for Rumpole, I shall gladly make exception. Omnibus of course requires all three omnibus volumes (plus later additions), and they are all worthy of reading, but the first is by far the best.
Here is where we are introduced to Rumpole, ever defender of the downtrodden criminal element, most successful of course when these minor villians have been wrongly accused, at least in the latest particular incident. As Rumpole said once during a defence, the English nation when it is long gone will be remembered for three things -- the English breakfast, the Oxford Book of English Verse (the Quiller-Couch Edition), and the presumption of innocence.
Even in the later story of Rumpole for the Prosecution, in which Rumpole is hired to conduct a private prosecution, he manages to provide through his searching for the truth the best defence for the defendant. Rumpole, it seems, will never be anything but the champion for the defence.
Mortimer is intimately familiar with the legal court setting about which he writes in the Rumpole series; judges such as Bullingham and Graves take their character from amalgamations of actual judges, and Mortimer once let it be known in a television interview that if he saw particular miscarriages of justice done, he would have no choice but to work it in to the plot of an upcoming Rumpole story.
One wonders if Hilda, Rumpole's wife, affectionately referred to as 'She Who Must Be Obeyed', is modeled on anyone specific in Mortimer's life. Other characters in chambers and in the dock seem very true to form, while also remaining interesting exaggerations of real persons. One might ask for a bit more character development in some, but largely, they serve their purpose as bit players on the stage.
So, sit back with your favourite glass of red wine (Chateau Fleet Street comes highly recommended) and wander into a London which is a blend of the thoroughly modern and practically medieval.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you are familiar with the TV serialization of the books, then the first collection of the novels are every bit as good and much more.
If you know nothing of John Mortimer or Rumpole of the Bailey, and are just window shopping for a good book to read then stop. This book will have you crying with laughter as it describes the eccentricities of the English legal system. It is a cross between Judge John Deed and Reginald Perrin. You couldn't find a better way to pass a few hours and spend a few pounds. Highly Recommended.
If you know nothing of John Mortimer or Rumpole of the Bailey, and are just window shopping for a good book to read then stop. This book will have you crying with laughter as it describes the eccentricities of the English legal system. It is a cross between Judge John Deed and Reginald Perrin. You couldn't find a better way to pass a few hours and spend a few pounds. Highly Recommended.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have read the Rumpole stories before, but it's always good to reread them once in a while, and the Kindle ebook certainly cuts down on shelf space.
Unfortunately this version is marred by a number of misprints (or misreads?), as if the pages have been scanned by a text reader without careful checking. As examples (more than once, a Barrister is a "Q.c. m.p", P. 8c 0." which should have been "P. & O.) and confusion betwen "i" "l" and "1".
Unfortunately this version is marred by a number of misprints (or misreads?), as if the pages have been scanned by a text reader without careful checking. As examples (more than once, a Barrister is a "Q.c. m.p", P. 8c 0." which should have been "P. & O.) and confusion betwen "i" "l" and "1".
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
First class legal whimsy
Even after John Mortimer's death, his books remain refreshing for both the legal fraternity and the wider readership and I treasure the first collection for the great stories and... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Phillip Taylor
simply the best
Top class stuff. Any lover of legal fiction who hasn't heard of Rumpole has probably been in a coma for the last 40 years and someone who gives a book 1 star because Citilink are a... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Whs McIntyre
Lots of fun
This is still as fresh and funny today as it was when written all those years ago when Rumpole could smoke his small cigars everywhere and having a couple of glasses of Pommeroy's... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Leobhan
The First Rumpole Omnibus
Having been a young lad when the television series was on, I knew of the character but was not familiar with the style and content of the stories. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Paul Cooper
The First Rumpole Omnibus
Books about Horace Rumpole can be read over and over again and still remain funny and clever and warm-hearted. Just sheer joy - a great gift from John Mortimer.
Published on 5 April 2010 by J. Staveley
Impossible
As, according to Amazon, I will not purchse this item until the first of March 2010 I am unable to review it. Read more
Published on 4 Feb 2010 by Mr. J. Rice
A modern classic
There are two voices in your head when you read this collection of lovely short stories. I received the omnibus Christmas gift from my brother and have to say that dipping in and... Read more
Published on 1 Jan 2010 by Elizabeth OB
A Case for Rumpole
THh book is fine and I recommend a Rumpole story to anyone who has not enjoyed one before.
The delivery of the book by Citilink on behalf of Amazon was appalling. Read more
The delivery of the book by Citilink on behalf of Amazon was appalling. Read more
Published on 16 Dec 2009 by Michael P. Griffiths
No need to defend Rumpole
Anyone who has taken the time to read John Mortimer's Rumpole stories will know that the author writes as a man of considerable experience of law and never fails to deliver where... Read more
Published on 12 Oct 2004 by misfit
Mortmer created Rumpole , a man with his own mind .....
Rumpole, the main character, is a man with his own mind about the purpose of criminal justice and the role of the actors in it, be it criminals and laywers or judges and... Read more
Published on 25 April 2000 by kasinje@yahoo.com
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