HomeGroupsTalkMoreZeitgeist
Search Site
This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and (if not signed in) for advertising. By using LibraryThing you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your use of the site and services is subject to these policies and terms.

Results from Google Books

Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.

Loading...

Rumpole's Last Case (1987)

by John Mortimer

Other authors: See the other authors section.

Series: Rumpole of the Bailey (6)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
314682,428 (4.09)6
The brilliant Bailey hack recalls some of his most extraordinary cases, including several deliciously funny courtroom spars with his arch-foe, the Mad Bull (aka Judge Roger Bullingham).
Loading...

Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book.

No current Talk conversations about this book.

» See also 6 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 6 (next | show all)
This collection of seven stories offers further insights into the trials and tribulations of Rumpole’s life as an aging yet still ‘junior’ barrister, and the vagaries of the English criminal justice system.

Horace Rumpole is a glorious creation. Always pompous, and frequently quite objectionable, he is also, however, endearing and a permanent spokesman for the downtrodden and disenfranchised. His fellow barristers and occupants of 4 Equity Court are also finely drawn, and act as perfect foils for Rumpole’s chaotic and anarchic approach to life.

First and foremost, these are very humorous stories, although they also offer an engaging insight into life in Britain in the 1980s. I am always struck by the marked contrast between Rumpole’s career and that of John Mortimer himself. Now known primarily as a writer, and one who seemed to excel in so many different formats (novels, plays, short stories, memoirs, television screenplays …), he was for the greater part of his working life a successful barrister, being elevated to Queen’s Counsel and subsequently sitting as a Recorder (one of the numerous gradations of judge within the English legal system). Indeed, one can imagine Rumpole being far from impressed with John Mortimer QC, probably seeing him as a paragon of that unassailable rectitude that he fought so hard to avoid for himself.

As ever, these stories are marvellously written, and a constant source of joy to read. ( )
  Eyejaybee | May 29, 2019 |
Horace Rumpole is a curmudgeonly barrister in London who has defended criminals in Old Bailey for almost 50 years. This book is a collection of 7 short stories. Despite the title, Rumpole is still starring in books today. ( )
  gypsysmom | Aug 10, 2017 |
As always, a great read. More smiles and grins.
  amyem58 | Jul 15, 2014 |
Oh, Rumpole, I will never tire of your antics. Your efforts to avoid the tempers of She Who Must Be Obeyed, your willingness to antagonize the Mad Bull, even though you know better, your efforts to acquire enough briefs to keep in Pommeroy's plonk. This volume is full of the usual Rumpole antics. He defends some Timsons. He tries to avoid Dodo Mackintosh. Quite possibly my favorite of the stories involved a winter holiday in Spain and a rather unexpected conclusion. Rumpole mixes so many delightful and quintessentially British traditions: British justice, British eccentricity, British playfulness with language, and a very British sense that one's spouse is hopeless. I am not quite sure what I shall do when I run out of Rumpole books. ( )
  lahochstetler | May 20, 2014 |
This is comfort reading complete with red wine. ( )
  veracite | Apr 7, 2013 |
Showing 1-5 of 6 (next | show all)
no reviews | add a review

» Add other authors

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
John Mortimerprimary authorall editionscalculated
Davidson, FrederickNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
McKern, LeoNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Wallis, BillNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
You must log in to edit Common Knowledge data.
For more help see the Common Knowledge help page.
Canonical title
Original title
Alternative titles
Original publication date
People/Characters
Important places
Important events
Related movies
Epigraph
Dedication
To all the friends, learned and otherwise, I made down the Old Bailey and especially to the criminal defenders Jeremy Hutchinson who, like me, has done his last case and Geoffrey Robertson who certainly hasn't.
First words
'Rumpole! How could you drink that stuff?'
Quotations
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
Disambiguation notice
Short story collection:
  • Rumpole and the Blind Tasting
  • Rumpole and the Old, Old Story
  • Rumpole and the Official Secret
  • Rumpole and the Judge's Elbow
  • Rumpole and the Bright Seraphim
  • Rumpole and the Winter Break
  • Rumpole's Last Case


Please note that the Rumpole short stories (and novels) are adaptations / novelizations of Mortimer's screenplays for the TV series starring Leo McKern -- not the other way around.
Publisher's editors
Blurbers
Original language
Canonical DDC/MDS
Canonical LCC

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English (1)

The brilliant Bailey hack recalls some of his most extraordinary cases, including several deliciously funny courtroom spars with his arch-foe, the Mad Bull (aka Judge Roger Bullingham).

No library descriptions found.

Book description
Stories:
- Rumpole and the Blind Tasting
- Rumpole and the Old, Old Story
- Rumpole and the Official Secret
- Rumpole and the Judge's Elbow
- Rumpole and the Bright Seraphim
- Rumpole and the Winter Break
- Rumpole's Last Case
Haiku summary

Current Discussions

None

Popular covers

Quick Links

Rating

Average: (4.09)
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3 9
3.5 4
4 33
4.5 2
5 16

Is this you?

Become a LibraryThing Author.

 

About | Contact | Privacy/Terms | Help/FAQs | Blog | Store | APIs | TinyCat | Legacy Libraries | Early Reviewers | Common Knowledge | 202,659,412 books! | Top bar: Always visible