Rating: 
Summary: More Rumpole to Come
Review: Ahhh... Rumpole is back! I was delighted to see a new collection of short stories written by John Mortimer, even though Leo McKern had sadly passed away. However, this new collection is not quite up to the standards of Mortimer's other short stories. Perhaps it's because it's been six years since "Rumpole and the Angel of Death." These new stories feel a little off, like a poet trying to emulate another poet's works; it's close, but doesn't feel like the same old works. "Rumpole Rests his Case" isn't a terrible book, but it's not the best one of the series.
Rating: 
Summary: Not quite up to standard
Review: Ahhh... Rumpole is back! I was delighted to see a new collection of short stories written by John Mortimer, even though Leo McKern had sadly passed away. However, this new collection is not quite up to the standards of Mortimer's other short stories. Perhaps it's because it's been six years since "Rumpole and the Angel of Death." These new stories feel a little off, like a poet trying to emulate another poet's works; it's close, but doesn't feel like the same old works. "Rumpole Rests his Case" isn't a terrible book, but it's not the best one of the series.
Rating:
Summary: charming and witty
Review: As a barrister, Horace Rumpole faces the difficult challenges of new age crimes in this delightful anthology with his brain, a cheroot, and a shot of Old Bailey. Horace deals with an aristocratic former blackmailer, an illegal alien fighting exportation that means death, a politician facing ruin due to alleged drug usage and the modern stalker using e-mail as the source of contact. As anyone can see, he defends a series of peculiar clients. However, all is not great for Horace who collapses in the midst of a courtroom, placing him under greater control of his general officer and concerned wife Hilda.It is hard to believe that six years have passed since the last Rumpole tale, but the myriad of his loyal followers will rejoice that he is as sharp as ever. Horace narrates the tales that are mostly his first person perceptions. Scenes flash by at a rapid rate more so than the typical legal thriller contains which makes for a fast delightful reading experience. Simply put, John Mortimer keeps his superstar charming and witty so hopefully we fans will not have to wait quite as long for his next appearance. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: More Rumpole to Come
Review: For those who were asking if this would be the last Rumpole book, the answer happily in there is more to come. Rumpole and the Primrose Path has been published in the UK and Canada and presumably will be published here eventually!
Rating:
Summary: Good News For Rumpole Fans
Review: Horace Rumpole, a somewhat paunchy, somewhat seedy junior barrister, made his American debut ("Rumpole of the Bailey") in the 1970's when I was a relatively inexperienced prosecutor. What was thought to be his last appearance in print ("Rumpole and the Angel of Death") came in the 1990's when I was a relatively battle-scarred prosecutor. Although Rumpole prosecuted only once during his long career, I always felt a kinship to this cigar smoking, poetry spouting barrister who loved his profession so passionately. Through ten individual volumes (nine of which were collected into "Rumpole Omnibuses") and almost sixty stories, Rumpole strove mightily on behalf of the poor and oppressed, made pungent observations on the human condition and the trial of criminal cases, and drank gallons of cheap wine at Pomeroy's Wine Bar. Rumpole's greatest charm came from his on-the-money observations about life of a journeyman trial lawyer. Not as successful as he could have been, not as ambitious as he should have been, Rumpole proved an enigma to his fellow barristers and his wife, Hilda ("She Who Must Be Obeyed"). You can imagine my pleasure to discover that Mortimer had resurrected Rumpole for one more round of trials down at the Old Bailey. All previous Rumpole opuses have been televised by the BBC (and later on PBS) with Leo McKern starring as Rumpole. The shows have been every bit as good as the stories. There will be no televising of these stories, however, as McKern passed away recently. Mortimer wrote the Rumpole character for McKern, and no one else could ever portray Rumpole half as well. Rumpole, however, is beginning to show his age. Mortimer's stories are just as well written as in the previous stories, but it is apparent that Rumpole's abilities are beginning to wane. He's not quite as sharp as he once was. He's not quite as able to carry off his Machiavellian manipulations of his fellow lawyers as he once was, and his health is beginning to fail. It was bittersweet to read these latest stories. One must hope that if Mortimer writes any more Rumpole stories, that they will come from Rumpole's as-yet-unchronicled youth. If you, like me, are a Rumpole-aholic, you must add this volume to your collection. If you have no previous experience of Rumpole, try one of the earlier volumes.
Rating:
Summary: Rumpole Redivivus
Review: Horace Rumpole, a somewhat paunchy, somewhat seedy junior barrister, made his American debut ("Rumpole of the Bailey") in the 1970's when I was a relatively inexperienced prosecutor. What was thought to be his last appearance in print ("Rumpole and the Angel of Death") came in the 1990's when I was a relatively battle-scarred prosecutor. Although Rumpole prosecuted only once during his long career, I always felt a kinship to this cigar smoking, poetry spouting barrister who loved his profession so passionately. Through ten individual volumes (nine of which were collected into "Rumpole Omnibuses") and almost sixty stories, Rumpole strove mightily on behalf of the poor and oppressed, made pungent observations on the human condition and the trial of criminal cases, and drank gallons of cheap wine at Pomeroy's Wine Bar. Rumpole's greatest charm came from his on-the-money observations about life of a journeyman trial lawyer. Not as successful as he could have been, not as ambitious as he should have been, Rumpole proved an enigma to his fellow barristers and his wife, Hilda ("She Who Must Be Obeyed"). You can imagine my pleasure to discover that Mortimer had resurrected Rumpole for one more round of trials down at the Old Bailey. All previous Rumpole opuses have been televised by the BBC (and later on PBS) with Leo McKern starring as Rumpole. The shows have been every bit as good as the stories. There will be no televising of these stories, however, as McKern passed away recently. Mortimer wrote the Rumpole character for McKern, and no one else could ever portray Rumpole half as well. Rumpole, however, is beginning to show his age. Mortimer's stories are just as well written as in the previous stories, but it is apparent that Rumpole's abilities are beginning to wane. He's not quite as sharp as he once was. He's not quite as able to carry off his Machiavellian manipulations of his fellow lawyers as he once was, and his health is beginning to fail. It was bittersweet to read these latest stories. One must hope that if Mortimer writes any more Rumpole stories, that they will come from Rumpole's as-yet-unchronicled youth. If you, like me, are a Rumpole-aholic, you must add this volume to your collection. If you have no previous experience of Rumpole, try one of the earlier volumes.
Rating: 
Summary: "rumpole rests his case" is NOT a new book
Review: I have not read ALL of the Rumpole books, and probably can't remember ALL that I HAVE read. BUT..of the seven stories in this book, called "seven fresh and funny stories", at least FOUR were in earlier Rumpole collections. So buy the book if you want to enjoy repetition; I admit the stories are good....but they were good the FIRST time.
Rating:
Summary: "rumpole rests his case" is NOT a new book
Review: I have not read ALL of the Rumpole books, and probably can't remember ALL that I HAVE read. BUT..of the seven stories in this book, called "seven fresh and funny stories", at least FOUR were in earlier Rumpole collections. So buy the book if you want to enjoy repetition; I admit the stories are good....but they were good the FIRST time.
Rating: 
Summary: Welcome back, Rumpole
Review: I never thought to see any new Rumpole of the Bailey stories, but it seems that the fecund John Mortimer has come up with yet another seven put out by Viking Press. At the same time, Audio Partners has released a complete reading on 6 audio-tapes. "Rumpole Rests His Case" (61280) features actor Tony Britton and the six stories are as follows. "Rumpole and the Old Familiar Faces" (a fitting title for a "return" tale) concerns another inept robbery by a young member of the Timson clan, a Christmas pantomime, and an ex-con living it up as a gentleman. "Rumple and the Remembrance of Things Past" somehow and neatly manages to put a framing device of a non-smoking rule in "chambers" around a gruesome major plot of a wife's skeleton found buried in a floor. "Rumpole and the Asylum Seekers" is a timely tale of refugees escaping an oppressive government and those who make money by betraying them. "Rumpole and the Camberwell Carrot" is about a flaming affair between the lovely "Portia of the Chambers" and a noted pillar of morality who has more than just clay feet. "Rumpole and the Actor Laddie" is the shortest Rumpole story ever and the most unsatisfactory, revolving around a ring that might or not be stolen. "Rumple and the Teenage Werewolf" is another very timely tale about sexual stalking by e-mail. (Here I was sure I knew who the culprit was--it HAD to be!--and was wrong.) The final tale, "Rumpole Rests His Case" is the most unusual Rumpole story ever. After collapsing at the end of a particularly trying trial, Rumpole spends the story in a hospital bed in which he solves a crime and presents his case--to the other patients! A very touching finale. Britton lacks that Leo McKern blusteriness that Timothy West had on an earlier Audio Partners set of Rumpole tales, but he is quite good on his own terms. In general, the sparkle seems to have gone out of these Rumpole yarns; but any Rumpole is better than none. I therefore recommend this set without much reservation.
Rating:
Summary: vintage Rumpole
Review: It seems strange that Rumpole of the Bailey has now been going for some 30 years and the actor who played him so perfectly has passed away just recently. John Mortimer the author is apparently now 80. The early books were tinged with a certain sadness, placing Rumpole as a man past his time, a disappointment to his wife and someone who others were trying to ease into retirement. Yet Rumpole survived as an old Bailey hack, resiting all attempts to move him out of chambers. As time has gone by these side plots, although existing have receded into the background and Rumpole has over time become the master of the court room and the one ethical figure in a modern world. Mortimers strengths are that he has spent a lifetime in the courts and writes about it with a certain realism and eye for its absurdities. He is also a skilled story teller and even the shortest of the stories in any of his books with have multiple themes, plot twists and characters who spring from life. This latest lot of stories does not show the slightest diminution of Mortimers power as a story teller despite the fact that he must have written them as a 78 year old. Each story is not only complete in itself as a little drama but it is also a picture of England under new labour. Stories feature the problems faced by asylum seekers, harassment by email and the struggle of the conservative party to retain some relevance by launching into a bit of populism. It is a book that once you open, you will not put down and you will finish it in a couple of hours. What a shame that Leo McKern is no longer able to bring to the screen such gems.
| 
