Rating: 
Summary: Another Good Rumpole Collection
Review: I've read all of the Rumpole stories and this collection contains some of the best. Like the previous two Rumpole omnibi (or is it omnibuses?) it contains three Rumpole books. The one thing about it that puzzles me is that it's the first Rumpole omnibus to skip over a book. For some reason the publisher chose not to include "Rumpole on Trial" as the third book in this omnibus but "Rumpole and the Angel of Death" instead. The First and Second O's each contained three Rumpole books in the order in which they were originally published. I'm curious to know why this was not the case with the Third Omnibus.
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Summary: Witty, curmudgeonly Rumpole is the barrister of the Ages!
Review: John Mortimer continues his classic Rumpole series in this delightful collection of stories, proof that some things do get better with age. London lawyer Horace Rumpole eagerly seeks out the lowliest criminal cases to keep himself well stocked of the local plonk and his missus, She Who Must Be Obeyed, off his back. Surrounded by a cast of quirky supporting characters, the aging Rumpole continues his quest for justice. Like all of Mortimer's work, the Rumpole stories are deftly written in a style so casual, so seemingly transparent, that you finish reading before you're prepared to. Perfect for the fan of humorous fiction and well-defined characters, the 3rd Rumpole Omnibus is a treat!
Rating:
Summary: Witty, curmudgeonly Rumpole is the barrister of the Ages!
Review: John Mortimer continues his classic Rumpole series in this delightful collection of stories, proof that some things do get better with age. London lawyer Horace Rumpole eagerly seeks out the lowliest criminal cases to keep himself well stocked of the local plonk and his missus, She Who Must Be Obeyed, off his back. Surrounded by a cast of quirky supporting characters, the aging Rumpole continues his quest for justice. Like all of Mortimer's work, the Rumpole stories are deftly written in a style so casual, so seemingly transparent, that you finish reading before you're prepared to. Perfect for the fan of humorous fiction and well-defined characters, the 3rd Rumpole Omnibus is a treat!
Rating: 
Summary: Never plead guilty!
Review: John Mortimer's "Rumpole of the Bailey" short stories remain distinguished for their gently ironic humor, their iconic character sketches, and their willingness to take on all political comers. One critic has described the politics of this series as "Tory anarchist," and it isn't hard to see why: Rumpole is an anti-establishment individualist who dislikes any "ism" that gets in the way of his primary goal, namely, keeping his clients out of the clink. These stories are mostly of high quality, although _Rumpole and the Angel of Death_ is a bit uneven: aside from the title story, the others lack Mortimer's usual incisiveness, and the attempt to write a story from Hilda's point-of-view is a noble failure ("Hilda's Story"). I would also add that these stories are best read over time, rather than at one fell swoop. Taken in close proximity, the tics of Rumpole's garrulous and repetitive narrative voice begin to wear--perhaps he could quote from something _besides_ "La Belle Dame Sans Merci" whenever he sees Claude Erskine-Brown?--and the reader becomes a little too conscious of the stories's essentially formulaic nature. Overall, however, "Rumpole of the Bailey" remains one of the most enjoyable mystery series around today.
Rating:
Summary: Never plead guilty!
Review: John Mortimer's "Rumpole of the Bailey" short stories remain distinguished for their gently ironic humor, their iconic character sketches, and their willingness to take on all political comers. One critic has described the politics of this series as "Tory anarchist," and it isn't hard to see why: Rumpole is an anti-establishment individualist who dislikes any "ism" that gets in the way of his primary goal, namely, keeping his clients out of the clink. These stories are mostly of high quality, although _Rumpole and the Angel of Death_ is a bit uneven: aside from the title story, the others lack Mortimer's usual incisiveness, and the attempt to write a story from Hilda's point-of-view is a noble failure ("Hilda's Story"). I would also add that these stories are best read over time, rather than at one fell swoop. Taken in close proximity, the tics of Rumpole's garrulous and repetitive narrative voice begin to wear--perhaps he could quote from something _besides_ "La Belle Dame Sans Merci" whenever he sees Claude Erskine-Brown?--and the reader becomes a little too conscious of the stories's essentially formulaic nature. Overall, however, "Rumpole of the Bailey" remains one of the most enjoyable mystery series around today.
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Summary: Geat Fiction without violence
Review: John Mortimers pose seems to flow as if being spoken. Keeps your attention with wit and humor.
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Summary: Horace Rumpole - What more can be said?
Review: Other than Sherlock Holmes, Horace Rumpole is arguably the best and most fully described character in crime fiction. The depth of his character, and indeed the whole ensemble of characters in the Rumpole stories, even outdoes those in the Peter Wimsey, Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple tales. We know Horace Rumpole as well as we know any friend or relative. We also know Hilda - she who must be obeyed. We know Guthrie, Claude Erskine-Brown, Liz Probert, Bollard. Need I go on. This could be due to Leo McKern's portrayal of Rumpole on television. It was such a tailor-made role that one wonders whether Rumpole defined McKern or McKern defined Rumpole. Be that as it may, we can never go wrong with a good Rumpole story. And any collection, such as this, will bring joy to those who like eccentric personalities and crime fiction. The crimes themselves are sometimes secondary to the interplay of the cast of characters. Enjoy, with a touch of Pomeroy's plonk - Chateau Thames Embankment.
Rating:
Summary: Never plead guilty!
Review: Well, I've read all the previous Rumpole collections, and seen all the PBS Rumpole episodes. I'm sure you're not surprised to hear that this one doesn't disappoint. One hundred years from now, people will still be reading Rumpole (even if Titmuss is unknown), just as we read Sherlock Holmes today. Why? Because Rumpole is a great character -- like all great characters of literature, he reminds us of ourself. Sure, we're not all lawyers, nor drink red wine to excess at the end of each day, nor enjoy reading from the Oxford Book of English Verse, nor are we all married (empty nest) and close to retirement. But, we know all the people he works with, and we are really Rumpole. You know it. My only regret reading this book is that it may be the last we see of Rumpole. I'd wish him a happy retirement, but I don't know what he'd do outside of chambers. Perhaps some pro bono work, with extended hours at Pommeroys.
Rating:
Summary: Another superb Rumpole collection
Review: Well, I've read all the previous Rumpole collections, and seen all the PBS Rumpole episodes. I'm sure you're not surprised to hear that this one doesn't disappoint. One hundred years from now, people will still be reading Rumpole (even if Titmuss is unknown), just as we read Sherlock Holmes today. Why? Because Rumpole is a great character -- like all great characters of literature, he reminds us of ourself. Sure, we're not all lawyers, nor drink red wine to excess at the end of each day, nor enjoy reading from the Oxford Book of English Verse, nor are we all married (empty nest) and close to retirement. But, we know all the people he works with, and we are really Rumpole. You know it. My only regret reading this book is that it may be the last we see of Rumpole. I'd wish him a happy retirement, but I don't know what he'd do outside of chambers. Perhaps some pro bono work, with extended hours at Pommeroys.
Rating:
Summary: Horace Rumpole: Irreverent--Eccentric--Irresistible
Review: With his marmelade-stained vest and his crumpled hat, and with a quotation from the "Oxford Book of English Verse" (Quiller-Couch Edition) never far from his lips, he has labored long in that field of bloodless verbal combat known as criminal trial practice. Because of his aversion to seeing folks "banged up in the nick," he (almost) always defends. His insights into trial practice, human nature, and the manipulation of opposing counsel are priceless. He fears no man, but he quakes in the presence of She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed (his wife). He is Horace Rumpole, the bane of judges and the champion of the Timsons, a large and industrious family of South-London villians. Not only a master advocate, Rumpole is a detective of the first order, and he usually solves the various mysteries he confronts with dispatch and good humor. Well written mysteries, excellent insight into human nature, dry British comedy, and a loveable character who has been labeled the best mock-heroic fatty since Falstaff--What more could a mystery lover or a reader of courtroom drama wish for? A "Fourth Rumpole Omnibus!"
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