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Rumpole of the Bailey #8
Rumpole a La Carte
A collection of Rumpole stories, by the barrister, novelist, screenwriter and dramatist, John Mortimer.
246 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
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About the author
John Mortimer
248 books228 followersJohn Clifford Mortimer was 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.
Series:
Rumpole of the Bailey
Rapstone Chronicles
Series:
Rumpole of the Bailey
Rapstone Chronicles
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
December 24, 2016
Don't let my low-ish rating on this one fool you. I love all of John Mortimer's Rumpole books!
It's just that this one doesn't reach the level of the others. Then again, it doesn't aspire to. The proof is pudding...or lack there of. You see, the "à la Carte" of the title is not only in reference to this novel's subject matter, it also pertains to the lack of substance. This is a long short story or perhaps as much as a novelette, but nothing more.
Few pages were necessary. There's no devilishly difficult crime to be solved here. In fact, there's barely a crime at all, just a situation in which a top chef's reputation is on the line. Foodie's may enjoy that aspect of Rumpole à la Carte. Most of the scenes take place within a restaurant. I love a little mystery and court drama. I also love food and will read/watch just about anything to do with restaurants and chefs. So if anything could've been more in my wheelhouse, it would've had a hard time trying!
Like the portions on the plates served up by Chef Jean Pierre O'Higgins, this skimpy novel provides light, yet tasty fare!
It's just that this one doesn't reach the level of the others. Then again, it doesn't aspire to. The proof is pudding...or lack there of. You see, the "à la Carte" of the title is not only in reference to this novel's subject matter, it also pertains to the lack of substance. This is a long short story or perhaps as much as a novelette, but nothing more.
Few pages were necessary. There's no devilishly difficult crime to be solved here. In fact, there's barely a crime at all, just a situation in which a top chef's reputation is on the line. Foodie's may enjoy that aspect of Rumpole à la Carte. Most of the scenes take place within a restaurant. I love a little mystery and court drama. I also love food and will read/watch just about anything to do with restaurants and chefs. So if anything could've been more in my wheelhouse, it would've had a hard time trying!
Like the portions on the plates served up by Chef Jean Pierre O'Higgins, this skimpy novel provides light, yet tasty fare!
December 21, 2024
"I consider any hour wasted which is not passed with a hand round a comforting glass of Château Thames Embankment in Pommeroy's haven of rest."
In RUMPOLE À LA CARTE, John Mortimer has served up a veritable smorgasbord of short snappy tales that are the very best that British courtroom humour has to offer. Whether it's criminal trials in the old Bailey or civil trials in Chancery division, Horace Rumpole takes on all comers with a trademarked irreverent disdain for the sanctity of the law, the court, the judiciary and his learned colleagues at the bar. And, God forbid, he even allows himself (mistakenly, after all is said and done) to indulge in a brief flirtation on the dark side with a brief as a prosecuting barrister. But, make no mistake, Rumpole's disarming attitude and appearance mask a razor sharp legal mind able to cut directly to the heart of the matter and an ability to draw on brutally cunning legal tactics which, for many American readers, will be reminiscent of the television detective, Columbo. He's portrayed as an acute barrister who's quite capable of thinking on his feet and taking full advantage of his opposition, the judge and, indeed, the jury with whatever tricks or twists of fate come his way.
Whether Rumpole is in court or lighting up a cigar and quaffing a glass of Chateau Fleet Street at his favourite after-hours haunt, Pommeroy's Wine Bar, Rumpole is accompanied by an endearing supporting cast that is an integral part of the amusing, indeed often hilarious stories that Mortimer has produced - Guthrie Featherstone QC MP, the stiffly starched and prissy (yet often philandering) head of chambers; Claude Erskine-Brown, the slightly looser barrister and his fair wife, the only female member of chambers, the eloquent and deeply feminist Phillida, known as the Portia of Equity Court; Liz Probert and poor old Uncle Tom; Rumpole's wife, Hilda, the imposing "She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed"; and Percy Timson, the patriarch of a widespread London family of low-level criminals whose bumbling failures are destined to keep Rumpole supplied with a steady stream of defense briefs for as long as he cares to work.
Hilarious brain candy guaranteed to take you away from the worries of the workaday world for a blissful all-too-short few hours. Highly recommended and always delightful.
Paul Weiss
In RUMPOLE À LA CARTE, John Mortimer has served up a veritable smorgasbord of short snappy tales that are the very best that British courtroom humour has to offer. Whether it's criminal trials in the old Bailey or civil trials in Chancery division, Horace Rumpole takes on all comers with a trademarked irreverent disdain for the sanctity of the law, the court, the judiciary and his learned colleagues at the bar. And, God forbid, he even allows himself (mistakenly, after all is said and done) to indulge in a brief flirtation on the dark side with a brief as a prosecuting barrister. But, make no mistake, Rumpole's disarming attitude and appearance mask a razor sharp legal mind able to cut directly to the heart of the matter and an ability to draw on brutally cunning legal tactics which, for many American readers, will be reminiscent of the television detective, Columbo. He's portrayed as an acute barrister who's quite capable of thinking on his feet and taking full advantage of his opposition, the judge and, indeed, the jury with whatever tricks or twists of fate come his way.
Whether Rumpole is in court or lighting up a cigar and quaffing a glass of Chateau Fleet Street at his favourite after-hours haunt, Pommeroy's Wine Bar, Rumpole is accompanied by an endearing supporting cast that is an integral part of the amusing, indeed often hilarious stories that Mortimer has produced - Guthrie Featherstone QC MP, the stiffly starched and prissy (yet often philandering) head of chambers; Claude Erskine-Brown, the slightly looser barrister and his fair wife, the only female member of chambers, the eloquent and deeply feminist Phillida, known as the Portia of Equity Court; Liz Probert and poor old Uncle Tom; Rumpole's wife, Hilda, the imposing "She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed"; and Percy Timson, the patriarch of a widespread London family of low-level criminals whose bumbling failures are destined to keep Rumpole supplied with a steady stream of defense briefs for as long as he cares to work.
Hilarious brain candy guaranteed to take you away from the worries of the workaday world for a blissful all-too-short few hours. Highly recommended and always delightful.
Paul Weiss
June 30, 2019
Rumpole A La Carte is one of many collections of short stories by John Mortimer featuring irrepressible barrister, Horace Rumpole, of Equity Court. This collection contains six novellas; Rumple a la Carte, Rumpole and the Summer of Discontent, Rumpole and Right to Silence, Rumpole at Sea, Rumpole and the Quacks, and Rumpole for the Prosecution.
Just as the other collections I've enjoyed so far, this selection of stories is excellent. There is Mortimer's dry humor and entertaining cases that Rumpole finds solutions for with his natural ability to find clues to come up with the answers that help him win the cases he defends. The stories follow a format but it doesn't really matter as it's a successful format.
Let's see. Rumpole takes on a case. Somehow related to the case (the theme that is), it also affects his relationship with his lovely wife, Hilda (aka She Who Must Be Obeyed) and it also affects relationships within his law practice. Regularly it seems that another of the barristers, Charles Erskine Brown is in some sort of difficulty with his wife, named Portia by Rumpole for her intelligence and beauty.
It's a successful format. Rumpole is a curmudgeon, somewhat set in his ways. He likes his wine and his steak and kidney pie. He loves his wife even with their foibles. The practice is peopled with an interesting group of barristers, from the head of the office, Soapy Ballard, to Uncle Tom who no longer actually practices but spends his time improving his putting in the clerks office and to the junior barristers who help Rumpole try his cases.
Each is interesting and solved with ingenuity and smarts. They are humorous and entertaining. We even get Rumpole breaking his one rule; Never be a prosecutor. Cozy, interesting and fun all around. If you've never tried a Rumpole, you don't know what you're missing. (4 stars)
Just as the other collections I've enjoyed so far, this selection of stories is excellent. There is Mortimer's dry humor and entertaining cases that Rumpole finds solutions for with his natural ability to find clues to come up with the answers that help him win the cases he defends. The stories follow a format but it doesn't really matter as it's a successful format.
Let's see. Rumpole takes on a case. Somehow related to the case (the theme that is), it also affects his relationship with his lovely wife, Hilda (aka She Who Must Be Obeyed) and it also affects relationships within his law practice. Regularly it seems that another of the barristers, Charles Erskine Brown is in some sort of difficulty with his wife, named Portia by Rumpole for her intelligence and beauty.
It's a successful format. Rumpole is a curmudgeon, somewhat set in his ways. He likes his wine and his steak and kidney pie. He loves his wife even with their foibles. The practice is peopled with an interesting group of barristers, from the head of the office, Soapy Ballard, to Uncle Tom who no longer actually practices but spends his time improving his putting in the clerks office and to the junior barristers who help Rumpole try his cases.
Each is interesting and solved with ingenuity and smarts. They are humorous and entertaining. We even get Rumpole breaking his one rule; Never be a prosecutor. Cozy, interesting and fun all around. If you've never tried a Rumpole, you don't know what you're missing. (4 stars)
April 21, 2020
Laugh-out-loud funny listening to the audiobook version during long walks with the doggo. Rumpole never fails to lift the spirit.
April 17, 2020
These stories scoff at foodies, secret societies, crime writers, etc.
November 10, 2022
My second Rumpole book and just as pleasing as the first. I've never seen a minute of the old BBC series, but I can see that I was missing some top-flight entertainment. Rumpole is a literary character of the highest order. Fat, drunk, flawed and hilarious.
February 26, 2017
Mortimer's descriptions of things and people are hysterical! For example, from page 14 - Rumpole's client, who runs a snooty French restaurant and whom Rumpole doesn't really care for, asked him "Is it my personality that puts you off?...Do you find me objectionable?" Rumpole replied - 'Mr. O'Higgins.' I decided to give judgment at length. "I think your restaurant pretentions and your portions skimpy. Your customers eat in a dim, religious atmosphere which seems to be more like Evensong than a good night out. You appear to be a self-opinionated and self-satisfied bully. I have known many murderers who could teach you a lesson in courtesy. However, Mr. Bernard tells me that you are prepared to pay my fee and, in accordance with the great traditions of the Bar, I am on hire to even the most unattractive customer."
From page 174 - "...Whatever might be said of her as a driver, Mrs Etheridge was a social menace. She was a generously built lady who, as she moved, clattered with what I believe is known as cotume jewellery and gave off a deafening smell of what she was at pains to tell me was Deadly Sins by St Just. Her hair was unconvincingly blonde and her make-up strove to represent the effect of too much sunbathing in Florida. She spoke as though she were trying to attract the attention of a deaf and uncooperative waiter on the far side of a noisy dining-room."
From page 174 - "...Whatever might be said of her as a driver, Mrs Etheridge was a social menace. She was a generously built lady who, as she moved, clattered with what I believe is known as cotume jewellery and gave off a deafening smell of what she was at pains to tell me was Deadly Sins by St Just. Her hair was unconvincingly blonde and her make-up strove to represent the effect of too much sunbathing in Florida. She spoke as though she were trying to attract the attention of a deaf and uncooperative waiter on the far side of a noisy dining-room."
May 28, 2010
[These notes were made in 1993:]. This is amusing and light stuff: six short stories featuring that gruff but highly competent barrister for the defence, Rumpole and his colleagues at the Temple. Mortimer is a skilful enough writer to give each story not only a shape but a theme - for instance, the title story is about food and eating, not only in its main plot, but in the subsidiary details. "Rumpole and the Summer of Discontent" is not only about a case of labour unrest, but about a personal strike mounted by Rumpole's wife, She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed. Mortimer's tendency to humorous exaggeration softens the inevitable political objectionableness of some of his protagonist's gruffer stands, and one ends up liking the old bastard after all. He does, in the end, have both a keen eye for, and a tolerance for, ordinary human failings. I enjoyed this quite a bit.
September 28, 2011
Barrister Horace Rumpole is obsessed with many things--Chateau Thames Embankment, small cigars, the poetry of Wordsworth, and, especially, the Golden Thread, the English tradition of preuming the innocence of suspects in court. These six stories feature this endearing character in all of his eccentricities. Just when all seems lost in his cases, Rumpole rises to the occasion at the Old Bailey to the dismay of both the prosecuting barristers and many judges. And just for good measure, Hilda Rumpole ("She Who Must Be Obeyed")is featured in several of the stories. The descriptions of the relationship between the long-married Rumpoles ring true. Rumpole may rule at the Old Bailey, but Hilda definitely has the upper hand at home.
March 3, 2008
I love these books! If you're an anglophile, like short stories, like mysteries, and love a curmudgeon who loves Wordsworth, cheap wine and the Old Bailey, this is for you. I purchased this and a couple of other Rumpole paperbacks just after Christmas on the discount cart at Dutton's Brentwood--Dutton's, soon to be extinct, alas. Although I already knew the stories, they were a pleasure to read again, and as I spent most of January sick with flu, Rumpole stayed beside me on my bedside table.
January 4, 2025
This was my first Rumpole and as soon as I read one story I knew I'd finally found a successor to Wodehouse. Oh my days is the narration ever funny. The similes are hilarious, as is Rumpole's gentle sarcasm. Mortimer can also get a point across in a simple, funny way, without bashing the reader over the head. This is going on my comfort read pile--I'm always going to need some Rumpole around to cheer me up.
October 25, 2014
Typical Rumpole, and that's a good thing. The biggest surprise is the final story, "Rumpole for the Prosecution." Yes, Rumpole goes against his principles and prosecutes a case. He realizes, about halfway through, that the accused, a thoroughly unpleasant and dishonest character, couldn't have possibly committed the crime. From that point on, he does his best to lose the case.
January 22, 2015
Six short stories featuring the always entertaining Rumpole of the Bailey. All of the stories were strong and the narration by Frederick Davidson was quite good.
April 9, 2025
I’ve read several of Mortimer’s books featuring the irascible, cigar-smoking Horace Rumpole, a barrister who loves Wordsworth’s poetry, privately refers to his wife, Hilda, as “she who must be obeyed.” But be careful about coming to snap judgments about this couple. If you delve into the series at all, you’ll learn that they do indeed love one another with that deep long-time marital love that may include a lot of grousing and grumping on his part and a lot of tuning him out on hers. Despite his grumpy old man motif, Rumpole is lovable, and you’ll enjoy his ability to put facts together to solve mysteries and win his cases.
This is a series of six short stories, and you needn’t have read any of the books in the series to enjoy these. They aren’t super short either. At 2.5X, each of these averages roughly 30 minutes long. That’s an average; don’t hold me to those exact numbers please.
In the title story, Horace and Hilda visit a swanky restaurant whose chef is bellicose and extremely talented. Problem is, Rumpole just wants a steak and kidney pudding and some mashed potatoes. You’re not gonna get that kind of working man’s meal at a place with many Michelin stars.
Rumpole makes such a scene that he’s nearly flung out of the place. There’s a major distraction, however, when, upon lifting the dish covers with a flourish the waiter and chef watch horrified as a small mouse runs out of one of the platters.
The case goes to court, and it’s up to Rumpole to figure out how the mouse got into the platter and who put it there. I enjoyed the first story immensely. When Hilda can take it no more, she leaves the old barrister, and his younger colleagues throw him a cheer-up party. There’s lots in here to make you smile.
In Rumpole and the Summer of Discontent, it seems the entire country is in turmoil. There are any number of strikes, and Rumpole’s wife even joins the ranks of the disaffected. He acquits a boisterous labor leader.
“Rumpole and the Right to Silence” is a fun story that looks at creative ways Rumpole engages in to clear a client who won’t speak for himself.
“Rumpole At Sea” finds the old barrister on a cruise. She Who Must be Obeyed is hoping for a rekindling of romance. Rumpole solves a mystery instead.
In “Rumpole and the Quacks,” you get a story that looks like Mortimer could have written it decades after he did. An attractive nurse accuses an Indian doctor practicing in England of engaging in sexual advances to her. Fired by the head of the practice, the doctor turns to Rumpole for legal help, and he gets it. Rumpole solves the mystery nicely, and everyone wins.
“Rumpole for the Prosecution” puts poor old Rumpole on the wrong side of the bench. They assign him to prosecute a case, and this is fun because he has a terrible time not acting like a defense lawyer.
This is a solid, representative collection of Rumpole stories you can enjoy regardless of your experience with the series.
This is a series of six short stories, and you needn’t have read any of the books in the series to enjoy these. They aren’t super short either. At 2.5X, each of these averages roughly 30 minutes long. That’s an average; don’t hold me to those exact numbers please.
In the title story, Horace and Hilda visit a swanky restaurant whose chef is bellicose and extremely talented. Problem is, Rumpole just wants a steak and kidney pudding and some mashed potatoes. You’re not gonna get that kind of working man’s meal at a place with many Michelin stars.
Rumpole makes such a scene that he’s nearly flung out of the place. There’s a major distraction, however, when, upon lifting the dish covers with a flourish the waiter and chef watch horrified as a small mouse runs out of one of the platters.
The case goes to court, and it’s up to Rumpole to figure out how the mouse got into the platter and who put it there. I enjoyed the first story immensely. When Hilda can take it no more, she leaves the old barrister, and his younger colleagues throw him a cheer-up party. There’s lots in here to make you smile.
In Rumpole and the Summer of Discontent, it seems the entire country is in turmoil. There are any number of strikes, and Rumpole’s wife even joins the ranks of the disaffected. He acquits a boisterous labor leader.
“Rumpole and the Right to Silence” is a fun story that looks at creative ways Rumpole engages in to clear a client who won’t speak for himself.
“Rumpole At Sea” finds the old barrister on a cruise. She Who Must be Obeyed is hoping for a rekindling of romance. Rumpole solves a mystery instead.
In “Rumpole and the Quacks,” you get a story that looks like Mortimer could have written it decades after he did. An attractive nurse accuses an Indian doctor practicing in England of engaging in sexual advances to her. Fired by the head of the practice, the doctor turns to Rumpole for legal help, and he gets it. Rumpole solves the mystery nicely, and everyone wins.
“Rumpole for the Prosecution” puts poor old Rumpole on the wrong side of the bench. They assign him to prosecute a case, and this is fun because he has a terrible time not acting like a defense lawyer.
This is a solid, representative collection of Rumpole stories you can enjoy regardless of your experience with the series.
March 10, 2018
Always loved Rumpole on PBS, and now reading the books about Rumpole really relaxed me. I was going for nature watch in Tennessee and decided this was the right light reading to bring along. Rumpole A La Carte, six short stories, which you can easily put down after each story and enjoy one's vacation and then rejoin the book afterwards. Rumpole is indeed a lovable character, a kind curmudgeon, with lots of wit and touching irony. The usual characters are here, She Who Must Be Obeyed, Soapy Sam, Cretinous Claude and Portia their female barrister. Well written and a pleasure to read.
February 21, 2023
"Rumpole à la Carte" - A mouse in a fancy restaurant. Won.
"Rumpole and the Summer of Discontent" - Strikes everywhere. Won.
"Rumpole and the Right to Silence" - Secret society. Secret bag. Won.
"Rumpole at Sea" - Cat and mouse between Rumpole, Justice Grave and a passenger's wife.
"Rumpole and the Quacks" - A doctor accused of misconduct. Won, with a twist.
"Rumpole for the Prosecution" - Rumpole tried & failed at being a prosecutor.
Narrated by Rob Inglis.
"Rumpole and the Summer of Discontent" - Strikes everywhere. Won.
"Rumpole and the Right to Silence" - Secret society. Secret bag. Won.
"Rumpole at Sea" - Cat and mouse between Rumpole, Justice Grave and a passenger's wife.
"Rumpole and the Quacks" - A doctor accused of misconduct. Won, with a twist.
"Rumpole for the Prosecution" - Rumpole tried & failed at being a prosecutor.
Narrated by Rob Inglis.
November 28, 2018
This was an audio that I listened to and they are interesting once I get used to the English accent. I'm not sure it would half as enjoyable reading without Rumpole's voice. I should try the books as they are a series and I didn't realize that either...this was #8.....that may explain why I didn't quite get the 'gist' right off the bat.
September 19, 2020
Fortuitous discovery upon attempting to clear the shed! The incorrigible Rumpole takes on celebrity chefs of the brattish sort, goes cruising with She and battles, as ever, against injustice, his ineffectual Head of Chambers, Soapy Sam Bollard and an array of judicial beasts who stalk the Old Bailey. This has to be a re-read but a highly enjoyable one.
August 3, 2023
At times slow and some of the six tales have repetitive bits such as Rumpole's relationship with his wife Hilda, discussions with his colleagues Ballard and Erskine-Brown, and his scorn for some of the judges who sit on Rumpole's cases. On the other hand, there are many humorous scenes, and Rumpole always seems to succeed at his goal of doing his best for his accused clients.
July 14, 2017
Another wonderful collection of decency and the putting down of pretension in a delightfully comic form. Also satirically insightful into the English Legal System. Superb central characters and a nice mixture of cleverly constructed and groaningly contrived plot lines.
October 17, 2017
Rumpole even takes a turn for the prosecution in one of these six short stories. In each of them he manages to ferret out the truth as only he can. It isn't always pretty, but it's always entertaining!
May 9, 2018
Didn't finish this. I get that it's supposed to be funny, and it is sometimes, but a lot of the humor seems so specific to the vagaries of the English legal system that it didn't quite work for me. I'll bet the TV series would be better for me; I believe this prose is meant to be heard out loud.
November 22, 2018
Wow....I had never read one of his books--only seen the BBC productions----these stories are brilliant---you can hear Leo McKern voicing the one-liners exactly as written...I am definitely finding the rest of his series to read.....John Mortimer was a brilliant writer.
December 27, 2019
How am I just discovering Rumpole? Hilarious. I have seen a show or 2 on PBS in the past, but I will now make it my mission to read all the books! They are compilations of short stories, and wonderful!
September 27, 2020
An Archie Bunker sort of character in modern English lawcourts who seeks to defend those charged to the best of his ability. In this 8th book of short stories, Rumpole is enlightened enough to be engaging and humorous, helped by a community active spouse and college professor son.
November 5, 2023
Great fun mostly read on the train. It’s all about the observation and flaws of hubris undone by the wily barristers.
I wish if I ever need a defence lawyer I find his like.
The triumph of justice over the law.
I wish if I ever need a defence lawyer I find his like.
The triumph of justice over the law.
September 16, 2025
A bunch of shortish stories full of wit and character - and characters - all written with Mortimer's well-known style. Very readable.
The only story I felt I missed the point in was Rumpole at sea - maybe I need to read it again.
The only story I felt I missed the point in was Rumpole at sea - maybe I need to read it again.
January 13, 2017
Charming and clever little mysteries centered around a loveably grumpy old barrister. Bonus: I think I finally understand the difference between a barrister and a solicitor.
February 26, 2018
Got this at Book Off for $1.
May 26, 2018
Grateful to find a Rumpole collection I hadn’t read before. Most of what I love about British culture is to be found in Rumpole.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews