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Rumpole of the Bailey #omnibus
The Third Rumpole Omnibus
This compilation of witty mysteries captures John Mortimer?s deft writing. Rumpole a la Carte, a delightful discourse on the British legal system, takes us from a restaurant battle over Rumpole?s mashed spuds to a confrontation with a detective-novelist on a ship. The zany yarns of Rumpole on Trial are ingenious: devil worshippers, Juvenile Court, a mysterious seductress searching for a barrister to defend her husband for a murder not yet committed, and courtroom strategies a little too lunatic force Rumpole to face the Disciplinary Committee of the Bar Council. Rumpole and the Angel of Death offers a comic commentary on cruelty to animals, human rights, and the fallibility of the justice system. The Third Rumpole Omnibus promises insight and laughter from the barrister who?s "as much a detective as Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot" (The Boston Sunday Globe).
739 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
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166 people want to read
About the author
John Mortimer
252 books232 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 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 21, 2025
This is the third of the Rumpole Omnibuses, and while the writing remains of the highest quality, I’m knocking a star off for two reasons. Firstly, some of the stories in this volume feel a little predictable — still entertaining, but lacking the sharper twists and freshness of earlier collections. But the second reason is the real clincher: Rumpole and the Way Through the Woods. Having read a biography of John Mortimer, I’m aware of how strongly he supported blood sports, and that attitude is on full display here. There’s a smugness to the way it’s written — as if behaving badly is perfectly valid so long as you're enjoying yourself, and the real crime is having someone point it out. In the story, he tries to ameliorate things by having Rumpole bond with a couple of dogs — but it doesn’t wash. For someone who opposed the death penalty on the grounds that it was the mark of an uncivilised society, Mortimer should have recognised that blood sports, too, are deeply uncivilised and serve only to debase the society that permits them.
'Genuine beliefs seem to end up... stopping people living as they choose,' says Rumpole — a sentiment that sounds strikingly libertarian, and one Trump and his political cohort would no doubt endorse. It’s a curious stance for an author aligned with the political left. Of course, it's more defensible if grounded in the Golden Rule. But even then, it leads to thorny moral dilemmas. What if someone 'chooses' to torture animals? Should that be protected under personal liberty? Mortimer obviously thought, yes - fox hunting is a form of animal torture.
Mortimer was someone who loved applause and being feted — the sound of admiration, not dissent. However badly he behaved behind the scenes, public approval mattered. Booing, then, wasn’t just an intrusion — it was a rupture in the illusion, and possibly a reminder of what he preferred not to confront.
This said, the stories are brilliantly written. All that's left is to separate the man from the work.
And so ends a month of Rumpole. And what a joyous month it's been. The wit, the drama, the thrills, spills, trials and tears. All wrapped up in one (small) cigar-smoking, wine-quaffing, poetry-reciting, henpecked, white wig-wearing wordsmith. Genius.
'Genuine beliefs seem to end up... stopping people living as they choose,' says Rumpole — a sentiment that sounds strikingly libertarian, and one Trump and his political cohort would no doubt endorse. It’s a curious stance for an author aligned with the political left. Of course, it's more defensible if grounded in the Golden Rule. But even then, it leads to thorny moral dilemmas. What if someone 'chooses' to torture animals? Should that be protected under personal liberty? Mortimer obviously thought, yes - fox hunting is a form of animal torture.
Mortimer was someone who loved applause and being feted — the sound of admiration, not dissent. However badly he behaved behind the scenes, public approval mattered. Booing, then, wasn’t just an intrusion — it was a rupture in the illusion, and possibly a reminder of what he preferred not to confront.
This said, the stories are brilliantly written. All that's left is to separate the man from the work.
And so ends a month of Rumpole. And what a joyous month it's been. The wit, the drama, the thrills, spills, trials and tears. All wrapped up in one (small) cigar-smoking, wine-quaffing, poetry-reciting, henpecked, white wig-wearing wordsmith. Genius.
October 9, 2016
As usual, this Omnibus of short stories is a fun read. Rumpole always gets the upper hand and does so with a great deal of wit. Some of the stories are laugh-out-loud funny in parts and they're like reading a good detective/legal cozy in compacted form. If you like Rumpole, this is certainly worth the time (it's a long one)
September 10, 2022
I didn’t enjoy the last book as much for whatever reason.
March 8, 2018
Lots of Rumpole tales for a reader's enjoyment and I loved reading them. The characters, Rumpole, and his wife, She Who Must Be Obeyed, are such eccentric and lovable individuals what's not to like about these stories.
The book is divided into three sections: Rumpole and the Age of Miracles, Rumpole a la Carte and Rumpole and the Angel of Death. Each section has a variety of stories. My favorites were "Hilda's Story" which is told by Rumpole's wife who essentially takes the lead in solving the case about the individual which Rumpole must defend and Rumpole and the Rights of Man in which he defends a man who supposedly murdered another. The man is convicted but Rumpole manages to get the conviction overturned at the highest level. However, it seems that man was involved in some nefarious dealings that upset the government's case.
Rumpole and the Angel of Death was a heart warming tale. A very good friend dies suddenly. He has been losing his mind but had days that his friends cherished when they could share memories of past good times. A wonderful doctor friend who believes in managed death is accused of his demise. Rumpole finds himself defending the doctor to the consternation of Hilda and her friends who believe the doctor is guilty. It is up to Rumpole to decide if she is and defend her to the best of his ability. Very good book!
The book is divided into three sections: Rumpole and the Age of Miracles, Rumpole a la Carte and Rumpole and the Angel of Death. Each section has a variety of stories. My favorites were "Hilda's Story" which is told by Rumpole's wife who essentially takes the lead in solving the case about the individual which Rumpole must defend and Rumpole and the Rights of Man in which he defends a man who supposedly murdered another. The man is convicted but Rumpole manages to get the conviction overturned at the highest level. However, it seems that man was involved in some nefarious dealings that upset the government's case.
Rumpole and the Angel of Death was a heart warming tale. A very good friend dies suddenly. He has been losing his mind but had days that his friends cherished when they could share memories of past good times. A wonderful doctor friend who believes in managed death is accused of his demise. Rumpole finds himself defending the doctor to the consternation of Hilda and her friends who believe the doctor is guilty. It is up to Rumpole to decide if she is and defend her to the best of his ability. Very good book!
February 22, 2015
This volume of short stories featuring the inimitable Horace Rumpole contains three books - Rumpole and the Age of Miracles, Rumpole a la Carte and Rumpole and the Angel of Death. Seven of the stories published here also appear in the collections - Forever Rumpole and the Collected stories of Rumpole. If you're hoping to obtain all the Rumpole stories in e-book format you will currently (2015) be disappointed as twelve of the stories in The Third Rumpole omnibus do not appear in any of the e-book editions and nor do some of the stories featured in the next volume - Rumpole on Trial.
However, whichever format you read Rumpole in he still retains his appeal as far as I'm concerned. They are real comfort reading and I have read and re-read all the stories many times and they remain as fresh and as entertaining as the first time I read them. Rumpole himself is always in search of truth and justice and on many occasions he finds them somehow. He is not above influencing proceedings himself if he can do so without getting caught - as in Rumpole and the Age of Miracles.
He is also constantly scheming and plotting to maintain the status quo in chambers when anything or anyone threatens to start the wind of change blowing for any reason. These stories are unique in that they are not wholly crime or mystery stories and they are not really comedy. Many of them are amusing but just when you've settled down to be amused and to chuckle over the marvellous descriptions of circumstances and people you come across a story which is poignant, serious and very true to life.
These are marvellous stories of life and crime and treasure my volumes of Rumpole stories for those days when nothing else will do.
However, whichever format you read Rumpole in he still retains his appeal as far as I'm concerned. They are real comfort reading and I have read and re-read all the stories many times and they remain as fresh and as entertaining as the first time I read them. Rumpole himself is always in search of truth and justice and on many occasions he finds them somehow. He is not above influencing proceedings himself if he can do so without getting caught - as in Rumpole and the Age of Miracles.
He is also constantly scheming and plotting to maintain the status quo in chambers when anything or anyone threatens to start the wind of change blowing for any reason. These stories are unique in that they are not wholly crime or mystery stories and they are not really comedy. Many of them are amusing but just when you've settled down to be amused and to chuckle over the marvellous descriptions of circumstances and people you come across a story which is poignant, serious and very true to life.
These are marvellous stories of life and crime and treasure my volumes of Rumpole stories for those days when nothing else will do.
December 8, 2019
What a comfort it was to spend the summer with Rumpole's voice in my ear.
January 11, 2018
Disappointing, because the most excellent PBS series "Rumpole of the Bailey" was so much more entertaining than the writing here, which is admittedly good. The subject lends itself better to drama.
Add a star or two if you haven't seen the television series, or if you are a novice to the legal system and are interested in learning (mostly criminal, not civil, law). Of course, Rumpole practices in the British system, but it is similar (as father) to that of the US in fundamental principles and many details. And the British legal profession is rather differently organized at the lower levels. For example, it seems that solicitors are lawyers who initiate legal cases, and barristers like Rumpole are lawyers who work in the courtroom. I'm against it, but so it is.
Mortimer captures well the various foibles of his characters on both sides of the law, mostly lawyers, judges and petty criminals. And of his wife Hilda, She Who Must Be Obeyed.
The Rumpole of the TV series, the late Leo McKern, was the perfect Rumpole. The remaining cast was wonderful also. Apparently the BBC made 42 episodes, but I don't recall that PBS ran that many. Netflix has them. Recommended easily over the books.
Add a star or two if you haven't seen the television series, or if you are a novice to the legal system and are interested in learning (mostly criminal, not civil, law). Of course, Rumpole practices in the British system, but it is similar (as father) to that of the US in fundamental principles and many details. And the British legal profession is rather differently organized at the lower levels. For example, it seems that solicitors are lawyers who initiate legal cases, and barristers like Rumpole are lawyers who work in the courtroom. I'm against it, but so it is.
Mortimer captures well the various foibles of his characters on both sides of the law, mostly lawyers, judges and petty criminals. And of his wife Hilda, She Who Must Be Obeyed.
The Rumpole of the TV series, the late Leo McKern, was the perfect Rumpole. The remaining cast was wonderful also. Apparently the BBC made 42 episodes, but I don't recall that PBS ran that many. Netflix has them. Recommended easily over the books.
February 6, 2023
For fans of Rumpole, especially as embodied by the late fine actor Leo McKern, for those who also loved the video series, little needs be said. All the delights are here - the barrister's endless duels with the forces of repression and sanctimony - prosecutorial judges down the Old Bailey, Soapy Sam, his head of chambers, and his long-suffering and at times insufferable wife Hilda. Yet what I most enjoy about his character is his honesty and self-awareness. While he is not above using a few tricks to defend his clients (as well as his colleague Erskine-Brown, their clerk Henry, and others who get their foot in it), his compassion also extends to everyone else whose own character flaws, foibles, or simple fate lands them in hot water, even Hilda. He is well aware of his own limitations in the Cosmic Lottery, as well as where those limitations have left him on life's stage - a portly, aging Old Bailey hack living in the Froxbury Mansions on the Gloucester Road with She Who Must Be Obeyed, his main sources of comfort the English poets and daily glasses of Pommeroy's plonk. That stoic acceptance seems to be the source of his compassion for others, and his efforts to defend them all makes him rather heroic in my mind.
June 11, 2024
I don't usually give five star reviews but John Mortimer's character of Rumpole is quite a joy to spend time with. I love the dry humour but also the gravitas towards the law and the presumption of innocence which is a thread that wends its way through each adventure. I am sure that the character is an amalgam of people who John Mortimer knew but I also love the dialogue and the other characters who inhabit this literary universe. The character descriptions are such that you can imagine each of the characters on their own. I'm only sad that the stories end with this final omnibus.
December 8, 2020
If there exists a list of The Most Underrated Writers Writing in English, John Mortimer should be on it. He’s always a delight to read. I took so long to read this 700+-page book because, once I finished, I immediately returned to page 1 and began reading it again. How many books can say that about? Unfortunately, both Mortimer and Rumpole are dead and gone, so cherish what we have.
November 30, 2017
Excellent
December 9, 2018
The best of all the omnibuses (omnibi?)
January 1, 2020
Great and funny short reads
February 4, 2021
John Mortimer is a freaking genius, and Rumpole may be my favorite fictional character of all time. That's my review.
June 20, 2021
A nice, fat feast of Rumpole tales. How delightfully clever Mr. Mortimer is. What a memorable character is Rumpole.
October 3, 2025
Just one of the great literary characters ever created. He shows a sensibility and humanist side of the law while highlighting the basic venality of the profession.
April 10, 2023
Rumpole, a man who accepts his lot and life and looks like he actually enjoys it. Both the books and the TV series are excellent, Rumpole in the latter wonderfully played by Leo Mckern. A splendid Old Baily hack that you would be happy to defend you in a time of need.
February 4, 2008
Whether you're a lawyer or not Rumpole is great. Tremendously funny and irreverent too. The barrister who never lost a case - well, he might have done, but to know that for sure you'd have to read his stories - something I would recommend.
March 25, 2009
I would always watch Rumpole on PBS with my dad when I was growing up. These are just short stories/mysteries. I love them because they are so British and because they remind me of my dad.
March 3, 2011
Great!!!!
May 11, 2011
Awesome
October 16, 2011
Rumpole on top form as usual. Great collection.
April 9, 2013
As one reviewer once said, “Rumpole is hilarious brain candy”. After reading this collection of stories and chuckling aloud you will probably nod your head in agreement.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews