The Trials of Rumpole

Rumpole of the Bailey #2

by John Mortimer

The iconoclastic Horace Rumpole returns in a collection of six tales in which the irreverent barrister takes on a half-dozen memorable cases.

These six stories include:
Rumpole and the Man of God.
Rumpole and the Showfolk.
Rumpole and the Fascist Beast.
Rumpole and the Case of Identity.
Rumpole and the Course of True Love.
Rumpole and the Age for Retirement.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Humor, Short Stories, Crime, Audiobook, Law

205 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

John 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

Reviews

[Jason Koivu · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's an old shoe familiarity to these Rumpole books that suits me just fine.

Rumpole, a barrister in London's Old Bailey, is a lovable curmudgeon. Yet John Mortimer has also portrayed his main character as a sort of knight in shining armor. The knighthood validity is questionable and the armor secondhand, but the point is, he gets to the truth and prevails, even if it means finding a known criminal innocent of the current crime he's been charged with. Sometimes the truth results in an outcome that isn't what Rumpole himself would desire, but that's life, and life is drawn up rather realistically in this otherwise humorous, and occasionally farcical, series.

With Rumpole books you get crime, courtroom drama, cheeky humor, quick yet insightful character studies and a nice slice of life from the various strata of London society circa the 1960s to '80s-ish. Often Rumpole is defending "the lower orders", the criminal class as it were. That's his forte. He doesn't mind if a little blood is involved in his cases, in fact he kind of prefers it that way. Another lovable trait for the reader to latch on to!

In The Trials of Rumpole, the second book in the series, Horace Rumpole relays a few of his memorable cases in short story form. Mortimer does a smart job of tying them together enough to make them feel linear, as if you're reading a single, homogeneous novel.

Another clever move on Mortimer's part was to make each of these books (at least the half dozen or so I've read) all self-contained. So, if you've never read a Rumpole book, you can go ahead and start with whichever one you find first. Sure, Rumpole will reference some past trial and it might make you feel like you're missing out on backstory. Don't worry about it, the old curmudgeon always does that. Like the typical elderly gentleman on the brink of retirement, he likes to reminisce about his past triumphs, some of which never actually play out within the series pages. So sit back, slip on that old shoe and enjoy the tale!

[Mientras Leo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mortimer siempre me hace gracia, incluso cuando roban camisetas

[Julie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

#82 - 2010.

I haven't picked these up for years but am vastly enjoying John Mortimer's turn of phrase which so eloquently draws a portrait of Rumpole and his trials both in court and in personal life. I had forgotten until rereading these that there are always two to three plots in each story, no small feat. The main trail, office politics, and home life all have a linked theme and yet each can stand on its own, often in a humorous way. If you haven't ever read one of the Rumpole books, then do give them a try. You needn't read them in order, although there is character development from book to book of friends and coworkers (and even of villains defended, like the Timson family).

[Loretta · Rating 5 out of 5]

How marvelous! I am such a Rumpole fan! Grew up listening to Rumpole mysteries on BBC and PBS (yep!) and to my mother reading the mysteries aloud. I haven't taken the opportunity to re-read or listen to his tales in a long time and have found a great joy in listening to the Trials of Rumpole.

These four tales are so true to nature that I can't help but enjoy the manner in which he attacks life in the courts. A mystery lover's classic.

[Fernando · Rating 4 out of 5]

No conocía a este singular y entrañable abogado defensor de gran sentido común y mejor sentido del humor. Libro que me ha hecho muy buena compañía y ha superado mis expectativas.

[Pamela Shropshire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another collection of short stories starring Horace Rumpole, criminal barrister, aka Old Bailey Hack, as he does his part to uphold justice.

Mortimer is a late-20th century, liberal Wodehouse; or, perhaps it would be more accurate to say that Mortimer’s Rumpole is a late-20th century, liberal Bertie Wooster. Consider this passage:

...that evening an event of unearthly, not to say spooky significance occurred in Casa Rumpole, 25B Froxbury Court in the Gloucester Road. I was sitting by the electric fire, reading the depositions in a promising little indecent assault and taking a bedtime bracer of the old and Tawney, when the house was riven by the sound of a rich contralto voice raised in what seemed to be some devout ditty.

The Lord God Omnipotent...
The Lord God Omnipotent...
The Lord God Omnipotent...

sang what I first took for the ghost of some member of the Bach Choir, justifiably murdered long ago in Froxbury Court.

In one story that could have been written just this year instead of 30+ years ago, titled Rumpole and the Fascist Beast, Rumpole defends a man accused of offending under the Race Relations Act. The man is clearly a racist, but he is entitled to counsel and Rumpole quotes Voltaire to the jury - “I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” We need more reading and emulating Voltaire these days, IMO.

Another good one is the final story, Rumpole and the Age for Retirement. Everyone else is determined that Rumpole is getting past it and should go out to pasture; coincidentally, Rumpole is defending an aging career crook whose family has decided he should retire and in aid of this cause, planted a piece of stolen art in his garage and then so informed the constabulary. The only problem is that said artwork is a priceless Italian master and no one in the family was sophisticated enough to realize its worth. After winning his case, Rumpole is lured to a dinner that is supposed to herald his retirement; only he turns the tables and refuses to retire.

But my favorite story in this collection is Rumpole and the Case of Identity. Rumpole shows that, for all his anarchist tendencies, is at heart, and soft-hearted at that, a rather conventional, if enlightened, Englishman. Highly enjoyable!

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

While other actors have essayed the role of weary barrister Horace Rumpole at various stages of his career, for me -- and so many others -- it's Leo McKern who's the definitive Horace Rumpole, all high-handed plumy tones, weary sarcasm, and cheerful cynicism. While his performance as Rumpole on the television screen is how most know him, he's equally at home reading these stories by Rumpole creator John Mortimer, regaling the listener with events, observations, and Rumpole's often third-person internal grumblings. These stories occupy somewhat of the same space as P. G. Wodehouse, but here you'll find less outright whimsy and more direct darkness in the form of some of Rumpole's sometimes dangerous clientele. This audio set only includes two of the stories from the book, butthey seem likely to bear up to repeated listening.

[Sid Nuncius · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book of Rumpole stories, adapted by John Mortimer from his scripts for the TV series, and it’s as entertaining as the first – with some quite serious issued beneath the amusing surface.

Rumpole’s narrative voice remains a delight; he is still the crusty old cigar-smoking, sceptic of healthy eating, quaffer of Chateau Fleet Street at Pommeroy’s, quoter from The Oxford Book Of English Verse (the Quiller-Couch edition, of course), wily old courtroom advocate – and bastion of realism and defender of the underdog. These half-dozen cases are varied and tackle a range of issues, some of which are very serious matters – racism, police malpractice and the sexual exploitation of an underage girl, for example. While Mortimer never makes light of them, the attitudes of the period were more lax in these areas it is interesting (and to me, gratifying) to see how much more unacceptable they now are than they were in 1979.

These stories remain a sheer pleasure to read. Very warmly recommended.

[JZ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories in this book are charmingly narrated by Frederick Davidson. He makes them even better than if I had read them to myself.

I had forgotten how reflective of my own political views these stories are. I'd like to drink a glass or two with Horace.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good stories.

[Illiterate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rumple is a grouch but also a champion of the rights of the accused and a scourge of the establishment.

[Chrissie]

******************
*Paradise Postponed 4 stars
*Rumpole of the Bailey TBR
*The Trials of Rumpole TBR

[Enrojecerse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Si me pidieran, ahora mismo, alguna recomendación para el próximo confinamiento, sin lugar a dudas, una de ellas sería “Los juicios de Rumpole”.

No es un libro profundo en el que se hable de emociones: es un libro, simplemente, que te hace reír. Y no infravaloremos la risa: en mi opinión, cuesta más encontrar una historia que te haga llegar a la carcajada que al llanto. Así que sí, Mortimer me ha cautivado con su poder de seducción verbal y sus construcciones irónicas, su tono sobrepasado y su inteligencia.

El libro está compuesto por cinco cuentos y en cada uno de los relatos aparece la figura de Horace Rumpole, un abogado criminalista bastante peculiar y conocido en el sector.
A lo largo de la obra, y muy de vez en cuando, el personaje deja de ser tratado en primera persona para, de golpe, ser tratado en tercera; de esa manera el autor nos muestra, desde fuera, las quejas que Rumpole tiene y las dudas que le reconcomen. La figura del figurante, vaya.

Los casos no son lo más atractivo de cada cuento (que también, puesto que no son ni típicos ni aburridos); para mí, lo que realmente no tiene desperdicio es la caracterización del señor Rumpole. Está dotado de cinismo, de soberbia, de imprudencia mental, de confianza y de gracia. De mucha gracia. No solo sabe explicar cómo defender a cada cliente sino que además sabe cómo sacar de sus casillas a todo el mundo. Junto a “Ella, la que ha de ser obedecida” (su mujer, que así la llama), veremos a un protagonista seguro de sí mismo que irá del caso más frío y aburrido al más íntimo y personal.

Sé que hay una serie de obras que forman la saga “Rumpole”, como también una adaptación cinematográfica. Recurriré a ellas en días tristes. Superación de penas asegurada.

[Martin Hernandez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Debo confesar que me hice de este libro porque la descripción de la contraportada me pareció divertida y, sobre todo, porque estaba de descuento!
Ignoraba que este personaje nació en una serie británica de TV (al contrario de lo que normalmente sucede), que debió haber sido muy popular, pues del programa de televisión se derivaron los libros, que suman un par de decenas. Este volumen en particular es el segundo libro, y consiste en una colección de seis cuentos donde Rumpole, un pintoresco abogado anciano que se dedica a defender a toda una variedad de personajes desfavorecidos (aunque no necesariamente inocentes), que con frecuencia sale victorioso gracias a su astucia para aprovechar las circunstancias de la corte, para atraer las simpatías del jurado y explotar varias argucias (a veces no tan) legales.
Una lectura ligera, generalmente divertida (morí de la risa con el mote de Hilda, la esposa de Rumpole: "Ella, La Que Ha De Ser Obedecida"...), adecuada para terminar el día acompañado de una botana no-saludable y una copita de vino barato ;)

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed meeting Rumpole and his wife “She Who Must Be Obeyed” in this second book (yes, I didn’t read the first yet ;) This collection of short stories was humorous and kept my attention throughout! I enjoyed listening to a mystery book as told from a lawyer’s point of view rather than an investigative point of view…I will continue with this series! 📚❤️

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoying these stories and characters!

[Carla]

Really funny…almost Wodehousian in places as this poetry-quoting barrister shows his stuff. Many times, i laughed out loud.

[Cristina · Rating 2 out of 5]

“¿Quieres decir que eres como el quinto marido de una estrella de cine? Sabes lo que se espera de ti, pero no sabes cómo apañártelas para que parezca la primera vez.”

[Gonzalo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horace Rumpole no es solo un abogado; es un personaje inolvidable, un hombre de toga y peluca que en los tribunales del Reino Unido encuentra la verdadera esencia de la vida. En Los juicios de Rumpole, John Mortimer despliega un mundo de ironía, humor y humanidad, donde cada caso es un reflejo de nuestras pasiones, miserias y convicciones más profundas. Acompañar a Rumpole en su andadura por los tribunales es mucho más que leer sobre leyes: es una lección de vida vestida de fino humor inglés.









Los juicios de Rumpole es el segundo volumen de la colección de relatos publicados por John Mortimer tomando como referencia la figura de su padre, un portentoso abogado, y sus propias experiencias en los Tribunales del Reino Unido.



John Mortimer (1923-2009) fue un notable jurista consagrado a la defensa de la libertad de expresión, labor en la que tuvo que emplearse a fondo como abogado de clientes como los Sex Pistols o de la revista satírica británica Oz, en cuya campaña de defensa también participó John Lennon, publicando su canción Do the Oz y God Save Oz.



Pero la vida de Mortimer, por fortuna para los amantes de la buena literatura, no quedó limitada a su faceta jurídica. Ya durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial fue excluido del servicio en primera línea por sus problemas de visión y pulmonares, lo que le llevó de manera indirecta al programa militar dedicado a la producción de documentales que trataban de enardecer y fomentar la resistencia de los británicos. Su labor como guionista le familiarizó con un medio al que volvería en el futuro.



Precisamente, su experiencia en la Crown Film Unit le sirvió de inspiración para su primera novela y, posteriormente, debutó en la BBC con un serial en el que dramatizaba otra de sus novelas. El siguiente paso fue su colaboración como guionista en diversos guiones para la radio o televisión, lo que le apartó de su carrera novelística. En 1975, su guión para un capítulo de una conocida serie británica, vió nacer a Horace Rumpole, el personaje que terminaría por tener su propia serie, una de las más longevas y reconocidas de la televisión pública británica.



Precisamente, Mortimer tomó estos guiones como base para la posterior elaboración de relatos que fue publicando sucesivamente, tras cada una de las temporadas de la serie televisiva. Se trata, por tanto, de un caso excepcional, en el que la obra literaria es resultado de un éxito televisivo previo.



Aquí nos centraremos exclusivamente en los relatos dejando al margen los correspondientes capítulos televisivos, disponibles para quien lo desee en Youtube. Y lo primero que se debe destacar es el tono ligero que adopta el autor, en línea con la larga tradición británica en lo que ha venido a denominarse de una manera algo vaga y genérica como humor inglés, pero que no consiste en otra cosa que aceptar como naturales hechos que, para otros ojos, podrían resultar inquietantes. Así, este estilo permite desgranar una profunda crítica social sin derribar los cimientos en que aquélla se basa, pero ayudando al lector a cuestionarse cuanto acontece y extrapolarlo más allá del libro y su argumento.



Rumpole es un letrado obeso, entrado en la madurez, tan preocupado por las leyes como por las tinajas de vino que consume con generosidad junto a otros compañeros de su prestigioso despacho, para disgusto de su esposa, Hilda, "ella, a la que se debe obedecer" tal y como el temeroso Rumpole la nombra. Hilda era la hija del fundador del bufete y Rumpole un prometedor abogado con una carrera brillante que parecía asegurarle el papel de próximo director del despacho, aupado además por el matrimonio con la hija del jefe. No obstante, la desidia para los asuntos de la vida cotidiana, una pereza endémica para algo que no se a rugir bajo una peluca bien bañada en polvos de talco y una falta absoluta de ambición, truncan los planes de la esposa laboriosa.



Porque la vida para Rumpole es aquello que se ve y aprecia en la sala de un tribunal, es lo que resulta de los interrogatorios que todos sus oponentes temen, Rumpole interrogando es como una apisonadora a noventa kilómetros por hora tal y como aseguran sus rivales. Lo que ocurre en la sala de juicios y lo que queda reflejado en autos es lo único que importa. Y las lecciones que extrae desde el estrado son las que aplica para comprender la vida que se extiende más allá de la puerta del Old Bailey, el viejo Tribunal Penal del Reino Unido.



Rumpole se enfrenta a sus casos con una mezcla de la pericia deductiva de Holmes y una intuición y conocimiento del alma humana propias del padre Brown. Y así, es capaz de olisquear cualquier duda de su interrogado, cualquier aleteo apenas perceptible de sus fosas nasales delatando el punto exacto al que Rumpole se lanzará a degüello.



Entre sus firmes e inquebrantables convicciones se encuentra la de la presunción de inocencia, esa creencia que exige que no solo se condene al culpable, sino tan solo a quien puede ser acreditado como tal mediante un proceso que garantice los derechos del acusado. Y es en esta figura algo anticuada, en este cándido ideario, en el que vemos asomar al Mortimer letrado, al que tanto preocupa esa tendencia por la que los fines parecen justificar los medios, en la que se ve el proceso como el medio formal para dictar una resolución cuyo contenido se conoce de antemano, por la que cada garantía ganada a los señores medievales, a los monarcas y a los dictadores, es cuestionada en cualquier procedimiento por bajo y ruin que sea el acusado.







Pero no debemos temer que estos relatos sólo interesen a quienes tengan cierta predilección por las películas de abogados y todas sus variantes. Antes bien, esta parte del argumento solo sirve para reflejar los pensamientos de un Rumpole que en su vida civil asume otros retos, más domésticos, pero siempre igual de desafiantes.


Los relatos recogidos en este volumen se corresponden con los episodios de la segunda temporada de la serie (1979) y tratan cuestiones tan diversas como la fe, el amor verdadero, las apariencias y el juego de la identidad o incluso el ocaso profesional. En todas ellas la trama jurídica se acompaña de una historia relativa a familiares o compañeros profesionales de Rumpole, complementándose de manera perfecta, abordando cada tema desde una perspectiva doble. Podemos asistir al proceso por el que Rumpole alcanza las conclusiones para su vida de lo que aprende en el tribunal, y cómo éste no hace sino actuar como remedo de la vida, como escenario de pasiones amortiguadas por las alfombras y togas que, en otro contexto, rompen las vidas de cuantos amamos.



El estilo de Mortimer es ágil y plagado de ironías y contrasentidos que hacen de su lectura un auténtico placer. Las seis historias aquí recogidas terminan sabiendo a poco, en el convencimiento de que los tribunales y la complicada vida de los colegas de Rumpole tienen aún mucho más por ofrecer. Para satisfacer este ansia, tenemos la primera colección de relatos (Los casos de Horace Rumpole, abogado), publicados también por Impedimenta en el mismo año, 2018, y la esperanza de que la editorial aborde la publicación sucesiva del resto de títulos. Esta edición cuenta con una traducción hermosa de Sara Lekanda Teijeiro y una edición impecable como es marca de la casa en Impedimenta.



Resta solo preguntarse qué es lo que explica que este tipo de literatura, de la que tanto se disfruta fuera de las Islas Británicas, no tenga reflejo en ninguna otra geografía. Cuál es la razón por la que obras literarias o incluso películas y series con ese sello inconfundible no hayan creado un género universal, al menos occidental, más allá de su nación de origen. El único motivo que puedo encontrar es la falta de interés por conservar ritos y formas del pasado, una querencia no muy bien entendida por la modernidad que es confundida en ocasiones con el mero derribo de símbolos en lugar de por la sustitución del valor que atribuimos a estos para su continua actualización y vigencia. Así, las pelucas de los letrados ingleses nos inspiran sonrisas y burlas, sin perjuicio de que sintamos una punzada de envidia por nuestra disociación con un pasado que, aunque no compartamos, debemos aprender a cuestionar y valorar, no a esconder para simular que nunca existió. Rumpole, el epígono de una larga tradición es la prueba de que ambos aspectos no tienen por qué estar en contradicción.

[Jesse Broussard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just another great read from Mortimer: though not on par with Wodehouse, he often has simply delightful turns of phrase: "but in the courtroom he has the confidence of a rather reclusive hare looking into the headlights of an oncoming car," or "she engaged in an extremely dangerous diet consisting of organic vegetation and ice water." He reminds me, in a way, of an almost Chestertonian figure: fat, jolly (usually), delights in food and alcohol, cigars and poetry, witty and could politely peel you like a banana in an argument. Highly recommended.

[Frank McGirk · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Mortimer's debut collection when I picked it up a few years back...sophomore slump with this one? Not sure what was missing, but this one fell flat with me.

[Daniel Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in a series of law cases involving the defense attorney Horace Rumpole, and this book is even better than the impressive first installment. I found that I really liked John Mortimer's snapshots of Britain in the '70s and '80s and learning some differences between the English and American legal systems. I found it somewhat interesting to learn that Rumpole takes advantage of quite a bit more leeway in leading witnesses in court than goes on in contemporary American law novels and television shows. Whether this is a product of the differences between our legal systems or the decades between Rumpole's time and ours, I can't say. Additionally, I really liked Mortimer's ability to parallel a story arc within the case at hand in each chapter and a corresponding story arc in Rumpole's own personal life. For example, there is a point at which a crime family tries to encourage one of their members to retire none too gently, and Rumpole experiences something similar within his own career. Overall, these books have been pretty easy to digest and quick reads. They're also a lot of fun, and the main character's wit, compassion, and sense of humor go a long way with me and provided quite a bit of enjoyment. I look forward to reading the rest of these books and will get started on that right away.

[Jerry Jares · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please note:  The first story in this book is 'Rumpole and the Man of God' which I read as a standalone book recently; it was listed as an abridged work then. 

Reading Rumpole is like putting on a pair of slightly-worn, very comfortable shoes.  John Mortimer's command of the English language is impressive and he contorts French, Latin, and English phrases in new and wildly inventive ways.  I look upon reading Rumpole like giving my eyes and ears a gift of melodic and inventive language. Rumpole is the king of hopeless legal cases.

Besides Rumpole having to defend a "Man of God," he gets embroiled in a murder case with stage actors. Then Rumpole does a surprising thing; he helps the leader of their chamber to keep his seat (the same seat Rumpole should have gotten after the death of his father-in-law years ago). 

Rumpole takes the case of a teacher being inappropriate with a female student; he thinks it will be a slam-dunk because of his long association with a coworker who became the circuit judge of this case.  Finally, Rumpole must face the clamors for his retirement from his family. Lots of fun.

[Eugene · Rating 4 out of 5]

One can never get enough of Horace Rumpole, Old Bailey Hack. I watched all the BBC television productions, it was only later that I discovered there were books as well, and only later still that I learned the books were virtually all, not completely all, adapted from the video productions. No matter. At this remove in time, I’ve been craving Horace’s company, culture, and philosophy. And these books provide that mighty well!
The six vignettes of Rumpole’s cases presented here are all winners; my personal favorite was Rumpole and the Showfolk, it was a great little story and any theatre connection is always a lure for me. Of course, should I pick this little volume up some other day and re-read these tales I may choose another as my favorite. No matter, they’re all excellent and well worth a hawk!

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Rumpole and the Man of God" - A vicar accused of shoplifting. Rumpole got estranged from his friend George Frobisher. Won.
"Rumpole and the Showfolk" - An actress shot his husband. Won, but the murderer escaped justice. Depressing.
"Rumpole and the Fascist Beast" - A racist captain won his case, but 'lost' at the end. Sad.
"Rumpole and the Case of Identity" - Rumpole saved someone from a falsified identity and saved Guthrie Featherstone by falsifying his identity.
"Rumpole and the Course of True Love" - A schoolmaster became a victim of his girl pupil. Lost.
"Rumpole and the Age for Retirement" - An old Timson was forced to retire and so was Rumpole. Won.
Narrated by Bill Wallis.

[AndreaLectora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es un 4 estrellas redondo, sin dudas.
Lo he pasado muy bien leyendo sobre los casos de este abogado Rumpole. Tiene un toque PG Wodehouse pero mucho más bajado a la tierra. Es sarcástico y de humor ‘british’. Me ha recordado un poco al personaje del abogado de ‘Testigo de Cargo’ (la película, que el libro no lo he leído).
En sí no son misterios, sino pequeños entuertos que Rumpole tiene que solventar.
No me han parecido historias que me dejaran con la boca abierta, ni que me hicieran reírme a carcajadas, pero he pasado un rato muy agradable leyéndolo.

[Ashley Lambert-Maberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as unexpectedly moving as the first book, but just as enjoyable. I'm binge-reading, and I haven't done that in a long time. Once again Rumpole has a series of legal cases to try, and once again, whether he wins or loses, the stories are richly satisfying and the resolutions seem appropriate and earned.

(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s.)

[Jlnpeacock Peacock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rumpole is a delightful character whom I have loved sharing life with over the last few decades. I was quite happy to find this book as I had not read it before. The series of short stories provide a balanced overview of the life of an English barrister and some insights into the British judicial system - all with much humor.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book is an enjoyable as the first.
have figured out that Rumpole is less
of a lawyer and more of a man who enjoys
advocating and swaying people to his side.
(why a person would need their lawyer and then
a barrister in court with them, but only the
barrister can speak, I still don't understand)

[Derelict Space Sheep · Rating 3 out of 5]

42 WORD REVIEW:

Rumpole continues in his oratorically pugilistic, poetic way to champion the virtues of impartial legal defence, winning when his clients are guilty and losing when they are innocent. The book has dated rather better than the show on which it was based.