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The First Rumpole Omnibus: Rumpole of the Bailey/The Trials of Rumpole/Rumpole's Return

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Percy Hoskins ( Norman Ettlinger) (Series 1, Episode 1 only); ( Denys Graham) (Series 3–6): A rather minor character, Hoskins seems chiefly concerned with keeping other lawyers from being admitted to Chambers, lest they take away his work. Often prefaces his arguments with the phrase "Speaking as a man with daughters..." Later promoted to a judgeship. Rumpole and the Age for Retirement (1989) - stand-alone publication of short story first published in The Trials of Rumpole (1979) Angelini, Sergio. "Rumpole of the Bailey (1978–83, 87–92)". Screenonline . Retrieved 16 April 2007. Dianne ( Maureen Darbyshire) (Series 1–6 and Special): The oft-seen but rarely heard Chambers secretary, and Henry's flame. She eventually leaves Chambers and marries.

Champagne for Everyone", Scott Rosenberg's interview with John Mortimer, re Rumpole of the Bailey Salon.com (archive from 24 February 2011, accessed 16 September 2018). Speaking of television, it's my understanding that this series began as television, and then was turned to book form, which is not a process that normally leads to spectacular writing, despite my early fondness for Earthquake, The Fantastic Voyage, or, in a sense, Peter Pan and Wendy. So kudos for Mr. Mortimer in doing a brilliant job of translating from one medium to another. So much of the impact of this story is predicated on the goings-on inside of Rumpole's head, I can hardly imagine what the show would have been like without it. (Or maybe they used voiceover for his hidden thoughts--I should find out. I'd probably like it!) Some of Rumpole's clients feel that things would have been better for them if they had been found guilty and resent him for getting them off. [3]

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This is a batch of humor to lighten the soul with a sprinkle of pathos for real world problems. Mortimer writes in a breezy, almost Wodehousian way, substituting the care-free, silly bachelor for a more curmudgeonly, sly near-retiree. But while Rumpole may be a bit grumpy with his colleagues and wife, and though he defends criminals, he is a thoroughly sympathetic character. Mortimer knows his boundaries and stays within them. He can also be relied upon to tell a satisfying tale competently. In this first title of the popular series featuring Rumpole, all of the major characters who occupy the Rumpole stories make their introductions: the sneaky, slightly effeminate Erskine-Brown, the bumbling Guthrie Featherstone and various and sundry other lawyers and clerks whose lives weave in and out of these stories. Albert Handyside [16] ( Derek Benfield) (Series 1–2 and Special): The original clerk of Chambers. Fired in the third episode, he remains friendly with Rumpole and gets him the occasional case from the firm of solicitors that he joins as a clerk. Published in United States as John Mortimer. The Secret Lives of Rumpole's Creator (New York, Thomas Dunne Books, 2006) I heartily recommend Rumpole of the Bailey, and look forward to reading more Rumpole books, and more books by the splendid John Mortimer.

T.C. Rowley, widely known as "Uncle Tom" ( Richard Murdoch) (Series 1–6 and Special). "The oldest member of Chambers, who has not had a brief as long as any of us can remember." Rumpole first joined C. H. Wystan's chambers as Uncle Tom's pupil. [15] He is usually seen happily practising his golf putting in the clerk's room, or offering cheerfully inappropriate comments in Chambers' meetings.

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Rumpole of the Bailey (1978) contains a series of interlinked short stories concerning Rumpole's misadventures at, primarily, The Old Bailey and are a bitter sweet collection which all take place in the late 1960s and into the late 1970s. It is interesting to note how much social attitudes have changed, but also how much remains unchanged. Marguerite "Matey" Ballard ( Rowena Cooper) (Series 5–7): The matron of the Old Bailey and widow of Mr Plumstead, who later becomes "Soapy Sam" Ballard's incongruously blunt wife. Mortimer has created a wonderful character in Rumpole: a terrific sarcastic wit; irreverent and unconventional; quotes poetry in an ironic manner; negligent in his dress; doesn’t take himself or life too seriously. And yet, Rumpole is scrupulously serious when he defends his clients, who are usually career petty criminals who may or may not actually be guilty of the crime for which they have been accused. It is this integrity that makes him a likeable curmudgeon.

Simon Farquhar (December 2009). "Rumpole of the Bailey". BBC. Archived from the original on 17 March 2011. Charade, Mortimer's first novel, Bodley Head, London (1947); Viking, New York (1986); ISBN 0-670-81186-6 Daniel, Anne (2003). "John (Clifford) Mortimer". Dictionary of Literary Biography. 271– via Literature Resource Center. Mr Justice Vosper ( Donald Eccles) (Series 2): A humourless, elderly judge who does not like Rumpole.Mortimer suffered a stroke in October 2008 and died on 16 January 2009, aged 85. [28] Attributes [ edit ] Dave Inchcape: ( Michael Grandage) (Series 5, Episode 6 only); ( Christopher Milburn) (Series 6–7): A young lawyer who has a sometimes stormy relationship with "Miz Liz". He is later revealed to be the Honourable David Luxton. Vahimagi, Tise. "Irene Shubik (1935–)". Screenonline. British Film Institute . Retrieved 17 April 2007.

Regina v. Rumpole (1981) (adaptations of the scripts of all six stories specially written for the 1980 BBC Radio series – plus adaptation of the script for the 1975 one-off film for BBC TV's Play for Today Series)

Publication Order of Rumpole of the Bailey Books

Dot Clapton ( Camille Coduri) (Series 7): The new Chambers secretary after Diane leaves. A friendly chatterbox, especially in contrast to the quiet Diane. The book consists of loosely connected short stories from Rumpole’s POV. Rumpole’s wife, Hilda, aka She Who Must Be Obeyed, is a rather nebulous figure - we get much better descriptions of Rumpole’s colleagues, particularly one Guthrie Featherstone, Q.C. Mortimer adapted his television scripts into a series of short stories and novels starting in 1978. A series of anthologies and omnibus editions were also released. Detective Inspector Brush ( Struan Rodger) (Series 2–5): A police officer intent on seeing accused criminals put away. Rumpole is generally contemptuous of Inspector Brush and his "unreliable notebook".

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