The very idea of reading A Rumpole Christmas evoked several responses: melancholy, because it is likely to be the last publication of more or less new stories from the pen of John Mortimer; a wry smile, because of the unlikely juxtaposition of Rumpole and Christmas; and gleeful hand-rubbing anticipation, because we get to read more Rumpole.
If you are reading this review, you probably know who Rumpole is. If not, I would suggest that start at the beginning: The First Rumpole Omnibus by John Mortimer. Technically, to start at the beginning you should watch the BBC shows from the 1970s starring the inimitable Leo McKern (Rumpole of the Bailey, Set 1 - The Complete Seasons 1 & 2). (I was unaware until very recently that the scripts for the BBC TV show actually preceded the books.)
This collection of stories (most previously published in magazines) is not the best of Rumpole, but they do feature genuine Horace, She Who Must Be Obeyed, Mr. Justice Gravestone, Soapy Sam Ballard, and a sprinkling of Timsons. One story here features an accused terrorist whom Rumpole agrees to defend - when the other barristers make excuses. Rumpole kept fighting the good fight usually with gentle humor and always with an insistence on the rights of each and every person facing the power of the government. So long old darling.
***
Read Madeline Kahn's profile of John Mortimer.
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