A Rumpole Christmas

Stories

Look inside
Paperback
$22.00 US
On sale Oct 26, 2010 | 176 Pages | 9780143117919

See Additional Formats
“Rumpole is one of the immortals of mystery fiction.” —San Francisco Chronicle
 
Of the late Sir John Mortimer’s many beloved characters, Horace Rumpole is widely considered his greatest fictional creation. Here, collected in book form for the first time, are five delightful tales that capture the beleaguered barrister at his grumpy yet warm-hearted best.
 
Rumpole isn’t particularly fond of Christmas Day—he finds it has a horrible habit of dragging on as “She Who Must Be Obeyed” leads him through the usual rituals. But at least the criminal fraternity rarely takes a holiday. Whether it’s a suspicious Father Christmas or an unseasonably nasty murder trial, there’s always something wonderfully unlawful to liven up Rumpole’s dull holiday plans.
John Mortimer is a playwright, novelist, and former practicing barrister who has written many film scripts as well as stage, radio, and television plays, the Rumpole plays, for which he received the British Academy Writer of the Year Award, and the adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited. He is the author of twelve collections of Rumpole stories and three acclaimed volumes of autobiography. View titles by John Mortimer

About

“Rumpole is one of the immortals of mystery fiction.” —San Francisco Chronicle
 
Of the late Sir John Mortimer’s many beloved characters, Horace Rumpole is widely considered his greatest fictional creation. Here, collected in book form for the first time, are five delightful tales that capture the beleaguered barrister at his grumpy yet warm-hearted best.
 
Rumpole isn’t particularly fond of Christmas Day—he finds it has a horrible habit of dragging on as “She Who Must Be Obeyed” leads him through the usual rituals. But at least the criminal fraternity rarely takes a holiday. Whether it’s a suspicious Father Christmas or an unseasonably nasty murder trial, there’s always something wonderfully unlawful to liven up Rumpole’s dull holiday plans.

Author

John Mortimer is a playwright, novelist, and former practicing barrister who has written many film scripts as well as stage, radio, and television plays, the Rumpole plays, for which he received the British Academy Writer of the Year Award, and the adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited. He is the author of twelve collections of Rumpole stories and three acclaimed volumes of autobiography. View titles by John Mortimer

Books for National Depression Education and Awareness Month

For National Depression Education and Awareness Month in October, we are sharing a collection of titles that educates and informs on depression, including personal stories from those who have experienced depression and topics that range from causes and symptoms of depression to how to develop coping mechanisms to battle depression.

Read more

Horror Titles for the Halloween Season

In celebration of the Halloween season, we are sharing horror books that are aligned with the themes of the holiday: the sometimes unknown and scary creatures and witches. From classic ghost stories and popular novels that are celebrated today, in literature courses and beyond, to contemporary stories about the monsters that hide in the dark, our list

Read more

Books for LGBTQIA+ History Month

For LGBTQIA+ History Month in October, we’re celebrating the shared history of individuals within the community and the importance of the activists who have fought for their rights and the rights of others. We acknowledge the varying and diverse experiences within the LGBTQIA+ community that have shaped history and have led the way for those

Read more