Horace Rumpole has an encyclopaedic memory of his old cases and inevitably he comes across people he has defended from time to time. In the first story – Rumpole and the Old Familiar Faces – two people he has come across in the past have cause to regret meeting his again. I particularly enjoyed Rumpole and the Camberwell Carrot in which Phillida Erskine-Brown finds an idol has feet of clay.
I recall reading the last story in this book when it was first published and wondering whether the last story – Rumpole Rests His Case was actually going to be his last ever appearance. I thought his final speech to the ‘jury’ in that story was brilliant considering he had so little hard evidence to go on.
Once again Rumpole displays his knowledge of human nature, his thirst for justice and his disinclination ever to plead guilty whatever the circumstances and never ever to prosecute. This is an entertaining collection of stories exposing the follies and foible of the great and the good and yet still making some serious points about the stupidity of the law at times. I have re-read the book many times and it loses none of its appeal.
Leave a Reply