A Book About a Grumpy British Barrister
Plus an enjoyable movie about knowing how good you have it now
Both the book and the film helped me escape my worries about current chaotic events (for a little while)
First, the book:
A Rumpole Christmas
Horace Rumpole is the barrister, a character created by John Mortimer who was a barrister himself. I was first introduced to Rumpole by an old public TV series, “Rumpole of the Bailey.” Mortimer wrote the programs and then the books about this lawyer who’s surprisingly appealing considering he deals with criminals all the time and is painfully bored when not involved in a trial. But don’t let his crotchety charm fool you. He’s brilliant, in court and out. I loved the TV character, but “A Rumpole Christmas” is the first of Mortimer’s books about him I’ve read, and it was good to meet Rumpole again. (It’s not that Christmas-y so you can enjoy it any time of the year.)
I recommend also a good article about Mortimer and Rumpole in Wikipedia. It seems Rumpole’s biographical details differ some between the TV shows and the books, but he’s mostly portrayed as an oldish, cranky criminal law genius who calls his wife Hilda “she who must be obeyed,” and who calls his favorite drink, a not-very-expensive red wine, “Chateau Thames Embankment.” (The article says the Thames Embankment was a reclaimed piece of marshy land that was polluted until 1860.)
I don’t often read crime novels because most would keep me from sleeping, but not all of Rumpole’s investigations are violent, and I enjoy hanging out with him while he tells his own stories such as those in “A Rumpole Christmas.” He’s a curmudgeon who’s seen it all, yet remains in love with fighting crime. Even the criminals know he’s the best. He works “down at the ‘Old Bailey,” London’s central criminal court, which in real life, according to the City of London.gov, is a center of intense activity with thousands of people entering the building on a daily basis. Nearby is Rumpole’s office at “Equity Court,” within walking distance of his favorite wine bar.
If you can get hold of any of the old shows (produced in the U.K.) or “A Rumpole Christmas” or other books featuring Rumpole, I think you’ll enjoy him. Online I saw a few books including one I might try next, “Rumpole Misbehaves.” My copy of “A Rumpole Christmas” contains some wonderful illustrations at the head of each chapter. My favorite of these, on the cover, is of Rumpole eyeing a questionable-looking Santa Claus with a sack on his back that appears to hold something other than toys.
Now that you’ve met Rumpole, on to the latest movie I thought you might like:
Take me Back for Christmas
At our house we just watched this Hallmark romance/drama/comedy that was unexpectedly riveting at times. Again Christmas plays only a minor role in the story.
It opens with a married couple struggling to get their careers going. What seems a mysterious chance encounter encourages the wife, Renee (Vanessa Lengies) to believe she’s been given a chance to solve all their problems, but the solution is far from perfect. The plot is unusual in that it took some big chances that in fact give it a lot of its strong emotional punch. All the performances are solid, moving, and in some places extremely funny. Those moments occur especially in some early scenes, in the performance of Lengies as Renee. She looks a little like Barbra Streisand, with some Streisand-like wit and a kind of on-screen glow. I thought her comedic acting was brilliant in some of those moments.
Thanks so much for reading The Serene City, and if you have time please do share this post with people who might enjoy it. Substack writers are very much dependent on our readers and subscribers who can help a great deal by sharing. Comments also can help.
NOTES:
Rumpole of the Bailey, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumpole_of_the_Bailey