It is with sadness I note the passing of John Mortimer at age 85.
Unlike my situation viz a viz Miss Calisher, I am quite familiar with Mortimer’s work. Quirky and liberal-minded like the author himself, his creation — the world of Horace Rumpole at the Old Bailey — is a perfect satirization of much of British society. Mortimer’s capture of Horace’s relationship to his wife Hilda — She Who Must Be Obeyed, as he lovingly calls her — is sharp and closely observed. The stories are familiar, predictable, middle-class cozy; a perfect backdrop to Horace Rumpole’s fierce wit on the foibles of modern society.
“Voyage Round My Father“, Mortimer’s portrait of his verbally abusive lawyer father, also captures a whole class of British characters. The movie version starring Laurence Olivier is worth a look.
Finally, Mortimer was a real-life lawyer. In the 60s he was involved in important civil rights’ cases. An all-round chap, really. Like Rumpole he liked a good laugh and a good wine. Bon voyage!
Posted by jakking 
