Sir John Mortimer author of the Rumpole of the Bailey novels died on Friday, age 85.Apparently he had just started work on a new novel, entitled Rumpole and the Younger Generation, his editor, Tom Lacey says. Now it won't be finished unless another author steps in.
Even if you haven't read the books (and I have happy memories of enjoying some of the earlier novels in the series) you may well have seen the the TV series Leo McKern played the fictional barrister.
His son Jeremy Mortimer writes a wonderful tribute for The Telegraph describing his father as a man of many contradictions with a talent for being loved.
And you can find his last TV interview here :
5 comments:
What an absolute honey :)
I had read all the Rumpole stories - marvellous characterisations. A sad loss.
Damn! Remember checking them out of my Uni library in Melbourne and reading nothing but Rumpole books for weeks on end and having names like Phyllida Erskine-Brown and terms like "Taking Silk" and She Who Must Be Obeyed etched in my mind:-)
RIP John Mortimer, enjoy a "Chateau Thames Embankment" in your writing room up in the sky.
Aw, who doesn't love Rumpole of the Bailey? They should have a contest for completing that last novel.
-- Preeta
Sebastian Faulks can finish the last novel! He's the king of pistachio.
:-)
- Poppadumdum
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