The best of Rumpole

The corpulent "great defender of muddied and sinful humanity" joins a winning cast -- which includes his splendid wife, Hilda, his philandering colleague, Claude Erskine-Brown, and his old enemy, the pompous and biased Judge Bullingham -- in the marvelous collection of the bluff barrister's finest moments. These seven tales, which deftly send up the British legal system, contain some of Rumpole's most hilarious confrontations width the overbearing and sometimes misguided gentlemen of the Bench. For those unfamiliar with Rumpole, this volume offers a perfect introduction to John Mortimer's wisest and wittiest creation. Those who have already encountered Rumpole will want to reacquaint themselves with the lovable barrister in this hugely entertaining collection.