Rumpole is everyone's favorite defense barrister: he is a fearless tamer of judges who is kept in order only by She Who Must Be Obeyed. A rumbustious defender of the faith, Rumpole is known, not surprisingly, as something of a character. His exploits at the Old Bailey - and elsewhere - are an unsurpassable blend of eloquence, wit, cynicism, and experience. This volume of John Mortimer's favorite Rumpole stories contains some of the bluff barrister's finest moments. There is Rumpole's encounter with the acting world, his frequent and often disillusioning brushes with the Timsons, and many of his confrontations with the pompous 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 immortal barrister in this hugely entertaining collection of stories.