From Publishers Weekly
Best known as the creator of Horace Rumpole (
Rumpole Rests His Case, etc.), Mortimer delivers much sound advice and liberal opinion, supported by apt literary allusions (from Shakespeare to Wodehouse) and by amusing anecdotes drawn from his dual career as a barrister and an author. In this intimate, extended monologue, the 81-year-old Mortimer holds forth in 32 brief chapters on a wide range of subjects dear to his heart, including such foolish New Labour policies as banning outdoor sex ("I should include in my will a strong recommendation of the joys of alfresco sex"); the excesses of political correctness ("A state in which everyone tiptoed around whispering for fear of hurting somebody's feelings would be dull beyond human endurance"); the virtues of the young ("Children can spot pomposity, insincerity and self-regard a mile off and are the best possible antidote to such diseases"); and the value of vulgarity ("If you can find a streak of vulgarity in yourself, nurture it"). As the punning title suggests, this conversational memoir amounts to an informal last will and testament, but the author ends on an uplifting note as he surveys his children and grandchildren. Mortimer fans and all lovers of civilized prose will share his delight.
Agent, Michael Sissons at Peters, Fraser and Dunlop. (On sale May 23) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
From Booklist
What does a man of means and imagination leave behind? Mortimer, barrister, playwright, and creator of the Rumpole mystery series, says that, at 81, he's faced with a desire to decide "what, if anything, can be usefully dusted off and passed on." He decides to follow the example of his father, who left him the law, Shakespeare, Sherlock Holmes, and laughter. Reading this memoir is like sitting with someone very wise and very comical at an outdoor party crowded with guests. Your host interrupts his talk of his own life--the book is filled with bits from Mortimer's childhood, acting career, and adventures in the law--to fill you in on some of the guests. See Shakespeare over there? Mortimer's favorite characters from the Bard's plays were the sensible friends of the heroes. And the artist Velazquez? Mortimer's favorite work of the great artist is that of an old woman cooking eggs. Mortimer ranges widely, discoursing on the tyranny of political correctness, the pang of missed opportunities, and the rare gift of being able to listen, using both his own experiences and the wealth of what he's read to illuminate his subjects. There's some straightforward advice, too: live a varied, action-filled life; see happiness as a by-product, not a goal. But what emerges most forcefully from this leisurely meditation is a lively appreciation of how the legacy of past civilizations can make life vibrant. Mortimer is a companion you don't want to leave.
Connie FletcherCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
