Clinging to the Wreckage
A Part of Life

I picked this book up in the library on a whim, informed by vague memories of Rumpole Of The Bailey on the television as a kid. I'm very glad I did. It's very readable, honest, amusing and original. In this volume he writes of his solitary childhood, his remote parents (his father was an unconvention......more

Like most people, I came to know John Mortimer's works through his Rumpole series (the books, not the TV series). I came to appreciate his comic genius, his profoundly humanistic and unsanctimonious attitude to life, and was intrigued by the title of this slim autobiographical volume. Mortimer tells......more

John Mortimer the creator of "Rumpole of the Bailey" books which later were broadcast as a TV series has had a most interesting life. His autobiography is full and honest. He came from a privileged background and his father, also a solicitor, played a large part in his life. Brought up in the 1920's......more

Well, I love JM. Because he created Rumpole, my solid companion through thick and thin. I do also like his daughter Emily. So, I am sad he has passed on, but glad I can re-read all these books. He tells a very entertaining and honest (well, not completely, there was that other son...) history of his......more

I enjoyed it. I probably would have enjoyed it even more if I'd read this one rather than listened to the audiobook. The narrator's old british portrayal was a bit distracting at times. However, Mortimer's unlikely combination of writer and barrister was entertaining. At the end of the book the comb......more