Utterly charming, very funny in places, sometimes ruder than you’d expect! A marvellous insight into the life and mind of the creator of Rumpole of the Bailey.

Light, easy, enjoyable with lots of name-dropping

I selected this off the shelf in my local public library because

(a) the surrounding modern celebrity biographies were of such comparatively boring lives; and

(b) the first two paragraphs in "The Summer of a Dormouse" applied so aptly to an older friend of mine who has recently had an operation on his knee. I have now just received an e-mail describing to me how enormously that passage has cheered him up!

John Mortimer had such a wonderful written style. Right on a knife edge. Very observant, yet he was a master at knowing how to lighten up JUST at the point where his gripes become a fraction irritating.

This book, being a series of musings over a number of months, ideally should be treated as a long term read, just a page or two at a sitting; preferably accompanied by a glass of Pimms & lemonade. I am conscious of having perhaps read it too quickly than it deserves.

A great read, full of wry observations about everything from theatre funding to fox hunting via naked Dames!

I loved it and would like to read more of his memoirs.

"Well aware that no one should grow old who isn't prepared to look ridiculous, John Mortimer, unrepentant septagenarian and creator of Horace Rumpole and Leslie Titmus, resigns himself to the fact that the putting on of socks should be left to the young. Yet despite his body's angry protestations, he is determined to continue enjoying the fruits of a long life supremely dedicated to pleasure. Here, he tells the poignant and wonderfully funny account of a year spent growing old disgracefully."
~~back cover

Although I've turned out to not be much of a fan of John Mortimer's writing, this book was lovely. Short chapters, written with wit and charm, and attractive nostalgia, interspersed with philosophical tidbits about aging made for lovely reading. The sort of memoirs we all wish we could write.

In this third installment of his memoirs John Mortimer reflects on the onset of old age by announcing that: 'At this age it's really no use worrying.' This quote sums up the memoir for me - I rather read a Rumpole story than worry about finishing text.

Delightful, warm and funny account of the latter stages of an eventful life (the subtitle 'A year of growing old disgracefully' says it all. Beautifully written.

An episodic third volume of his autobiography, Mortimer contemplates life aged 70 plus and the challenges of getting one's socks on. Living in a wheelchair, remembering his father's blindness, his reflections are wise and tempered, reflecting a lifetime of reading, writing, and theater. In this volume, he looks at the failure of the Labour party and the the dangerous undermining of the British right to a trial by jury. There are lots of lovely one-liners and name dropping. The memoirs seem to be written informally as memories occur and then are organized later in a somewhat chronological manner--a good approach to autobiography.

I was not familiar with the Rumpole stories and John Mortimer in general, but this memoir of sorts had some insightful comments about getting old (but still remaining active!).

mortimer the man and rumpole the character are practically the same thing.

FRom BBC Radio 4 EXtra:
Journalist, Henry Troutbeck Pottinger is now an old man.

He stands in the darkening garden of a vicarage by the sea and looks back on a life which seems to have passed as swiftly as Lord Byron's dormouse summer.

John Mortimer's drama stars Paul Scofield as Henry Troutbeck Pottinger as an Old Man, Alex Jennings as Henry Troutbeck Pottinger as a Man and Joe Roberts as Henry Troutbeck Pottinger as a Boy.

With Oliver Ford Davies as the Rev. Henry Pottinger, Gemma Jones as Dawn Pottinger/Lady Fan, Joanna David as Felicity Rewcastle, Imelda Staunton as Mavis Whitney, John Rowe as Mr Rewcastle and David Allister as Editor/Barman.

With the Willie Brown Uni Band and accordionist Kevin Street.

Director: Marilyn Imrie

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1999.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007jsrs

A delightful book from an extraordinary and extremely open-minded man.