First collection of stories, which I've always loved.
Rumpole and the Younger Generation - we meet Hilda, Nick, the Timsons, the original chambers (including Gutherie, Albert, Claude Erskine Brown)... plus Hilda's dad who was then alive. Ends with Guthrie becoming head of chambers and school kid Nick deciding to do sociology at uni not law.
Rumpole and the Alternative Society - Rumpole visits some old WW2 mates and defends a woman whom he falls in love (Mortimer always was a bit lechy) who has sold a lot of cannibis. A touching ending where Rumpole sees this woman go away for three years because of her alpha leftie boyfriend (a very real type). They should have brought that character back.
Rumpole and the Honourable Member - he defends a Labor MP accused of rape. The man has a sort of Hilary Clinton type wife and it results in Rumpole slut shaming the accused on the stand. His prospective daughter in law challenges him on that, Mortimer lets her state her case, but his sympathy is clearly with Rumple and his dogged "we are all the same under the law". Albert the clerk gets fired in this one - he really didn't stick around for long.
Rumpole and the Married Lady -we get Rumpole's take on divorce when he represents a woman wanting to leave her husband. Very funny, clever. We meet Phyllida Trant in this one.
Rumpole and the Learned Friend - Rumpole is, hilariously, junior to Guthrie Featherstone as they defend a safe breaker. We meet his great adversary Judge Bullingham and Rumpole risks his career in the name of justice. I'm struck re-reading (listening rather, this is an audio book) these tales how much was set up in the first series. Mortimer struggled to construct as memorable characters later on. That's a little unfair I know, just observing.
Rumpole and the Heavy Brigade - Rumpole defends a "simple" man accused of murder and gets him off while set up to use. The charming friendship between Marigold Featherstone and Hilda begins here.
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