John Mortimer

Explore Sir John Mortimer’s life as an English barrister, novelist, playwright, and creator of Rumpole of the Bailey. Learn about his legal battles, literary legacy, and enduring wit.

Introduction

Sir John Clifford Mortimer (21 April 1923 – 16 January 2009) was a distinguished English barrister, dramatist, screenwriter, and author. Horace Rumpole, the central figure in Rumpole of the Bailey. Through his legal work, fiction, and scripts, Mortimer had a long and varied career that spanned law, theatre, television, and literature. This article traces his life, achievements, style, and a few memorable lines.

Early Life and Education

John Mortimer was born in Hampstead, London, the only child of Kathleen May (née Smith) and Herbert Clifford Mortimer, a divorce and probate barrister.

He was educated at the Dragon School (Oxford) and then Harrow.

At Oxford, he read Law at Brasenose College (though technically based at Christ Church during part of the war).

Because of health issues, Mortimer was classified unfit for military service during World War II, and he took a job with the Crown Film Unit, writing scripts for documentary work. This early writing work shaped his facility in drama and dialogue.

Legal Career

After the war, Mortimer was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1948.

In 1966, he took silk (became a Queen’s Counsel), and gradually turned more toward criminal defence, especially in cases of obscenity and censorship. Some of his notable cases include:

• Defending the publishers of Last Exit to Brooklyn in an obscenity appeal.

• Defending the editors of the satirical magazine Oz in a 1971 trial on charges of “corrupting morals.”

• Successfully defending Virgin Records in a 1977 obscenity trial over the Sex Pistols’ album Never Mind the Bollocks.

He formally retired from active legal practice in 1984.

Literary, Dramatic & Screen Career

Beginning & Dramatic Works

Mortimer’s first novel, Charade (1947), was published before he was called to the Bar. Over time, he found more success in drama and scriptwriting.

One of his breakthrough works was The Dock Brief (first on radio in 1957), a comedic one-act about a solicitor and his eccentric client. The Dock Brief later for stage and television, helping establish his voice in legal drama.

His autobiographical play A Voyage Round My Father (first broadcast in 1963) is among his most celebrated works, reflecting on his relationship with his blind father and his own coming of age.

He also adapted Brideshead Revisited (by Evelyn Waugh) for television, though some controversy exists over how much of his submitted script was used.

Rumpole of the Bailey & Later Fiction

Mortimer’s most enduring creation is Horace Rumpole — a London barrister of the Old Bailey, fond of claret, poetry, and defending the underdog.

Some of his notable non-Rumpole novels include Paradise Postponed (1985) and its sequel Titmuss Regained (1990), which explore social satire, politics, and class.

He also wrote multiple volumes of autobiography—Clinging to the Wreckage (1982), Murderers and Other Friends (1994), The Summer of a Dormouse (2000), and Where There’s a Will (2003).

In his later years, he toured with a show called Mortimer’s Miscellany, combining readings, anecdotes, and musical interludes (often collaborating with his friend, musician Jon Lord).

His total output spans over 50 books, plays, and scripts.

Personal Life & Honors

Mortimer married Penelope Fletcher (also a novelist) in 1949; they divorced in 1971. Penelope Gollop in 1972. Emily Mortimer, became a well-known actress.

Later in life, it was revealed he fathered another son, Ross Bentley, from a long-ago affair with actress Wendy Craig.

In terms of honors:

• He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1986.

• He was knighted (made Sir John Mortimer) in 1998.

• He served as chairman of the Royal Court Theatre and held positions on boards such as the National Theatre.

Mortimer died on 16 January 2009, after a stroke he had suffered some months earlier. Southwark Cathedral.

Style, Themes & Legacy

John Mortimer’s work is characterized by:

• Sharp legal wit and courtroom insight: His background as a barrister infused authenticity into his legal dramas and Rumpole stories.

• Social satire and commentary: Many works critique class structures, hypocrisy, censorship, and mores of British society.

• Blending seriousness and humor: Even when dealing with weighty themes, Mortimer's tone often includes irony, dry wit, and comedic interplay.

• Interest in personal memory and family: His autobiographical works and Voyage Round My Father examine familial dynamics and identity.

• Defense of free speech: His engagement with obscenity cases and censorship debates reflects his belief in artistic freedom.

His creation, Horace Rumpole, remains culturally iconic in British legal fiction, and many of his scripts continue to be produced or referenced.

Famous Quotes

Here are a few memorable lines by John Mortimer:

• “A man’s got to defend his illusions, or he’ll lose his mind.”

• “Case law is not a discipline, it is dirt.”

• “I am by nature distrustful of dogma and always have been, so I believed that within the law I could explore ambiguity and argument, in which I felt entirely at home.”

• From The Summer of a Dormouse: “When men are in love they always mistake the woman’s character for her beauty.”

(Quotes are drawn from Mortimer’s writings and interviews, often rephrased in various sources.)

Lessons from John Mortimer’s Life

• Leverage dual careers: Mortimer succeeded in both law and literature, showing that one’s profession and passion can inform and enrich each other.

• Stand up for free speech: His legal work defending controversial publications showed courage in contentious cultural debates.

• Write what you know, but push boundaries: His stories drew on courtroom experience but ventured into broader social and moral critique.

• Use humor as a tool: His satire and wit helped him explore serious subjects with accessibility.

• Value memory and personal narrative: By revisiting his past (especially in Voyage Round My Father), Mortimer turned private history into enduring public art.

Conclusion

Sir John Mortimer was a rare multifaceted talent—equally at home in courtrooms, theatres, television studios, and in the pages of novels and memoirs. Through Horace Rumpole and many other works, he left a legacy of legal storytelling, moral reflection, and sharp wit. His life reminds us how professional knowledge and creative vision can merge to produce work that endures.