On Meeting the Playwright & Novelist John Mortimer…

.…at the Hatchards book signng in Piccadilly when I did, for his new novel at the time called Quite Honestly, (217pp, Viking UK), more than a year ago now…

I discovered him to be rather frail, snowy-haired and very much the merry smiling gentleman. Like a thinner version of a Santa Claus and resting in his wheelchair.

As usual, I was the only Asian reader in the line that waited to see him. But such is the intimate setting in this royal bookshop, that Mortimer took the time to chat with each of us. He wanted to know our names, where we were all from and what we were up to at that present moment. He definitely felt up to jolly company if I remember rightly.

I had seen this famous author imbued with a colourful past rising from infidelities and who had received a knighthood for his services to the Arts. He had received a standing ovation for the longest time. I went to meet Sir John Mortimer because I had devoured his novels with happy interest for eg. his famous series of humorous Horace Rumpole books that were based on hilarious accounts of barrister life and the famous nickname, the fictitious character had afforded to his wife, simply labelling her bossy ways as She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed. One never forgets a true friend or teacher. I was only sorry that this comic genius looked so frail. – susan abraham