John Mortimer, 1923-2009

When actor Leo McKern (the man in the wig) died in 2002, I thought the crusty old barrister Horace Rumpole would not be seen again. McKern was the image of Rumpole for the BBC in Great Britain and PBS Mystery in America, but the true source of the character was the lawyer and author John Mortimer (the taller man), who was not ready to retire his creation. In fact, Mortimer, who had not written a Rumpole book for seven years, then wrote five more, which were published between 2002 and 2007. The last was Rumpole Misbehaves.

It is a mistake, however, to only think of Mortimer as the author of the Rumpole series. He had a long and successful law career, in which, like Rumpole, defended clients that other barristers declined. He also wrote novels, short stories, autobiography, and plays for stage, radio, and television, including the screenplay for the highly acclaimed BBC production of Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited.

The BBC has written an appreciative obituary. A biography of Mortimer is evolving at Wikipedia, as over 120 edited to his page have been made in the past 48 hours. There is a lengthy bibliography there. For a deeper look, try Mortimer's autobiography Clinging to the Wreckage, which tells about his early life and career.

Lady Bird Johnson, 1912-2007

All the newspapers across the land are running obituaries of Lady Bird Johnson today. In the Chicago Tribune, the emphasis is on her beautification of American highways and environmental work. Because of Lady Bird, we now have many highways lined with wildflowers or other native plants.

The stories also talk about her concern for the poor and her kindness to anyone. I remember as a student at the University of Texas in the 1970s that she was the only member of the board of regents whose door was open to students. At a time when Frank Erwin and the other regents wanted to shut down the student newspaper, which kept investigating and reporting their crimes (university investments going to their own corporations), Lady Bird spoke up for the students. She was deeply respected across campus.

Our libraries have books about Lady Bird, including the attractive children's book Miss Lady Bird's Wildflowers: How a First Lady Changed America by Kathi Appelt. Recent biographies for adults include Lady Bird: A Biography of Mrs. Johnson by Jan Jarboe Russell and Lady Bird Johnson: Our Environment First Lady by Lewis L. Gould.

Lady Bird wrote some books herself, which are still widely available, Wildflowers Across America and A White House Diary.

It is a day for book displays.

Kate Fleming: A Distinctive Voice Remembered

Listening to the December 24, 2006 podcast from NPR Books, I learned that Kate Fleming, an actress who recorded audiobooks under the name Anna Fields, died after rainwater flooded her basement studio in a storm that hit Seattle on December 14. The full story is in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer of December 18.

Fleming chose the name Anna Fields as a tribute to her great grandmother, whose picture is posted on the Cedar House Audio website. Her great grandmother was an actress known for her beautiful voice. Fleming was known for her great variety of voices and ability to portrait both young and old when reading.

I first heard Fleming reading Havava Dreams by Wendy Gimbel, but I most remember her readings of Bushwhacked and Who Let the Dogs In? by Molly Ivins. She was so good that I thought her voice was that of Ivins. She did not sound as though she were reading.

Fleming leaves a legacy of over 50 audiobooks. Search your library catalog for Anna Fields.