Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Rapstone Chronicles | 1991 | John Mortimer | N/A |
| 2 | Paradise Postponed | 1985 | John Mortimer | Buy |
| 3 | Titmuss Regained | 1990 | John Mortimer | Buy |
| 4 | The Sound of Trumpets | 1998 | John Mortimer | Buy |
Set in the fictional English village of Rapstone Fanner, this trilogy follows the fortunes of locals whose lives intersect with the shifting tides of British politics from post-war idealism through the Thatcher era and beyond. Leslie Titmuss, who rises from humble origins to political power, stands at the center of the saga.
Mortimer uses the village setting to examine class, ambition, and the compromises people make in pursuit of respectability. The novels are sharp social comedies with a satirical edge, drawing on Mortimer’s own observations of English life and political culture.