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Rumpole of the Bailey (Recorded Books) (Unabridged) Audiobook, by John Mortimer Play Audiobook Sample

Rumpole of the Bailey (Recorded Books) Audiobook (Unabridged)

By: John Mortimer
Rumpole of the Bailey (Recorded Books) (Unabridged) Audiobook, by John Mortimer Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Patrick Tull Publisher: Recorded Books Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 5.67 hours at 1.5x Speed 4.25 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: August 2011 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN:
4.00539647577093 out of 54.00539647577093 out of 54.00539647577093 out of 54.00539647577093 out of 54.00539647577093 out of 5 (4.01) - 908 listener ratings
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Clinging to the Wreckage Audiobook, by John Mortimer
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Rumpole's Return Audiobook, by John Mortimer
Rumpole for the Defence Audiobook, by John Mortimer
Rumpole's Last Case Audiobook, by John Mortimer
Rumpole and the Angel of Death Audiobook, by John Mortimer
The Trials of Rumpole Audiobook, by John Mortimer
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Rumpole and the Golden Thread Audiobook, by John Mortimer
Rumpole and the Angel of Death Audiobook, by John Mortimer
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Publisher Description

In the first of six witty short stories, 60s-something English barrister, Horace Rumpole, takes on the younger generation both at home and in the hallowed courtroom - while offending his esteemed colleagues and his draconian wife, Hilda.

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"Any Rumpole book is funny, sad, very well written, and just plain GOOD. Even the videos are great. Good doesn't always prevail. The bad guys are often hard to spot. The main characters are horribly flawed, but you really care about them. I read these books over and over because even if you know how they end, they're still good. Oh, I forgot to mention that they're all short stories linked together with Horace Rumpole, a lawyer in England, his wife, Hilda (he calls her "She Who Must Be Obeyed"), the people Rumpole works with, and the people Rumpole defends in court. John Mortimer, the author, is an ex-attorney, so there's nothing fake about the stories. He is a great writer--he did the screen play for the Brideshead Revisited miniseries. What else can I say? You need to give this book a try."

— Elaine (5 out of 5 stars)

Rumpole of the Bailey (Recorded Books) (Unabridged) Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 4.11764705882353 out of 54.11764705882353 out of 54.11764705882353 out of 54.11764705882353 out of 54.11764705882353 out of 5 (4.12)
5 Stars: 10
4 Stars: 18
3 Stars: 6
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
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1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
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Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Fantastically funny with great characters. "

    — Kara, 2/20/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This is the first in the excellent Rumpole of the Bailey series by John Mortimer. I first came across the series via USA's Public Television as part of their Mystery! series and fell in love with the series and the late Leo McKern. There has been 3 books (I think) since Leo's death and I am hoping that no one will make series out of those books as I cannot picture anyone else playing Rumpole. "

    — Judy"Intergalactic, 2/17/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Four stars foe every Rumpole book! "

    — Sav, 2/2/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " The writing is light and fun. Rumpole is quite loveable. "

    — Carol, 1/26/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Whether he's on the telly or in a book, I just love Horace Rumpole. "

    — Mad_Maudie, 1/23/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " We enjoy how the author plays with words & manipulates the judges. His wit is incisive. Rumpole is a very like-able fellow. We appreciate the character development & particularly enjoyed the relationship between Rumpole & his clients. Narrator, Robert Hardy modulates his voice perfectly. "

    — Julie, 1/18/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Absolutely delightful. Wonderful humor. I love how Rumpole refers to his wife as "She Who Must Be Obeyed". It's witty, well written, and subtle. Highly recommended. "

    — Menner, 1/16/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Great English detective mystery. Good read with some twists "

    — Warner, 1/10/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Funny. Charming. And the legal stuff is insightful and done with an extremely light touch. This is the first of 15 story collections or full-length novels. I will be reading more of these ... "

    — Shawn, 12/30/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I read these, only to grasp my utter lack of understanding of the British legal system. Still: these are basically charming. "

    — Cait, 12/28/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Ahh ya gotta love this curmudgeon...Well read by Robert Hardy. "

    — Daniel, 12/22/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I LOVE Rumpole! No better reading for the summertime. "

    — Jennifer, 8/6/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Fun little stories about a sour old barrister. "

    — Kristin, 5/10/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I heart Rumpole. "

    — JBEG, 3/21/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Lots of fun if you like, say, Wodehouse-style British humor. "

    — Tom, 10/13/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " As I listened to this audiobook I could almost see Leo McKern as Rumpole in the original series. Though Patrick Tull does a wonderful job narrating I spent much of the book imagining McKerns expressions and genius portrayal of Mortimer's most ingenious barrister . "

    — Cate, 8/16/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Delightfully droll. "

    — John, 7/24/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Rumpole is indeed a guilty pleasure... I must admit I laughed out loud several times at the irreverent humor. "

    — Donna, 5/12/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Very fun book. I look forward to picking up another Rumpole when I need something light with sarcasm. "

    — Sarah, 1/25/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " The Rumpole series is one of my all-time favorites, with dry British humor and unforgettable recurring characters. No one would have trouble picturing She Who Must Be Obeyed! "

    — Stan, 12/17/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Whether he's on the telly or in a book, I just love Horace Rumpole. "

    — Lesa, 11/22/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A nice read, although it's impossible to envision Rumpole any differently than as portrayed in the Mystery! series. Short stories joined together by a loose thread of details. Very nicely done. I regret not picking up a few other volumes at the thrift store. "

    — Frank, 9/25/2010
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I read these, only to grasp my utter lack of understanding of the British legal system. Still: these are basically charming. "

    — Cait, 9/5/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Lots of fun if you like, say, Wodehouse-style British humor. "

    — Tom, 4/20/2010
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " One of the truly great characters in mystery fiction. "

    — Art, 3/14/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " The writing is light and fun. Rumpole is quite loveable. "

    — Carol, 12/18/2009
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Not much point to this, really -- just reworkings of the TV episodes, which are much more entertaining by themselves. "

    — doug, 5/19/2009
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Funny. Charming. And the legal stuff is insightful and done with an extremely light touch. This is the first of 15 story collections or full-length novels. I will be reading more of these ... "

    — Shawn, 5/17/2009
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Ahh ya gotta love this curmudgeon...Well read by Robert Hardy. "

    — Daniel, 1/20/2009
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Fun little stories about a sour old barrister. "

    — Kristin, 9/21/2008
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Great English detective mystery. Good read with some twists "

    — Warner, 9/14/2008
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Absolutely delightful. Wonderful humor. I love how Rumpole refers to his wife as "She Who Must Be Obeyed". It's witty, well written, and subtle. Highly recommended. "

    — Menner, 8/7/2008
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I LOVE Rumpole! No better reading for the summertime. "

    — Jennifer, 6/5/2008
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Four stars foe every Rumpole book! "

    — Sav, 5/28/2008

About John Mortimer

John Mortimer (1923–2009) was a playwright, novelist, and barrister. He wrote many radio, film, and television scripts, including the British television series Rumpole of the Bailey, and won the British Academy Writer of the Year Award in 1979. He retired from the bar in 1984 and was knighted in 1998.

About Patrick Tull

Patrick Tull (1941–2006), born in the United Kingdom, was a multitalented actor of the stage, screen, and television, as well as an award-winning audiobook narrator. He acted in numerous American television shows from 1962 to 1996, including Crossroads, and he had roles in six Broadway plays between 1967 and 1992, including Amadeus. His film credits from 1969 to 1996 included roles as Cecil in Parting Glances and Jerry the bartender in Sleepers. He served as narrator for the television series Sea Tales. He narrated nearly forty audiobooks, and his readings of The Canterbury Tales, The Letter of Marque, Monk’s Hood, The Vicar of Wakefield, and How Green Was My Valley each earned him an AudioFile Earphones Award. His narration of Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey/Maturin novels was praised by novelist Stephen King as among his ten favorite audiobooks of 2006.