
A Very English Scandal
Sex, Lies, and a Murder Plot at the Heart of the Establishment
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Narrated by:
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Matthew Brenher
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By:
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John Preston
About this listen
A behind-the-scenes look at the desperate, scandalous private life of a British MP and champion manipulator, and the history-making trial that exposed his dirty secrets.
As a member of Parliament and leader of the Liberal Party in the 1960s and 70s, Jeremy Thorpe's bad behavior went under the radar for years. Police and politicians alike colluded to protect one of their own. In 1970, Thorpe was the most popular and charismatic politician in the country, poised to hold the balance of power in a coalition government.
But Jeremy Thorpe was a man with a secret. His homosexual affairs and harassment of past partners, along with his propensity for lying and embezzlement, only escalated as he evaded punishment. That is, until a dark night on the moor with an ex-lover, a dog, and a hired gun led to consequences that even his charm and power couldn't help him escape. Dubbed the "Trial of the Century", Thorpe's climactic case at the Old Bailey in London was the first time that a leading British politician had stood trial on a murder charge, and the first time that a murder plot had been hatched in the House of Commons. And it was the first time that a prominent public figure had been exposed as a philandering gay man in an era when homosexuality had only just become legal. With the pace and drama of a thriller, A Very English Scandal is an extraordinary story of hypocrisy, deceit, and betrayal at the heart of the British establishment.
©2016 John Preston (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
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Who knew?
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More a curiosity than relevant.
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However this book is filled from start to finish with some real shockers! I always thought that the Liberal Party was the dullest of all. Could not have been more wrong. It does have a more poignant side though. Jeremy Thorpe was a homosexual (who knew?) at a time when it was a crime in the UK (thank goodness things have changed). Because of that he had to live a lie. Of course one lie leads to another then another. It all ends up with a murder plot, a High Court case and the downfall of the Liberal party. These are only the highlights!
Most enjoyable performance by Matthew Brenher.
Not to be missed.
How Sex Brought Down a Political Party
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Much more detail than required
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A wry and comic true crime triumph!
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The narration is quite good, however, and (this is not a ding at all) it’s relaxing to listen to before bed.
All in all, I can recommend the performance, but not the content.
How Is This Still Going?
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Compelling Read
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The MP's friends are apparent men of the world who are manipulated by him for years on end to a degree beggaring belief.
The other protagonist, the MP's one-time paramour (or victim) is a deeply flawed man obsessed with the MP. He, too, can manipulate those whom he meets, if only briefly, as he staggers through life.
The paramour's friends are a cast of men and women who come and go from his life in rapid succession. Their willingness to help him is a puzzle.
The book's author is someone covering an improbably decades-long story with an eye for the improbability of it and the ability to make the reader snicker.
Were this story condensed into a USA or Latin American Soap opera, the plot would seem run of the mill absurd. Life imitates bad art.
Life Imitates Bad Art
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Fast-paced and unbelievable
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Excellent
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