Preview

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Trials of Rumpole

By: John Mortimer
Narrated by: Frederick Davidson
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $13.22

Buy for $13.22

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Horace Rumpole—who never prosecutes, whose fame rests on an infinite knowledge of blood and typewriters, whose court scenes are proverbial, whose home is ruled by Mrs. Rumpole (“She Who Must Be Obeyed”)—is back on the defense, as irreverent, as iconoclastic, as claret-swilling, poetry-spouting, impudent, witty, and cynical as ever.

This time the judge-debunking barrister-at-law is embroiled with a minister accused of shoplifting, an actress accused of murder, and a racist candidate for Parliament, with art theft and mistaken identity thrown in for good measure. The result is a delightful excursion into hidden corners of the British judicial system, served up in typically colorful Rumpole style.

Stories include: "Rumpole and the Man of God", "Rumpole and the Showfolk", "Rumpole and the Fascist Beast", "Rumpole and the Case of Identity", "Rumpole and the Course of True Love", and "Rumpole and the Age for Retirement."

©1979 Advanpress, Ltd. (P)1993 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

“Rumpole has been an inspired stroke of good fortune for us all.” ( Daily Mail, London)

What listeners say about The Trials of Rumpole

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    87
  • 4 Stars
    27
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    83
  • 4 Stars
    16
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    78
  • 4 Stars
    19
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another good yarn!!

Horace Rumple is grumpy and somewhat surly but underneath all that is a heart of gold. I have enjoyed learning about the British courts through the eyes of this old barrister with a poet's. The book is basically a collection of short stories about the cases he takes on. I plan to read more in this series in the future.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

I like the Rumpole stories...

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

but I really prefer Robert Hardy's performance. Having said that, I will listen to this book again. This is the second collection of Rumpole stories, and if you enjoyed the first book, there is no reason you won't like these. because Horace Rumpole is here in all his subversive glory! A true advocate, Rumpole believes that every defendant is entitled to a vigorous defense, even if they are a member of the Timson clan. To that end, he continues to actively resist the efforts of his wife and fellow members of chambers to become a judge, "take silk," or retire: he wants to continue to be "Rumpole of the Bailey:" drinker of plonk, smoker of cheap cigars and wearing of disreputable hats!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A favorite of my youth

My father turned me on to the exploits of Horace Rumpole on PBS when I was in my late teens/early 20s. As much as I loved the character, I think it was the performance of Leo McKern that really brought that character to life for me.

Therein lies my only criticism of this book. While the performance is first rate, it isn’t Leo McKern. If you haven’t seen the show on TV though, you won’t miss it.

Great collection of stories!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

incredibly humorous and entertaining

fantastic reading, fantastic writing, funny irony, and the quotes from the great English poets had so much to the humor and the pathos of the rumpole story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

A pompous and exaggerated actor ruins the story

I like Rumpole, but was completely turned off by the pompousover-acting. The actor exaggerated every Edward intern of speech, it was unpleasant to listen to, and entirely squashed the gentle irony of the story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful