The Trials of Rumpole Audiobook By John Mortimer cover art

The Trials of Rumpole

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 months free
Try for $0.00
Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT.
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 3 months. Cancel anytime.

The Trials of Rumpole

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

$0.00/mo. after 3 months. Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $14.58

Buy for $14.58

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

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. Anthologies Anthologies & Short Stories Mystery Traditional Detectives Detective Fiction Witty Short Story Funny Mystery Anthology

Critic reviews

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

People who viewed this also viewed...

Rumpole of the Bailey [Recorded Books] Audiobook By John Mortimer cover art
Rumpole of the Bailey [Recorded Books] By: John Mortimer
All stars
Most relevant  
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.

Another good yarn!!

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

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!

I like the Rumpole stories...

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

A favorite of my youth

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

incredibly humorous and entertaining

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

A pompous and exaggerated actor ruins the story

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