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  • Rumpole of the Bailey

  • By: John Mortimer
  • Narrated by: Robert Hardy
  • Length: 7 hrs and 9 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (960 ratings)
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Rumpole of the Bailey cover art

Rumpole of the Bailey

By: John Mortimer
Narrated by: Robert Hardy
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Summary

In these witty and comic stories, Horace Rumpole takes on a variety of clients and activities. He, of course, brings each case to a successful end, all the while quoting poetry and drinking claret.

©1978 John Mortimer (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about Rumpole of the Bailey

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Horace Rumpole is a geeza and hilarious to boot

Never saw the series and picked this up in the sale and very glad I did. Hilarious throughout and excellently narrated; I thoroughly recommend this to anyone looking for a quick light hearted listen with lots of laughs along the way.

Although I would not recommend it if you're doing dry Jan as he seems to be taking a tipple or two every ten minutes or so!

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1 person found this helpful

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

Very enjoyable

Being of a certain age I remember the TV series, so found it easy to visualise the characters as played by the actors of that series, Hardy's performance did nothing to detract from that, but at the same time I was easily able to replace the image of Leo McKern with the image of Hardy in the eponymous role.

I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting Rumpole in this medium and recommend Robert Hardy's reading.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Rumpole: a moralist who amuses as he teaches.

This book is a delight from start to finish and Robert Hardy reads it brilliantly. Each character is apparent and Rumpole's habit if quoting Worsdwoth - that Old Sheep of the Lake District, Keats and Shakespeare a great pleasure. Rumpole's humanity shines throughout and in this book we see the potential for a kinder world despite Rumpole's shrewd gasp of the realities of English life in the 60s and 70s. Mortimer pokes fun at the snobs and place-seekers of the law and elsewhere. Buy it and find a way to get your teenage children to hear it - on long car journey's perhaps? - the funniest and best way to offer them a truly moral education.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • B
  • 01-01-19

Superb




I can’t find any higher praise for this collection of legal adventures that would top that which has already been expressed by the countless Mortimer fans.
However “If Your Lordship pleases” may I say that the choice of Robert Hardy as narrator was indeed inspired. Superb.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

An entertaining listen

Good stories, beautifully narrated by Robert Hardy. I had forgotten what a wonderful writer John Mortimer was. A hearty listen, if anything too short but the final story has a great uplifting ending with Hilda finally having a part to play.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Grumpy old Rumpole

Loved this. Robert Hardy is an excellent narrator as are the stories. An easy listen, full of humour and of course 'she who must be obeyed' Leo Mckern was a ghost in the back ground.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Teaming up the talents

I’ve enjoyed performances from all the actors who’ve played Rumpole, but it doesn’t surprise me that Robert Hardy’s performance sits with ease alongside the best of them.

The stories themselves are a joy turning on a joyful use of language to give life to carefully drawn characters and a genuine sense of place.
Robert Hardy’s reading never missed any of the tricks employed by author John Mortimer - his pacing and full characterisation of all the voices just reminds me what a talent he had.

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

Excellent all round 😀

Like finding a pair of old favourite slippers, Rumpole continues to provide a gentle joy.

Uncomplicated plots, fine writing. and for this Audible book, a perfect performance by Robert Hardy.

So many Audible books are ruined by their choice of narrator - but this isn’t one of them!

A shame though that only the USA seems to get the Rumpole stories read by the wonderful Leo McKern himself.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Very good

Robert Hardy plays Rumpole very well in addition to the interesting stories. Would recommend.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

excellent. thoroughly enjoyable

Robert Hardys narration was brilliant ,well chosen for the part.always enjoy a Rumpole of the Bailey

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