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Rumpole a la Carte audiobook cover art

  • Rumpole a la Carte

  • By: John Mortimer
  • Narrated by: Leo McKern
  • Length: 1 hr and 28 mins
  • Abridged
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars 22
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars 19
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    5 out of 5 stars 17

Rumpole unenthusiastically accompanies Hilda and her cousin to a very fashionable restaurant. Rumpole hates the ostentatious ambiance and pretentious food with its scant portions. He requests steak and kidney pudding. Jean Pierre O'Higgins, the owner, is insulted that Rumpole would expect him to prepare such low-class dishes. Suddenly, pandemonium strikes when a live mouse jumps out from the serving dish at another table. Unfortunately, the diners are Erskine-Brown with an attractive colleague that he's romancing. 

Rumpole and the Man of God audiobook cover art

  • Rumpole and the Man of God

  • By: John Mortimer
  • Narrated by: Leo McKern
  • Length: 1 hr and 12 mins
  • Abridged
  • Overall
    4.5 out of 5 stars 15
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars 10
  • Story
    4.5 out of 5 stars 11

Known as the Bailey hack for his chain smoking, the irrepressible Rumpole is engaged to defend a priest who is accused of theft. Meeting up with old friend George for after-work drinks, Rumpole can't help but notice that George's female companion looks suspiciously familiar.

  • 4 out of 5 stars

  • The inimitable Leo McKern does Rumpole

  • By fussyreader on 10-09-16
Rumpole and the Summer of Discontent audiobook cover art

  • Rumpole and the Summer of Discontent

  • By: John Mortimer
  • Narrated by: Leo McKern
  • Length: 1 hr and 34 mins
  • Abridged
  • Overall
    4.5 out of 5 stars 23
  • Performance
    4.5 out of 5 stars 16
  • Story
    4.5 out of 5 stars 16

Rumpole defends a union activist accused of manslaughter, while Hilda goes on strike as Rumpole's cook because of his late hours.

  • 5 out of 5 stars

  • sickkk

  • By Dean on 09-26-18
Rumpole and the Judge's Elbow audiobook cover art

  • Rumpole and the Judge's Elbow

  • By: John Mortimer
  • Narrated by: Leo McKern
  • Length: 1 hr and 23 mins
  • Abridged
  • Overall
    4.5 out of 5 stars 16
  • Performance
    4.5 out of 5 stars 12
  • Story
    4.5 out of 5 stars 12

Rumpole defends the smarmy owner of a string of massage parlors on the charge of running "disorderly houses" (i.e. bordellos).

  • 5 out of 5 stars

  • Excellent Rumpole, very enjoyable and entertaining

  • By MillenniumMike on 11-02-13
Rumpole of the Bailey [AudioGo] audiobook cover art

  • Rumpole of the Bailey [AudioGo]

  • By: John Mortimer
  • Narrated by: Robert Hardy
  • Length: 7 hrs and 9 mins
  • Unabridged
  • Overall
    4.5 out of 5 stars 91
  • Performance
    4.5 out of 5 stars 60
  • Story
    4.5 out of 5 stars 60

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.

  • 5 out of 5 stars

  • Alone and without a leader

  • By Joe on 12-29-10
Rumpole for the Prosecution audiobook cover art

  • Rumpole for the Prosecution

  • By: John Mortimer
  • Narrated by: Leo McKern
  • Length: 1 hr and 32 mins
  • Abridged
  • Overall
    4.5 out of 5 stars 18
  • Performance
    4.5 out of 5 stars 13
  • Story
    4.5 out of 5 stars 13

Horace Rumpole is back! This time to relate his witty tales as an Old Bailey prosecutor with a penchant for gin and justice. Listen to Rumpole's biting cynicism and dry humor... then become a lifelong fan!

Editorial Reviews

In this first volume of his classic series, author John Mortimer introduces us to the sagacious, sardonic, and Wordsworth-quoting London barrister as he ruminates on one of his old cases: the trial of the 16-year-old Jim Timson, a member of one of the most powerful families in South London, who, along with a band of hooligans, was accused of stealing a briefcase from a local business.

Leo McKern, who famously portrayed Rumpole in the iconic TV show Rumpole of the Bailey, fittingly reprises his role in this audiobook, and injects this quintessentially British character with the perfect amount of dryness and cunning wit.

Publisher's Summary

Rumpole is defending a young member of the Timson clan, an extended family of light-fingered but otherwise moral South London villains. To his distress, his own son appears to be acquiring some of the Timson traits.
©1978 John Mortimer (P)2009 Audio Holdings, LLC

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