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Rumpole: The Gentle Art of Blackmail & Other Stories

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Rumpole: The Gentle Art of Blackmail & Other Stories

By: John Mortimer
Narrated by: Benedict Cumberbatch, full cast, Timothy West
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About this listen

Benedict Cumberbatch plays the young Horace Rumpole in this second stellar collection of court cases, also starring Timothy West as the older Rumpole.

'Rumpole and the Man of God': It is 1959, and Rumpole must defend a clergyman accused of shoplifting who, although he clearly did not commit the crime, is curiously reluctant to be cross-examined under oath. Meanwhile, Hilda (she who must be obeyed) has big news....

'Rumpole and the Explosive Evidence': Rumpole defends a well-known safe blower and exposes the underhand behaviour of one Dirty Dickerson, a senior police officer who is quite prepared to tamper with evidence.

'Rumpole and the Gentle Art of Blackmail': In 1964 Rumpole returns to Oxford, where he studied law, to defend a young gardener who is accused of blackmailing the Master of St Joseph’s College. Their friendship had provoked rumours of homosexuality - still illegal in those days - and the Master says he has been threatened with a public accusation.

'Rumpole and the Expert Witness': Rumpole is asked to defend a GP, Dr Ned Dacre, who is accused of murdering his wife, Sally. The plot thickens when the local pathologist turns out to have history with Dr Ned....

©2018 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2018 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd Crime Thrillers Dramatisations Thriller & Suspense Funny

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All stars
Most relevant  
Brilliant casting, especially the old and the young Rumpole. Enjoyed it more than i thought i would.

Guilty Pleasure

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Great fun to listen too. Humors and a good story. Very well read. Would listen to it again.

Rumpole

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I haven't laughed so much in ages! The narration is Brilliant! The stories are wonderful! Compulsive listening! Have just finished this, my first Audible Rumpole, and I am about to buy my next!! Can't live without Rumpole! Recommend 100 p.c.!

Thank you Audible!!

Better than Excellent!

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i love rumpole of the bailey and this is a great cast ....10/10 .....definatley worth a listen

fantastic book!

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Absolutely fantastic brilliant love it. Timothy West as well. It's a must, must listening audio book.

Absolutely loved it. Benedict is brilliant.

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I loved this book. The narration with Timothy West as old Rumpole and Benedict Cumberbatch as the younger works wonderfully.

Timeless Classic

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great story. delivered deliciously by the actors. especially like cumberbach. some of the views expressed are rather dated....

classic rumpole

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For me, Cumberbatch gets the relationship between Rumpole and Hilda horribly wrong. There is too much overt hostility, not the simmering tension that the ITV series portrayed so well (and Maurice Denham too in the earlier BBC Radio productions) This completely lacks subtlety and detracts from the enjoyment of some very good stories.

Not a classic

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