Rumpole of the Bailey Audiobook by John Mortimer, read by Leo McKern

Rumpole of the Bailey by John Mortimer and performed by Leo McKern.
Horace Rumpole is a British barrister (lawyer) who defends criminals at the bailey (courthouse). Rumpole is old, overweight, smokes, drinks, and does the best he can for his clients. He's intelligent, humorous, and cynical. He wins some, he loses some.
This audiobook contains the first, second, and fourth stories of Rumpole written by John Mortimer who was a barrister himself. They include:
1. Rumpole and the Younger Generation
2. Rumpole and the Alternative Society
3. Rumpole and the Married Lady
Now sit back and enter the world of British criminal law. Enjoy!
Note: Click VIDEOS located between Home and Playlist to see all the audiobooks available on this channel. If you're not sure about an audiobook, give it a 10 minute listen.
John Mortimer (1923-2009) was himself a barrister. Among other things, he defended clients from obscenty prosecutions including Virgin Records for putting out a record album in 1977 that had the word "Bullocks" on the cover. That album was Never my the Bullocks, Here's the Sex Pistols. It's a angry, controversial, headbanging album. Four decades later the lead singer, Johnny Rotten, was the Jester on Masked Singer. He made the appearance in order to bring a smile to his wife whose personhood and health are disappearing due to dementia.
Leo McKern (1920-2002) Was an Australian actor who not only read this audiobook but also played Horace Rumpole on TV for which he is best known. For fans of the bizarre TV show The Prisoner, Mr. McKern played Number 2, and for horror fans, he played an uncredited role in the first two Omen movies. As for Great Books On Tape fans, Leo McKern gives a terrific performance on A Town Like Alice which, when I last checked, was first in popularity on this channel.
P.S. Rumpole often refers to his wife of many years as "She who must be obeyed." This came from a title given to a mysterious goddess by local villagers in a famous adventure book titled She by H. Rider Haggard. It's a good read though with Victorian attitudes towards natives. It seems a common human failing to look down our noses at certain groups of people. Well, I'd be more critical if I didn't have so many faults of my own.

[@kenmccaffrey5040]

McKern and Rumpole were made for each other. Leo was brilliant and the series was unforgettable and a representation of an unforgettable time.

[@jellyfishattack]

It's a treat to hear Leo McKern narrating Rumpole. Thank you.

[@greatbooksontape782]

You can also hear Mr. McKern read "A Town Like Alice" on this channel.

[@petermorris9818]

A real treat. I wish he had read more.

[@twt3716]

Lovely. Curl up on bed on a raining and cold evening. Let the dog jump up and use as a hot water bottle for your feet, large glass of brandy and optional cigar. And relax to the voice and excellent writing. Cold winter evenings in old blighty are now something to be cherished. Have a splendid evening everyone.

[@ruffian25505]

lol ok😅😅😅 lol Pool pp😅😅pl 😅 loop 😅😅😅pp😅 😅p😅😅p I’m lll

[@johnreinke8763]

Here in Alaska we call that, a 3 dog night. Especially when it's below -20F.

[@lauralake7430]

Ahh, the dog as hot water bottle. Finest kind!

[@MaryKane-qv5vz]

I thought I was the only one who used my dog as a hot water bottle.

[@thomasdonovan3580]

What’s the difference between a hotdog and a warm puppy…. Nothing if you’re Chinese.

[@MrDavey2010]

What a treat is this reading! McKern was a superb actor.

[@warplanner8852]

To those who are relatively new to the Rumpole phenomenon, the late Mr McKern has read scads of Horace's adventures. Being a devoted fan of John Mortimer's hero, I took up reading his tales incessantly and with rapt fascination. As middle age gave way to the diminished attention span of my senior years, these narrations served to entertain with inviolable joy. They abound on KZbin as do a lot of the Thames TV episodes wherein Rompole is portrayed by Leo McKern. By the way, Beatles fans will note that McKern played the high priest of Kaili in their second movie, _Help_ and was memorable in that as well. A touch of irony is that Leo McKern passed away on 23 July 2002 and Maurice Denham - who acted Rumpole on a number of BBC radio dramas, died one day later on the 24th.

[@colinwarner7762]

The two actors you mentioned at the end, were such great entertaining performers and by me and many others, so greatly missed. Regards, Colin.

[@archidonagodezano322]

I have loved Mckern eversince I was introduced to the Rumpole TV series years ago. Loved his booming voice. Delightful listening. Thank yoy.

[@bootstrapperwilson7687]

Yoy.

[@jerryjohnson8485]

I love the voice,the inflection of the words 🧐

[@blackbird5634]

Ah the sonorous tones of Leo McKern! What a joy!

[@greypilgrim26]

Wow this bizarre. I had memories as a young kid, my parents playing Rumpole on tape in the car on road trips, then today, a good 20+ yrs later, I finally watch Ladyhawke for the first time, and the second I hear the voice of Leo Mckern my ears prick up. I know that voice. So well. But I can’t put my finger on it. A quick IMDb later and here we are. What a voice. What a personality able to chisel its way into one’s memory so easily.

[@jeremypearson6852]

I’ve watched all TV episodes multiple times, so its easy for me to picture Rumpole delivering his lines as only he can. One of the best shows ever to come out of the UK and a part made for Leo McKern. I just wish John Mortimer has written more stories.

[@booshaboo1]

Totally agree ♥️

[@dickiegreenleaf750]

Agreed! I was glad the book came out a few years ago with stories I never knew of.

[@corringhamdepot4434]

"The Old Bailey" is the nickname of The Central Criminal Court of England and Wales. Which is located on Old Bailey street in London. Old Bailey street is named after part of the ancient wall around the City of London. A bailey is part of a castle, or fortification.

[@lauralake7430]

Thank you! I always wondered.

[@mrFalconlem]

I used to watch these with my dad when they first came out on mystery! On PBS in America…watched three the other night, these old trained actors were the best! Glad to see this audio series.

[@j.dunlop8295]

Listening to, watching and reading Rumpole for +45 years, never a waste of time! A real slice, or tipple, it is! LoL

[@ThomasHyland-eb4ol]

Rumpole was one of those tv series that I made sure I was home for. Now these audio readings bring back those wonderful memories. Thank you John and Leo.

[@mwatts-riley2688]

This is a damn great time. What a way to spend a ☕ cold windy nasty 🌊 Chicago Saturday afternoon 🌀 Popcorn. Sweet tea. Hubby is cleaning the microwave all by himself. Later I'll fold clothes and crank out another tea. But For now- I'm not moving. 🛌 Elgin. Illinois.

[@joeoconnor5400]

Leo McKern got on quite well with The Beatles during the making of Help! He was the definitive Rumpole and much missed as an actor.

[@jacquelineharrod6386]

The glorious Rumpole, read by Rumpole himself. Thank you.😊

[@ninaholmes4120]

From the genius mind of Sir John Mortimer and out of the trained and perfected, grumbling voice of Leo Kern…a miracle of literary history😊

[@msmltvcktl]

*Leo McKern

[@alexhayden2303]

He really is Rumpole, although he had a long career with a wide range of roles. I would never have guessed that he was an Australian or that he had a glass eye.

[@micheler4120]

I had the entire series on cassettes so long ago. Thank you for this wonderful and delicious walk down memory lane. Such excellent writing, such excellent acting!

[@granthurlburt4062]

Thanks hugely for posting this. I actually have already listened to some of these stories recently with another narrator but it is like another story with the very fine reading by Leo McKern. I watch the TV series about every two years.

[@joanr3189]

Thanks from Canada for this “treat”. It keeps on giving.

[@mwatts-riley2688]

And so thanks, too, from northern Illinois. Elgin. I'm 64 f, my father recently died, in April, he was 91. He was from a small town named Streator. He loved Rumpole and Fibber and MASH(tv) I loved him, so I listen to Rumpole, and Fibber and Hawkeye. And I grin. 👋 M. Illinois. 🇺🇸

[@nathelondon3719]

Who better to narrate Rumpole than Rumpole himself! RIP Leo McKern....there will never ever be another Rumpole!

[@jerryjohnson8485]

Leo, the one and only Horace Rumple,to me!

[@carolynseivard2021]

@@jerryjohnson8485 ..m... .

[@nancybingham7298]

Rumpole always entertaining - Thanks.

[@jackiewhite4204]

Thank you, from Australia.

[@msmltvcktl]

Thank YOU, Australia, for Leo McKern

[@shelleymcafee8197]

Lol! SO Good, I’m reminded-exceedingly of My Grandfather and Great-Uncle; they must have been Fans!! Thank-You for this, I’m hooked! …

[@LuciThomasHardylover-qx6ts]

Rumpole works at 'The Old Bailey ' , not a bailey,a funny name for a law court! The Old Bailey is the central law court and hears the major criminal trials from the London area and the most serious trials from beyond . So named because it was built on the site of the old wall of London,a Bailey. The courts and their records go back to medieval times, when it was a court like the assizes, it was then attached to the infamous Newgate Gaol, reportedly with money allocated by Dick Whittington as mayor. The current building I think was open in 1904, and is a familiar site on the national television news as it's facade regularly provides a handsome backdrop to press statements from distressed families, defiant defendants and protesters and supporters of either side ina trial. It is a great honour and matter of status to be representing someone at the most senior law court which is The Old Bailey.

[@clovelly1946]

Thankyou for the info,very interesting.

[@littlebrookreader949]

Oh! How I love this book! Thank you!

[@roelienpostma2367]

Lovely to hear the original!

[@Fadem12forReal]

Had never heard of Rumpole. This is great.

[@fatfrreddy1414]

Mr Mckern at his drollesst...Many Thanks...

[@jackie9600]

Thank you from 🇯🇲

[@derekwallace2278]

Adore rumpled. This version cool Leo mckern brill

[@FF-so3su]

Wonderful 😊👍❤️

[@chuckrussell4171]

If there was ever an example of perfect casting, it would have to be McKern and Rumpole. I used to watch the show on PBS.

[@cgarby]

thank you!!

[@MaryKane-qv5vz]

I mentioned I used pepper to keep my feet warm. To explain to the puzzled looks as to how pepper wld warm my feet I comfirmed he is my dog.

[@FF-so3su]

Thanks🙂👍❤️

[@stewartlancaster6155]

The Sex Pistols lp Mortimer defended was called Never Mind the Bollocks, not as described in the notes above Never Mind the Bullocks, which sounds more like an episode of All creatures great and small,

[@msmltvcktl]

Americans don't understand that bollocks = BS / testes while bullock = a young bull (a teenage Bullingham?)

[@LuciThomasHardylover-qx6ts]

Came to write exactly this! And John Lydons wife has died. The kindest thing that can be said about him is that he insisted on nursing her himself until the end. Of only he'd kept his mouth shut on all the other things he knew nothing about instead of attention seeking at the expense of other people 🤷 but he did the right thing by her and her grandchildren.

[@johndaarteest]

It's a shame McKern didn't do poetry readings from the Quiller Couch book of poetry 🙂

[@belindamay8063]

@JohnDa Artist . What a delight to hear Rumpole reciting Wordsworth - they belong together in so many ways. The whole collection should be shown again on a main TV channel, as a matter of urgency. Our once-rich culture is breaking up , thanks partly to the dominance of a stripped-down language.

[@msmltvcktl]

Stripped down, humiliated, and forced into menial labour is the once proud King's English.

[@ianthomas2728]

Wonderful. Thank you.

[@longcastle4863]

1:04:36 Rumplole and the Alternative Society 1:52:40 Rumplole and the Married Lady 2:14:00

[@sugarfalls1]

Thank you for doing that!

[@jasonwilliams7171]

Just one of many things it means to be British looking forward to the proms...

[@JohannaLeigh]

Leo seems to take to playing other characters in the stories of his leading barrister.

[@ashleysaunders9947]

Spent many a year at the bar, cost a fortune 😊

[@FF-so3su]

1.52 ..and the married lady

[@RalphDratman]

1:52 Rumpole and the Married Lady

[@chrisarcher5573]

It wasn't 'bullocks'

[@THEBOYHOTSPUR]

The sound is banjaxed

[@stockmarketnotes3441]

40:10

[@vegansnippets205]

Pl

[@Mr.Monta77]

Poor audio quality 😢

[@michellemccumbers7216]

When he hits the s and soft c sounds, it is unbearable

[@msmltvcktl]

Proper English is unbearable to you? Might you be from the Colonies, perhaps somewhere in the South? 🤣

[@victorireland8913]

Superb

[@myriaddsystems]

Poor quality, sounds like it's being read over the phone

[@booshaboo1]

Rubbish comment

[@xmaseveeve5259]

Bad sound.

[@booshaboo1]

Nothing wrong with it

[@xmaseveeve5259]

@@booshaboo1 I'm not interested in your garbage.

[@bbbl8910]

Ingrate

[@xmaseveeve5259]

@@bbbl8910 Groveller.

[@myriaddsystems]

This really is bad quality upload

[@theConquerersMama]

It sounds exactly like the original I had.