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  • A Very English Scandal

  • Sex, Lies and a Murder Plot at the Heart of the Establishment
  • By: John Preston
  • Narrated by: Daniel Weyman
  • Length: 10 hrs and 14 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (922 ratings)

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A Very English Scandal

By: John Preston
Narrated by: Daniel Weyman
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Summary

Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of A Very English Scandal by John Preston, read by Daniel Weyman.

The shocking true story of the first British politician to stand trial for murder.

Behind oak-panelled doors in the House of Commons, men with cut-glass accents and gold signet rings are conspiring to murder.

It's the late 1960s, and homosexuality has only just been legalised, and Jeremy Thorpe, the leader of the Liberal party, has a secret he's desperate to hide. As long as Norman Scott, his beautiful, unstable lover is around, Thorpe's brilliant career is at risk. With the help of his fellow politicians, Thorpe schemes, deceives and embezzles - until he can see only one way to silence Scott for good.

The trial of Jeremy Thorpe changed our society forever: it was the moment the British public discovered the truth about its political class. Illuminating the darkest secrets of the establishment, the Thorpe affair revealed such breathtaking deceit and corruption in an entire section of British society that, at the time, hardly anyone dared believe it could be true.

A Very English Scandal is an eye-opening tale of how the powerful protect their own and an extraordinary insight into the forces that shaped modern Britain.

©2016 John Preston (P)2016 Penguin Audio
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What listeners say about A Very English Scandal

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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

Superb on every level

Thoroughly researched, witty, poignant and brilliantly written. Add to that the brilliant narration, replete with characterisations of the key players. Superb work and a joy to listen to.

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All Star 5*****

I’m of the age when I actually remembered this happening and now I know the truth
You know you just didn’t know just what might be going on and this highlights what was happening at the time unbelievable!!
The narrative by DW was perfect

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

Fascinatingly shocking

What an amazing story, I had no idea all this had gone on in British politics, nor any clue that it would be involving the Liberal Democrats.

The debauchery and debasement of these people who are supposed to be representatives of the populace is just horrific. No matter wether you are accepting of homosexuality or not the treatment of the young man in this book is truly awful.

The arrogance of he people involved and the complete lack of integrity is really quite shocking. Yes we all know the clichè about politicians lying, but this story reveals it goes to a whole other level.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Interesting

Hmmm, not sure if I would pay for this but OK! Long read and I did want to listen to the end, although in no rush.

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

Gripping narration of a political scandal

The story told here is an excellent demonstration of the strange Jekyll and Hyde nature of a British politician, Jeremy Thorpe, in the 60s and 70s, and those who sought to save him from the extraordinary ways he had behaved

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Thoroughly enjoyable.

A thoroughly enjoyable book, well narrated and full of intrigue. It was an era I grew up in, so very poignant. Well worth a listen.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Marvellous

Thoroughly enjoyed this title.
My only quibbles are
1. Insufficient attention to the money trail.
2. Separately I would have liked a clear exposition of how JT funded his lifestyle .
3. Evidence that Bissell, the Sunday Telegraph, Cantley, Chief Prosecution Counsel and AG threw the case is missing.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Riveting yarn..

I thoroughly enjoyed this production - especially its detail and expert pace of delivery by Daniel. The story is well known but at the end it was so painfully evident that the ‘Establishment’ will stop at nothing to distance itself from any threat to its continued existence. This continues to this very day…

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

Fascinating and compelling

I am old enough to remember this a young boy. I remember the news reports on TV about the trial. I listened to this to understand the back story and was captivated. Preston describes a sordid, rather pathetic story filled with deeply flawed characters. He adroitly avoids any sympathy for some clearly bizarre people. One is left saddened by the pantomime murder plot and the deeply disturbing establishment cover-up, which is described without hysterical rancour or melodrama.

Finely voiced, this is a superb audiobook.

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12 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Solidly brilliant

Fascinatingly written with both mischief and Elan. Already listened to it twice blah blah blah

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1 person found this helpful