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Court Number One
- The Old Bailey Trials That Defined Modern Britain
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 17 hrs and 48 mins
- Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, True Crime
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Summary
Court Number One of the Old Bailey is the most famous court room in the world and the venue of some of the most sensational human dramas ever to be played out in a criminal trial.
The principal criminal court of England, historically reserved for the more serious and high-profile trials, Court Number One opened its doors in 1907 after the building of the 'new' Old Bailey. In the decades that followed it witnessed the trials of the most famous and infamous defendants of the 20th century. It was here that the likes of Madame Fahmy, Lord Haw Haw, John Christie, Ruth Ellis, George Blake (and his unlikely jailbreakers, Michael Randle and Pat Pottle), Jeremy Thorpe and Ian Huntley were defined in history, alongside a wide assortment of other traitors, lovers, politicians, psychopaths, spies, con men and - of course - the innocent.
Not only notorious for its murder trials, Court Number One recorded the changing face of modern British society, bearing witness to alternate attitudes to homosexuality, the death penalty, freedom of expression, insanity and the psychology of violence. Telling the stories of 12 of the most scandalous and celebrated cases across a radically shifting century, this audiobook traces the evolving attitudes of Britain, the decline of a society built on deference and discretion, the tensions brought by a more permissive society and the rise of trial by mass media.
From the Sunday Times best-selling author of Jeremy Hutchinson's Case Histories, Court Number One is a mesmerising window onto the thrills, fears and foibles of the modern age.
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What listeners say about Court Number One
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Kirstine
- 11-08-19
Engrossing collection of trials
A well-chosen selection of trials from different eras, so well-described I felt the proceedings were happening as I listened. Some trials are recent and more familiar but no less gripping as the details unfold. By choosing trials from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries changes in social attitudes are clearly demonstrated and, in some instances, made me cringe at the obnoxious racist and sexist comments.
The narrator is excellent and, unlike some reviewers, I thought his voice suited the material.
5 people found this helpful
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- S C DYKES
- 16-06-19
Important and Engrossing
I thoroughly enjoyed Thomas Grant's previous book (The Case Histories of Jeremy Hutchinson) but this is even better. While COURT NUMBER ONE details all the gruesome forensic evidence a true crime reader might crave, it also lives up to its title in providing a compelling account of how the conduct of trials at the Old Bailey has helped "define modern Britain". Grant clearly holds the British legal system in high regard, but this does not blind him to the hypocrisy, incompetence and sheer eccentricity of many of its practitioners. He skewers judicial pomposity and class/racial prejudice throughout the book, bursting the balloon of inflated reputations (not least Edward Marshall-Hall and George Carman), while acknowledging the fine art of advocacy and the tremendous strain under which legal teams operate. There is a parade of villains here (from John Reginald Christie to Ian Huntley), whose pathological motivations are probed with insight and commendable restraint, but the lasting impression is of the victims of injustice (Ruth Ellis, Edith Thompson, Timothy Evans) and the stories that led them to the gallows. The absurd nature of certain cases is wittily exposed, but tellingly Grant never loses sight of the human suffering involved in a criminal trial, exemplified in his sensitive examination of Norman Scott's treatment at the hands of Jeremy Thorpe and his 'Establishment' friends.
I was initially dubious of what I took to be Jonathan Keeble's rather self-consciously world-weary narration, but grew to appreciate his wry, unsensational approach and was ultimately moved by the understated yet heart-felt compassion he revealed in Grant's lucid prose. Overall this is an important, engrossing work - as addictive as any Netflix cold case documentary.
8 people found this helpful
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- G. Williams
- 07-01-20
Gripping and Excellent Narration - Loved It!
This is a selection of trials from the No.1 Court. At times it is a difficult listen as the author explores the interrelationships between societal expectations, the role of the advocate and the judicial process as revealed by an examination of some of the trials at The Old Bailey. It is an eye-opener for anyone interested in the concept of the 'search for truth' within the judicial process. Some trials are very disturbing as the procedure and the adversarial nature of the courtroom seem to obsure rather than illuminate the proceedings ( the account of the trial of Timothy Evans is almost too painful to listen to). This book is not a cosy romp through sensational trials whilst waving the banner 'UK Courts are best' but it is a fascinating exploration as to how a jury may be influenced by societal norms and a skillful barrister. The narration fits the text perfectly. - spell binding!
1 person found this helpful
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- referee806
- 12-07-19
Absolutely fantastic
An enthralling story from start to finish. Recommend this to all, you will enjoy throughout.
1 person found this helpful
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- Emma
- 25-06-19
Gripping
Enjoyed everything about this book from the compelling and diverse stories to the reflections on social norms and the law, to the common themes and stark differences over time, to the excellent narration. Learned a lot but never felt lectured. Human, painful and Moving and also wryly funny as appropriate. Fantastic.
1 person found this helpful
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- N. Berry
- 20-06-19
Superb eulogy to the criminal trial
If all this book did was to present a modern and learned account of some of the most notable trials of the 20th century it would be worth a listen.
However it goes well beyond that. It puts into words why accounts of trials resonate with the public and why they matter to history. Anyone who has ever enjoyed trial reporting will find that Mr Grant articulates precisely why they have done so.
The accounts of the trials themselves are fair, witty and detailed with a slightly archaic tone that recalls previous works in the genre. My only very minor complaint is that one or two of the trials (most notably the Jeremy Thorpe trial) are perhaps a bit too well known for anything unexpected to emerge.
I found the narrator perfectly competent and suitable for the book. He clearly doesn't have a huge range of voices but nothing jarred or got in the way which is the most one can expect.
I can't wait for whatever Mr Grant writes next.
3 people found this helpful
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- J. Holme
- 16-06-19
Insightful
This book was excellently narrated throughout.
The material was both interesting and insightful.
Highly recommended.
1 person found this helpful
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- Polestar
- 24-12-20
Superbly written book, wonderfully narrated
Excellent book by Thomas Grant, whose other book on the barrister Jeremy Hutchinson is also superb. The featured cases are fascinating in their own right, but it is the background details and information which makes this such a rewarding listen. Thomas Grant places each case in a wider context which makes this audiobook as much a social and political history, as a legal history. The cases of Evans and Ellis from the 1950’s still leave a bitter taste at the miscarriage of justice. Of the hundreds of Audible books I’ve purchased this book is among my favourites.
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- Amazon Customer
- 26-10-20
fascinating
Loved this title, an interesting look into landmark cases and how the justice system has changed. highly recommend
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- Malcolm Spinks
- 08-10-20
A brilliant masterpiece
it made me feel that in each case on trial I was within the court. It captulated me from start to finish.
well presented, well narrated, A real must have for those interested in aspects of the Justice process.