- Paperback: 86 pages
- Publisher: Samuel French Ltd (24 May 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0573112665
- ISBN-13: 978-0573112669
- Product Dimensions: 21.6 x 14 x 0.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,490,838 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Lady in the Van: Play (Faber Plays)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Life imitates art in The Lady in the Van, the story of the itinerant Miss Shepherd, who lived in a van in Alan Bennett's driveway from the early1970s until her death in 1989. It is doubtful that Bennett could have made up the eccentric Miss Shepherd if he tried, but his poignant, funny but unsentimental account of their strange relationship is akin to his best fictional screen writing.
Bennett concedes that "One seldom was able to do her a good turn without some thoughts of strangulation", but as the plastic bags build up, the years pass by and Miss Shepherd moves into Bennett's driveway, a relationship is established which defines a certain moment in late 20th-century London life which has probably gone forever. The dissenting, liberal, middle-class world of Bennett and his peers comes into hilarious but also telling collision with the world of Miss Shepherd: "there was a gap between our social position and our social obligations. It was in this gap that Miss Shepherd (in her van) was able to live".
Bennett recounts Miss Shepherd's bizarre escapades in his inimitable style, from her letter to the Argentinean Embassy at the height of the Falklands War, to her attempts to stand for Parliament and wangle an electric wheelchair out of the Social Services. Beautifully observed, The Lady in the Van is as notable for Bennett's attempts to uncover the enigmatic history of Miss Shepherd, as it is for its amusing account of her eccentric escapades. --Jerry Brotton --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
Review
"...a wonderfully bittersweet comic diary of the years in which a lethally dotty and very smelly old bat parked her unroadworthy vehicle in Bennett's Camden garden, thereby providing him with a roughly equal amount of good journalistic copy and guilty landlordly irritation." Sheridan Morley, Spectator"
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
'The Lady in the Van' is a completely true story. In the 1970's and 1980's outside Alan Bennett's own house in Camden an old lady (Miss Shepherd) lived in a Van in the street. After a time she could no longer stay on the street. Amazingly Bennett allowed her to move her Van into his garden and there she remained until she died.
This is a remarkable story, and its one of the funniest yet moving pieces of writing that I have ever read. Bennett is a marvellous observer of people and his humanity shines through. Miss Shephard's living conditions were frankly disgusting (just think of the smell) and this would be enough to put most people off having any contact with her at all.
Bennett here has written one of the finest works of moving and poignant non-fiction I know of.
This is a remarkable story, and its one of the funniest yet moving pieces of writing that I have ever read. Bennett is a marvellous observer of people and his humanity shines through. Miss Shephard's living conditions were frankly disgusting (just think of the smell) and this would be enough to put most people off having any contact with her at all.
Bennett here has written one of the finest works of moving and poignant non-fiction I know of.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Miss Shepherd is in many ways a typical Alan Bennett character - often very funny yet sometimes tragic and with an interesting tale to tell. She could easily be one of the characters from his 'Talking Heads' monologues. However, this is a work of non-fiction and she actually did come with her collection of plastic bags to live in her van on his front drive - and stayed for a number of years. Bennett brilliantly manages to convey the delicate balance present in their complex relationship, even when it doesn't show him in the most positive of light. As he puts it: 'One seldom was able to do her a good turn without some thoughts of strangulation.' Don't we all know someone like that?
As the book was created from notes he had made relating to Miss Shepherd in his diary over a number of years, there is not one story running through this book. What emerges, however, is an honest and touching but never sentimental story of a enigmatic character - a real one-of-a-kind.
As the book was created from notes he had made relating to Miss Shepherd in his diary over a number of years, there is not one story running through this book. What emerges, however, is an honest and touching but never sentimental story of a enigmatic character - a real one-of-a-kind.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Lady in the Van is well worth reading. Alan Bennett is an excellent writer and holds the reader's attention all the way through the story.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent read, a must buy for any reader!
An excellent short story, entertaining, humorous and so well written! I do not regret buying this book at all, one of the best book purchases ive made in a long time. A must buy!
Published 1 month ago by Caitlin
A tiny work of genius
This book is small, short, happy, sad and sweet. It was a perfect gift for someone who appreciates the human side of humans. Perfectly written, honestly described and just right. Read more
Published 1 month ago by biro
An Alan Bennet Classic
I had just read Alan's "Untold Stories" in which this lady was mentoned frequently. I couldn't wait to get the book "The Lady In The Van" and it didn't disappoint. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mrs. V. A. Saunders
charming
a lovely little read, written in Bennett's sharp observations, the tone is sometimes funny, sometimes incredulous and sometimes very touching. i wish i'd met her!
Published 13 months ago by aee
The Lady in the van
I read the book after listening to a play based on it on Radio 4. It was an interesting mixture of humour and sadness. My main criticism was how short it was. Read more
Published 15 months ago by bikerdave
The Lady in the Van.
The book arrived within the dates stated. It was in good condition. The entire process, from initial order to receipt was, therefore, as promised.
Published on 13 Feb 2010 by Mr. Geoffrey Mcelwaine
An hilarious and wonderful true story!
The book The Lady In The Van maybe small in size, but truly vast in entertainment value, everything you would ever expect from the pen of Alan Bennett!
Published on 6 Jan 2010 by J. M. Cook
Alan Bennett The Lady In The Van
Although a very tiny little book,(roughly 5 inches by 2.5 inches in size), I found this a very enjoyable read indeed. Read more
Published on 8 Jun 2009 by E. Todd
Famous Alan Bennett account holds up well.
Alan Bennett's account of Miss Mary Shepherd and her taking up residence in his front garden for many years is well-known to Bennett fans. Read more
Published on 13 April 2009 by caliboy
entertaing read
Very amusing little book coupled with Bennett's talent for pathos and humour. The story is so well expressed you can almost smell the stench of the tramp occupied van. Read more
Published on 9 Aug 2007 by P. LOWE
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