- Paperback: 482 pages
- Publisher: Faber and Faber; 3rd Revised edition edition (6 July 1998)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0571196675
- ISBN-13: 978-0571196678
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.6 x 5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 638,700 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Writing Home
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Product Description
Book Description
A wonderfully entertaining collection of Alan Bennett's writings, and the companion volume to Untold Stories.
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
Product Description
Autobiographical and idiosyncratic, this is a collection of Alan Bennett's prose writings, assembled by Bennett himself from over a quarter of a century of diaries, reminiscences, broadcasting and reviews. It includes his address at Russell Harty's memorial service, and recollections of growing up in Leeds. At the heart of the collection is "The Lady in the Van", his true account of Miss Mary Shepherd, a tramp who took up residence in his garden and stayed for 15 years. This edition has an additional three years of diaries and journalism, including a tribute to the late Peter Cook.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Any book that can relieve the tedium, grime and discomfort of London's Northern Line from East Finchley to Totenham Court Road, has to be given space in the work bag - even if it means elbowing the tupperware box of sarnies. This delightful collection of poignant and often amusing recollections and observations are a joy from beginning to end.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Alan Bennett is a man of great humanity, who writes openly about closed lives in a way that feels very special. My gran used to shop at Bennett's father's shop, and I live across the river from Armley, where he grew up, so this episodic personal history has extra layers to it.
Yet there are plenty of layers for even the most casual reader - this could easily be what I would call 'a bog book', although some parts would require quite severe constipation for successful completion in one go. There are snippets, remembrances, essays, criticism... This is basically a collection of all the best bits of Bennett's non-fiction writing.
There is barely a hair's breadth between much of this writing and that of something like 'Talking Heads', which carries the same level of affectionate honesty. Bennett seems to be such a dispassionate person, as if observing the world through glass, yet when one chooses to see the world from his happy-sad perspective, one is often moved to tears. I'm not sure I can explain it: sometimes it's like Mr Spock from Star Trek, mystified at humans in general, and human emotion in particular.
Bennett is not a religious man (although he had a religious upbringing), yet this book instills in me a sense of wonder at the ordinary things in life, and a hope that I, too, might see below the surface, even as I am staring at it, seeing nothing else.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have returned to this book several times. I have laughed till I cried at the hilarious observations and choked up at the most poignantly sad passages, both aspects of Bennett's writing especially evident in 'The Lady in the Van' reproduced in its entirety in this collection. A gem of a book from a rare gem of a man.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A good one to 'dip in and out of' - rather than cover to cover gripper
For me Bennett suffers from being too well known a "voice" - I can hear it as I read.
Accordingly the medium of the written page (which I enjoy) pales in comparison to... Read more
Accordingly the medium of the written page (which I enjoy) pales in comparison to... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Renzo
Like hearing an exceptionally interesting speaker
Great book, thoroughly enjoyed it. Bennett's style is conversational, and considered, most certainly not going for "reaction" from the reader. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Robert Shaw
I'm sorry, I don't get it
I know I'm not going to be popular with this, seeing as Alan Bennett is considered a National Treasure, but I didn't get on with this book at all. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Petra Bryce
A glimpse into a fascinating mind
Alan Bennet is a one-off; a deeply, genuinely shy man who somehow acquired a high public profile.
His book is one to dip into with pleasure and to return to again and... Read more
His book is one to dip into with pleasure and to return to again and... Read more
Published on 17 May 2010 by Wizteria
Guaranteed to brighten any bus journey
Much as 'Untold Stories' which is the second volume, read arse about face by myself, mixes diary and prose, so too does this volume. Read more
Published on 9 Feb 2010 by Angus P. Walker
Writing lessons
If there is a spark of humanity in you read this book. Alan Bennett was part of the satire boom in early 60's and when neccessary has a caustic dry wit that can catch you by... Read more
Published on 3 Nov 2007 by S J Buck
Penny Clark
Fairly new to Alan Bennett, this book has given me the most enormous pleasure. It can be dipped into, or read in big doses with equal pleasure. Read more
Published on 14 Jan 2007 by P. M. Clark
Enjoyable - nice book
I would have no hesitation in recommending this book to anyone who was looking for something a bit different, but still appealing to many.
Published on 20 May 2003 by Mr. Richard J. Davies
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