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Book Description
A wonderfully entertaining collection of Alan Bennett's writings, and the companion volume to Untold Stories.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Product Description
Already a bestseller, this is a wonderfully entertaining collection of Alan Bennett's prose writings. His television series 'Talking Heads' has become a modern-day classic; as part of the 1960s revue 'Beyond the Fringe' Bennett helped to kick-start the English satire revolution, and has since remained one of our leading dramatists, most recently with THE HISTORY BOYS at the National Theatre. This collection brings together diaries, reminiscences and reviews, to give us a unique and unforgettable portrait of one of England's leading playwrights. This new edition includes Bennett's introduction to his Oscar-nominated screenplay for THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE and his kore recent diaries.
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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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