British Book Awards (The Nibbies)
Writing Home
A collection of diaries, essays, reviews, and reminiscences that shows Alan Bennett at his sharpest and most self-aware.
Work Information
Diaries and criticism overlap until Bennett's voice comes through with unusual clarity.
Diaries, reviews, and reminiscences sit close to the author's public and private life. It also includes 'The Lady in the Van', giving a vivid portrait of Bennett as a writer.
Book Information
- Publisher
- Faber & Faber
- Published
- 1997-03-17
- Pages
- 656 pages
- Language
- 英語
- Size
- 11.2 x 4.7 x 17.8 cm
- ISBN-13
- 9780571191543
- ISBN-10
- 0571191541
- Price
- 2333 JPY
- Category
- 洋書/Biographies & Memoirs
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.
Reviews
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... Bennett's work particularly "Talking Heads" and was a bit disappointed not to read about this series in his book
I adore Alan Bennett's work particularly "Talking Heads" and was a bit disappointed not to read about this series in his book. But it was still a good read by a very talented man.
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Alan Bennett has always been a favorite of mine
Alan Bennett has always been a favorite of mine. I recently discovered the thick books containing his journal writing. Wonderful! His personality comes through loud and clear.- his likes and dislikes, background of his plays, comments about the theater people he knows... so interesting to me.
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Excellent. Impressive service from Wordery Canada
Excellent. Impressive service from Wordery Canada.
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Thoughtful and entertaining in turns
Alan Bennet is an observer of life: some of the more amusing parts of this work are overheard snippets, non-sequiturs and the idiosynchracies of living. He writes with poignancy and pathos - a unique voice that makes him one of life's treasures. The writing is clear, concise and never fails to interest, but while the character of the author is ever-present, the personality is more like a distant shadow. I enjoyed the writing enormously, but would have liked to think that I knew something of the writer from the writing: in this respect, Bennet is evasive, emerging only in moments of pique, slightly political, less than totally sympathetic, someone who really does not want to be bothered - certainly not wanting to be bothered by his celebrity. This makes him human and likeable, which is essential, I think, to enjoying his work, which is uniquely Bennet; only, there is something incomplete. Nevertheless, I can't imagine anyone failing to enjoy this book, which is long, varied and emminently readable.
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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. Again it is for my taste a bit unweildy and gives the impression of having been padded out to justify it's publishing. Having said this Faber and Faber (the publisher) come in for some stick from Mr Bennett, so this observation could be wholly accurate. That said in any format Mr Bennett's works are a joy to read; personally I would have edited the non sequential diaries of 'Writing Home' and 'Untold Stories' into one volume, but of course, these books are not warts and all exposes, and Alan Bennett only treats us to the sanitised diary entries which he feels comfortable to share. If you are a fan of Alan Bennett's wry observations and enjoy reading works which make you repeatedly smile, and in my case agree with, then this book is for you.