Writing Home - Hardcover

Bennett, Alan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0679444890 ISBN 13: 9780679444893

Publisher: Random House, 1995

Synopsis

The funny, revealing, and lucidly intelligent writing of one of England's best-known literary figures, Writing Home includes Bennett's journalism, book and theater reviews, his diaries from the 1980s, an account of Miss Shepherd--a London eccentric who lived in a van in Bennett's garden for more than 20 years--and much more. 32 pages of photos.

About this title

About the Author

Alan Bennett is the author of the number-one British bestseller Writing Home. He is a renowned playwright and essayist, whose screenplay for The Madness of King George was nominated for an Academy Award.

From the Inside Flap

evealing, and lucidly intelligent writing of one of England's best-known literary figures, Writing Home includes Bennett's journalism, book and theater reviews, his diaries from the 1980s, an account of Miss Shepherd--a London eccentric who lived in a van in Bennett's garden for more than 20 years--and much more. 32 pages of photos.

Reviews

Previously a bestseller in England, this eclectic collection of book reviews, essays and diary excerpts by screenwriter (The Madness of King George) and playwright (Single Spies) Bennett is a delightful blend of wit and intelligence. Bennett's writing career began in 1960, when he collaborated with Peter Cook, Dudley Moore and Jonathan Miller on the successful satiric review Beyond the Fringe. Diary excerpts from 1980-1990 document other theatrical and cinematic adventures and also describe, with Bennett's typical self-deprecating humor, his experiences in New York (he was mugged on the Lower East Side) and his trip to Russia with other writers. Bennett's social commentary on British politics and his critical articles about poet W.H. Auden, actor John Gielgud and playwright John Osborne are informed and perceptive. Also included is a memoir of his childhood during WWII, when he first became acquainted with books, and a moving account of a woman who lived in a van in front of his home in Camden, a borough of London. Photos. Author tour.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Bennett, the playwright whose works include Forty Years On (1968) and An Englishman Abroad (1983), here brings together reminiscences of family and friends, character sketches of literary figures and famous people (e.g., Sir John Gielgud, John Osborne, Innes Lloyd), extracts from his diaries, and prefaces to some of his better-known plays. Some of the pieces were begun as radio talks for the BBC or published in the London Review of Books. Bennett touches on English society and literary life, the occupational hazards of writing plays, and writing for television vs. writing for the stage. He is an astute, erudite commentator, and there is much to chuckle over, including his thoughts on English eccentricity, rehearsals ("all the chat one has to go through"), and his hilarious experiences of "going round" after a performance. Anglophiles of all stripes will enjoy this book; highly recommended for serious collections in modern British literature and theater.?Lesley Jorbin, Cleveland State Univ. Lib.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

A kind of jack-of-all-trades (or perhaps Renaissance Man is more apropos), Alan Bennett has pursued careers in screenwriting (The Madness of King George), journalism, literary criticism, and playwriting (An Englishman Abroad). This collection of writings ties together all the various threads of Bennett's pursuits, carefully weaving them into a stunning whole. Readers will know just a few pages into this collection that they are reading the words of an intelligent and multifaceted person. Through finely wrought stories of eccentric neighbors, insightful political and social commentary, and a decade of keeping a diary, Bennett simultaneously discovers, critiques, and entertains. In virtually every section, but particularly in the stories and diaries sections, Bennett displays wry humor and profound sensitivity as he confronts the human condition with surprising accuracy. "The Lady in the Van" is one of the best examples of this. The addition of a section of prefaces to his plays is precious for its wonderful revelations regarding the inspiration and impetus behind various plays. This book is more than a chronicle of a career. It is a literary gem that is certain to retain its value in years to come. Janet St. John

Edition details

• Publisher: Random House
• Publication date: 1995
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0679444890
• ISBN 13: 9780679444893
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 417