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35th out of 45 books
—
170 voters
The Clothes They Stood Up In & The Lady in the Van
by
Alan Bennett
From Alan Bennett, the author of The Madness of King George, come two stories about the strange nature of possessions...or the lack of them. In the nationally bestselling novel The Clothes They Stood Up In, the staid Ransomes return from the opera to find their Regent’s Park flat stripped bare--right down to the toilet-paper roll. Free of all their earthly belongings, the...more
Paperback, 240 pages
Published
November 1st 2002
by Random House Trade Paperbacks
(first published September 10th 2002)
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I could not find the Folio Society edition I read, which included two additional short stories. The Lady in the Van is about an eccentric lady who lived in a van in Bennett's garden for some twenty years. During this time she accumulated all sorts of junk. The Clothes They Stood Up In is the story of a middle class couple who arrive home one night to discover that all of their possessions, including carpets, have been stolen. The husband and wife respond to this loss in quite different ways. Fat...more
This is actually two short-ish stories, the second one being "The Lady in the Van." The first is fiction, the second is true. Both were written by British playwright Alan Bennett (The Madness of King George) and both examine the subject of "possessions" and their importance in our lives. The first story tells of the Ransomes, who return home from a night out to discover that their apartment has been burgled. Not only has it been burgled, the thieves stripped it of everything, down to the toilet...more
Odd little book. There are 2 "novella" together. The author is British, I guess a famous playwrite. I think he made the first story up, and personally experienced the second (The Lady in the Van). I did not understand the first one, I think he was trying to make a statement about materialism, but I don't think he made the point very well.
The second one I could relate more to. It's about an eccentric and/or mentally ill woman who lives in her van, and who parked the van in his driveway! I could...more
The second one I could relate more to. It's about an eccentric and/or mentally ill woman who lives in her van, and who parked the van in his driveway! I could...more
I was donating a pile of books recently, but something stayed my hand before tossing this one into the bin. I decided to keep it and reread it after the better part of ten years. In fact, this is a great holiday read for these times. The first novella, The Clothes They Stood Up In, is a fairy tale about life without stuff, and it’s best read when you’re beset with 10 pounds of catalogs in the mail and news broadcasts about shopping frenzies.
The Ransomes are a thoroughly staid British couple who...more
The Ransomes are a thoroughly staid British couple who...more
Bennett is a British writer and a master of subtle irony, insight, and wit. I truly enjoyed reading these two short stories. The first one, The Clothes They Stood Up In is fiction and questions how important our possessions are. How they define us and our relationship to all the items we pack in our homes and lives.
The second story, The Lady in the Van is superb. Bennett becomes acquainted with an older woman who is living out of her van near his home. He is concerned about her and she eventual...more
The second story, The Lady in the Van is superb. Bennett becomes acquainted with an older woman who is living out of her van near his home. He is concerned about her and she eventual...more
I picked up this book from a hostel in Panama. I was unfamiliar with the author before reading this book. It's two short stories, so it was good reading while traveling.
The first story is about a couple that returns home from a night out to find that absolutely everything in their apartment is gone, including telephone cords and carpeting. It's a surreal story, but a good one.
The second story is nonfiction - an account of a woman who lives in an immobile van which well-meaning individuals, incl...more
The first story is about a couple that returns home from a night out to find that absolutely everything in their apartment is gone, including telephone cords and carpeting. It's a surreal story, but a good one.
The second story is nonfiction - an account of a woman who lives in an immobile van which well-meaning individuals, incl...more
The first story deals with a self satisfied upper middle class couple who return from the opera to discover their whole house has been burgled, and they now have to cope. The woman is open to new ideas as she tries to adapt, but hubby is a bit stiff. The observations are sharp and witty, about people and their stuff. The inital humor of the couples plight slowly gives way to an examiniation of their lives or I should say her life, which is thought provoking and a bit melancholy. The second piece...more
I really am embarrassed to admit that I only recently discovered this author when I read his recently published An Uncommon Reader. It was my favorite read this year so I ordered this perfect small book and fell completely in love with these stories, haunting, humorous and full of humanity. I still feel the tragedy of the housewife who returned from the opera one evening with her emotionally-retarded husband only to find that every single item in there home (everything) was stolen. And the Lady...more
Two long short stories are in this
quirky little book. In The Clothes
They Stood Up In, a couple come home
to find that every single item in
their home, down to the last roll of
toilet paper, has been stolen. The
Lady in the Van keeps all her
possessions in a van she has parked
for fifteen years. How are our
possessions important in our lives?
How do they shape who we are?
quirky little book. In The Clothes
They Stood Up In, a couple come home
to find that every single item in
their home, down to the last roll of
toilet paper, has been stolen. The
Lady in the Van keeps all her
possessions in a van she has parked
for fifteen years. How are our
possessions important in our lives?
How do they shape who we are?
I locked myself out of my house once and wanderd into town for want of anything better to do. Feeling suddenly dispossessed, I impulsively picked up a copy of Alan Bennett's short story The Clothes They Stood Up In, which I read on a nice long train journey. Bennett impresses (as usual) by exploring every corner of his simple premise (a staid and complacent middle class couple return to their flat to find every single item missing, even down to the carpets) - so much so that it is a bit of a dis...more
Two short stories in one volume are both about possessions and the lack of them. The first is a rather spare novella about a staid London couple that loses everything they own in a bizarre burglary. In the second, Bennett tells the story of a Miss Shepherd, who spent several years living in a van in his driveway. They are both quick reads and compelling. I especially enjoyed The Lady in the Van; the author is rather reluctantly involved with the crazy Miss Shepherd and is simultaneously compassi...more
I find that I have an easier time picking out the flaws of books that I liked than I do picking out the flaws of books I didn't care for.
As for "The Clothes They Stood Up In", it might just have been (and I can't really believe I'm writing this) too British for my taste. Despite a clever premise, it was treated in such an emotionless, dry, and sterile fashion that I couldn't really get into it. The introduction of Martin and Cleo livened things up a bit, but the Ransome's never seemed like more...more
As for "The Clothes They Stood Up In", it might just have been (and I can't really believe I'm writing this) too British for my taste. Despite a clever premise, it was treated in such an emotionless, dry, and sterile fashion that I couldn't really get into it. The introduction of Martin and Cleo livened things up a bit, but the Ransome's never seemed like more...more
This is barely more than a novella in length but it is one of my favorite books. A middle aged couple come home from the theater to find that every single thing in their apartment has been stolen, right down to the toilet paper. For the both of them this is a traumatic event, but also it turns out an opportunity for the wife to reinvent herself. A wonderfully funny look at how our belongings can define us, even imprison us, and it made me wonder what I would do in the same situation. Funny and t...more
Alright, I'm writing a half review of this book, because I read "The Clothes They Stood Up In" a while ago but not "The Lady in the Van" and I quite liked the first, but then I was waiting to review until I finished the other one... but that might take a while, so here's a half-review.
Simply put, the story is this: Mr. and Mrs. Ransome return to their flat after a night at the opera to discover that they've been burgled. Everything in their flat has been taken -- and when we stay everything, we...more
Simply put, the story is this: Mr. and Mrs. Ransome return to their flat after a night at the opera to discover that they've been burgled. Everything in their flat has been taken -- and when we stay everything, we...more
Two short stories turned into a book. The first details the travails of an upper middle class, childless British middle aged couple who return home from the opera one night to discover that their entire apartment has been cleaned out, right down to the toilet paper roller. While the husband is dealing with the insurance companies and police, Missus finds she likes the simplicity of this new spartan existence. But when their material goods are unexpectedly found, how will they react?
The second sh...more
The second sh...more
3.5 The first story "The Clothes" had a very likable woman as the main character, her husband not so much. Loved the tongue in cheek writing, Bennett is so good at that. Loved the message behind this one which would be a spoiler so I cannot share it. The second is actually a true story, and as stated in the introduction the woman is not very likable, though at times I felt very sorry for her. Anyway these are very easy stories to read and I liked them but than again I tend to like evverything th...more
Strange, witty and a bit confusing, this was a very short book (story), and was entertaining but a bit off kilter in a way. Not the best literary selection, but a book to keep one amused when in between books. I would have probably given it only 2 1/5 stars if I was able to. Definitely lend it from the library, do not purchase. (The book itself is tiny enough to carry with you in a clutch). I have enjoyed other works of Alan Bennett although realize he is a very different type of author that mus...more
I read this after seeing a short Alan Bennett play performed in Scotland at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (sorry for the name dropping!) and after watching "History Boys." Alan Bennett is wry, dry, and snarky English intellectualism at its best. Always entertaining and erudite, you'll feel like you've gotten a glimpse into the ways which the English take any oddity into stride and you'll feel smarter, too.
"The Clothes They Stood Up In" is such great food for thought. (There is one scene that is rated PG-13). But I didn't enjoy it as much as I did "The Lady In The Van," which is a true story of a transient who takes up residence in her van outside of the author's home. Amazing insights into what possessions are and the meaning we allow them to give to our lives.
The Clothes They Stood Up In is a sharp little gem of a novella. An enjoyable cocktail of mystery story, social commentary, and character study, it delivers a satisfying ending with a few interesting twists along the way. I found The Lady in the Van less memorable, but still keenly observed and a good paring with Clothes.
The Clothes They Stood Up In is a novella about a old curmudgeonly British couple, very stead in their stale ways, who come home from a night at the opera to find the contents of their apartment have vanished. Books, bills, pots, pans, furniture and toilet paper. The apartment had been wiped clean. They were literally left with the clothes they stood up in.... and with themselves. Wiped of all the kitsch they accumulated over the years they had a moment to look around and see themselves in a dif...more
This delightful collection of two short stories is a fascinating look at what our material posessions mean to us, how they define us, and burden us, and can ultimately become a burden for others. Bennett is a matter-of-fact stylist, but treats his characters with humanity and respect, especially the inexplicable ones!
I chose this for my book club and went into it with certain expectations. The first story differed from what I thought it would be. I didn't enjoy the Ransom's until later in their story, but truly loved the lady in the van.
Great writing and stories. Worth reading, even if you are not up on British terms. ;)
Great writing and stories. Worth reading, even if you are not up on British terms. ;)
The Ransome's return from the theater to discover that their home has been burglarized. Everything has been taken, including the toilet paper roll. Through several interesting twists, we discover that life becomes transformed for Mrs. Ransome from one of methodical ordinariness, to greater freedom of spirit
Ira Glass meets Cormac McCarthy. Together they raise a child whom they send to live with Nick Hornby until he runs away and hides in Buckingham Palace until being caught and tortured by the Beefeaters. I suspect this would form something awesomely similar, similarly aweseome, to Alan Bennett.
I'm not going to remember this little story for very long, maybe only its premise, which is that a long and dully-married couple return from an evening of Mozart to discover the entire contents of their apartment gone. Each spouse reacts to this strange event in his/her own way.
Read this while on a trip to the west coast. Enjoyed the style. Will look for more Alan Bennett. (Edited to add that I only later realized I've read other works by this author and enjoyed those, too.)
Low-key, funny, and smart in the British tradition. I can see either of these in terms of movie releases, not surprising, considering the talents of Mr. Bennett: The Madness of King George,among others.
I enjoy Alan Bennett's writing style. It's reminds me of Ian McEwan. I was quite shocked after I read this book to realize that one of the stories was actually autobiographical. It was stunning.
Comedy and sorrow compete in both these novellas: It's great entertainment while making the reader think about things that happen in life, both good and bad, and both things that we can control and things we cannot.
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Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Alan Bennett is an English author and Tony Award-winning playwright. Bennett's first stage play, Forty Years On, was produced in 1968. Many television, stage and radio plays followed, along with screenplays, short stories, novellas, a large body of non-fictional prose and broadcasting, and many appearances as...more
More about Alan Bennett...
Alan Bennett is an English author and Tony Award-winning playwright. Bennett's first stage play, Forty Years On, was produced in 1968. Many television, stage and radio plays followed, along with screenplays, short stories, novellas, a large body of non-fictional prose and broadcasting, and many appearances as...more
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updated Apr 20, 2013 12:10pm