Questions About The Uncommon Reader

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about The Uncommon Reader, please sign up.

Answered Questions (3)

Virginia She is indeed! To a large extent, it's a story of liberation.…moreShe is indeed! To a large extent, it's a story of liberation.(less)

flag

Just curious. Are the people Bennett mentioned real people? Like Sir Kevin, Norman? I know Cecil Beaton is accurate. I'm reading Letters Home:)

Bob Marshall I suspect Sir Kevin and Sir Claude are loosely based on real people and anyone who knows the Royal Household can probably identify them.
The prime mini…moreI suspect Sir Kevin and Sir Claude are loosely based on real people and anyone who knows the Royal Household can probably identify them.
The prime minister is obviously Tony Blair as the story ends with HM Queen's 80th birthday in 2006.
All the writer's mentioned (whether historic or contemporary) are real, I had not previously heard of the French writer Jean Genet.(less)

flag

Hello everybody Just need a bit of help to understand some parts better; could you give me a hint please? Does anyone know what is or who is "Swift" regarding Dick Francis? Is it one of his books? his characters? is it his nickname? thanks all

Bob Marshall Jonathan Swift was Dean of St Patrick's (Protestant) Cathedral in Dublin in the early 18th Century. His best known book is Gulliver's Travels. Most pe…moreJonathan Swift was Dean of St Patrick's (Protestant) Cathedral in Dublin in the early 18th Century. His best known book is Gulliver's Travels. Most people only read the sections describing his time among the Little People and the Giants, but there is also a description of a land where the dominant intelligent species (the Houyhnhnms) are horses. On his return to England Gulliver cannot adjust to human society and prefers to live among horses.
Dick Francis was a champion steeplechase jockey who rode the Queen Mother's horses in the 1950's. From 1962-2000 he wrote horse-racing themed novels which were highly commended. (My mother had no interest in racing but she enjoyed Dick Francis' books.)(less)

flag

Unanswered Questions (1)

Alan Bennett seems to write with authenticity about the Queen. He must have met her at least once and would have experienced the feeling of being totally tongue-tied which he describes in other authors. Did Alan know the Queen personally or does he know people who knew her?

Answer

Flag

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more