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Single Spies

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Winner! 1990 Olivier Award, Best Comedy

This unusual double bill of one act plays is about two of the most celebrated spies of modern times: Guy Burgess and Anthony Blunt. Single Spies won the 1990 Olivier Award, Best Comedy. It includes An Englishman Abroad and A Question of Attribution.

Paperback

First published August 1, 1991

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About the author

Alan Bennett

290 books1,137 followers
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 an actor. Bennett's lugubrious yet expressive voice (which still bears a slight Leeds accent) and the sharp humour and evident humanity of his writing have made his readings of his own work (especially his autobiographical writing) very popular. His readings of the Winnie the Pooh stories are also widely enjoyed.

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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Profile Image for Petra X.
2,481 reviews35.8k followers
January 10, 2016
Two plays on real-life spies. One lush like over-ripe fruit, the other dry as a vodka martini.

(Review of 2nd play added Feb 2012)

Burgess was everything repulsive about a man you could think of wrapped up into one confident, self-satisfied upper-class prig who found himself in reduced circumstances due to a bad political decision on his part. Bennett makes the most of the real-life meeting* between the actress Coral Browne and Burgess and turns what was a hearty feast in the first place into one of those banquets where everything looks lovely but smells faintly of rot, overripe fruit and the lettuce is slimy underneath.

Highly recommended in both print and audio.

*Coral Browne was touring Russia in a production of Hamlet when she met the exiled spy, Guy Burgess.

7 February 2012

I've just read the second part of Single Spies (I've only just got hold of it), A Question of Attribution. This is supposedly about an art historian questioning the attribution of one of the paintings, Triple Portrait, purportedly by Titian, in the Queen's collection. It is really about the unmasking of the real life Queen's art historian (Sir) Anthony Blunt as a spy, a comrade of Burgess and the notorious 'fifth man' who was never identified. There is a long conversation with the Queen where she is at a loose end following the cancellation of her opening a new municipal swimming pool (it cracked and leaked). When asked later about what he talked about with the Queen, he replies, "I was talking about art, but I'm not sure that she was", which entirely sums up this brilliant, this stupendously genius-level play.

Profile Image for Realini Ionescu.
4,320 reviews25 followers
July 24, 2025
Single Spies by Alan Bennett – one of the favorite writers of the undersigned, author of The Madness of King George III http://realini.blogspot.com/2016/08/t... and other remarkable Magnum opera

10 out of 10





A Question of Attribution



This reader has been exhilarated by all the works of Alan Bennett that he has had the fortune to read – actually, mostly to listen to – and clearly, A Question of Attribution is no exception, for albeit it is only thirty seven pages long - and thus it is generally performed as Single spies, together with An Englishman Abroad, which has some dedicated lines at the end of this note and it is about Guy Burgess as the central figure, while A Question of Attribution concentrates on Sir Anthony Blunt, another spy, whose identity is not revealed and indeed, for one who lives outside Britain and that specific timeframe, it is more than puzzling and this may add to the mystery and make the main point even more relevant, for we are invited to think about real and ‘fake’…forgery is not a word that Blunt likes, he insists that these would be enigmas, ‘paintings do not have a goal and art evolved, it is a ‘Question of Attribution’…



The main character is the expert attached to the Royal Collection, which he calls however the ‘acquisition’, in part surely because he had embraced leftist, communist ideas, he is one of the infamous spies employed by the Soviet Union and therefore an abhorrent figure for the under signed, who has been benefiting and will alas to his final day from the largesse with which the villains have spread their doctrine (and are bent on doing it again, with the Ukraine, which has 150,000 ‘friendly troops’ massed at its border)

Sir Anthony Blunt is talking in the play with a detective who is trying to find more about other men or women (we can assume there were no ‘they”, no gender, trans and other categories to be identified in those days, even if today the fact that they looked only into men and women might cause cancelation and uproar, which these words here would, if only they had any traction) that may be on the payroll of the Soviets, but the interaction becomes amusing, if sardonic at times, when the detective asks about ‘what is her majesty like’, the sometimes aloof, superior spy retorts with ‘this is like asking a woman at a department store about Frank or John (not these names, but it is a trifling matter)



It is incredible how much is packed into so few lines, for we get a short lesson in art, as well as the character of the queen – as for that, Alan Bennett has another chef d’oeuvre in The Uncommon Reader http://realini.blogspot.com/2020/11/t... wherein her majesty takes up…reading, thus she is the uncommon reader and that generates all sorts of conundrums and trouble, for she is in fact supposed to keep to (very) small talk and not be intellectual…incidentally, they have a dark period ahead, with the ex-prince Andrew facing statutory rape accusations, stripped as he is of official duties and titles, The Economist brilliantly explains, as always, that they cannot take him out, hereditary succession is the key word for monarchy, once you question the ‘genetic lottery’, then you end up asking what is the point of having a monarch and not a republic



The queen – portrayed in the play produced for BBC Radio by wonderful Prunella Scales aka the legendary Mrs. Fawlty in one of the best comedy series ever made, if not the Very Best, Fawlty Towers http://realini.blogspot.com/2015/12/f... - happens to have one event cancelled and therefore she is talking to Sir Anthony about art, King Charles I, who was a connoisseur, but not a good monarch, what Gertrude Stein has said ‘after a time, even the best pictures turn into wallpaper’, the portraits of the queen – painters of portraits are not representative of the avant-garde, and that is for the better says her majesty, for ‘one does not want to have two noses’.

She goes on to say that most of her portraits are nor recognizable nonetheless, and she seems to not mind that, but she is upset the horses do not look like the painted ones – she is a buyer of horses, but she knows about them – and mentions Francis Bacon and his Screaming Pope, for there might have been a chance to have him offer the public ‘The Screaming Queen’…the Prince of Wales (the monarchy will suffer a loss of popularity when he becomes king, albeit I am impressed by the fact that he is an intellectual, has read a lot and had been a ‘green’ long before most of the others even knew what was all that about, even if he has some very peculiar views on some subjects) and the late Prince Philip paint or painted respectively…



In terms of portraits, ‘God does not a secret self, since he is always on duty and he must always be the same’…we also learn about the hidden significance, symbols in painting, the dog (common sense maybe) represents loyalty, the wolf greed, the owl wisdom, but it is not always what we should take for granted, for the owl, ‘being a bird of night, can be associated with ignorance and other representations could be misinterpreted as in (again) A Question of Attribution’…the paintings that are interpreted offer a good metaphor for the infamous spies, since in one work, there seem to three men, then using technology there is another and changing the perspective, even a fifth, just like with the traitors

The interaction with the detective includes some lectures on art, which the audience can benefit from, the notion that ‘art evolves’ – Chubb takes a chronological approach, like all of us do I guess, except if you (are still here first of all) have much higher education on this subject and then you are evidently in apposition to look down at all of us, characters and under signed – learning the perspective, how to ‘paint what is actually there’…Blunt explains that ‘art does not necessarily progress towards photographic realism, different periods have different styles…what about the Impressionists, or Picasso…’



To which the detective replies that ‘they could do it properly, they just got bored’ and then he comments on Michelangelo, women are not natural, just like men with tits’…Alan Bennett has offered audiences another mesmerizing, amusing, inspirational, erudite, simple and yet so sophisticated Magnum opus… on a minor note, the rising star Dan Stevens has the role of Philips, an assistant.



Profile Image for Becky Walker.
82 reviews
April 2, 2012
The first of Bennett's plays that I ever saw, about 4 years ago (2008, I reckon) at The Lowry in Salford with Nigel Havers and Diana Quick, and they are still my favourites. The character development in An Englishman Abroad pleases me every time, as does the moment in A Question of Attribution when it becomes apparent that Blunt and HRH are not really discussing art at all. Not to mention Bennett's usual brilliant one liners. Perfect.
Profile Image for Dridge.
171 reviews1 follower
August 15, 2015
I found myself caring so little while reading this play that I can't even rouse myself up to explain the why. Where was the conflict in this play? Or the plot?
Profile Image for Hermien.
2,334 reviews65 followers
July 12, 2016
I enjoyed these entertaining short plays, but I have read quite a few books about the Cambridge spies so had an interest in the subject.
Profile Image for Nick Conner.
15 reviews
June 4, 2024
I’m so sorry it took me this long to finish your less-than-two-hours-long pair of plays, Mr. Bennett. I swear I enjoyed them a great deal!

First off— these are plays definitely made for a specific audience, and that audience is people who are familiar with the Cambridge Five spy ring. I’ve already read several books on the topic, so I was able to follow the implications just fine, but I imagine someone unfamiliar with Guy Burgess and Anthony Blunt (and the Cambridge ring story overall) wouldn’t find these plays as enjoyable.

That being said, I enjoyed these a lot. The actors are lovely, and the character of Burgess in particular was absolutely hilarious and felt very genuine. Blunt’s character also feels very appropriate.

These are very character-driven plays; not much happens in terms of plot. Which is fine by me! I enjoyed witnessing some of my favorite Cold War spies interact with people.

An Englishman Abroad is a fairly lighthearted play; the interactions between Burgess and Coral keep things entertaining. A Question of Attribution is much more reflective and analyzes the somewhat blurry line between reality and façade using art as an allegory for the Cambridge Five and Blunt himself. I wouldn’t quite call it heavy-handed, but it could be a bit more subtle.

The musical transitions are lovely. And the dialogue too! Overall, although I don’t think either play had anything particularly revelatory to say about the topics they covered, I thoroughly enjoyed both works and hope to relisten at some point in the future so my experience is less disjointed.
Profile Image for Jason Wilson.
778 reviews5 followers
July 25, 2023
Two short plays about the Cambridge spies .

In an Englishman abroad, Guy Burgess, exiled in Moscow, is vested by actress Coral Browne while she is there on a theatre tour . She agrees to buy him some clothes in England only to find he is now persona non grata . When one of his old tailors refuses to serve a traitor , Browne frostily says they were happy to when he was “ one of the most notorious buggers in London”. The play doesn’t excuse his treachery but dues let us feel sorry him stuck in the drabness of Moscow trying to be happy .

In Attribution, Anthony Blunt is keeper of the queens pictures and about to be exposed . His refusal to expose anyone else seals his own fate . In a beautifully written scene a picture wit people hidden under the surface becomes a metaphor for his own secrets . As he discusses art with the queen she subtly uses the painting to suggest she is on to him. “What did you talk about ?” An official asks . “ I was talking about art “ Blunt replies “ I’m not sure that she was “.

When asked why they betrayed their country both men say it seemed like the right thing to do at the time. They’ve moved on while simultaneously being unable to. “ like the artists “ a detective tells Blunt, “ you lacked perspective, but art has no consequences “. Sparkling Bennett.
135 reviews3 followers
December 30, 2024
Difficult to make the Cambridge spies story dull but Bennett choses to show Burgess several years into his Moscow exile trying to get English tailored suits . Adrift in an inhospitable and dull 1958 Moscow seeking to obtain aspects of his previous life such as tailored English suits and custom made boots . This lightweight piece , a one act , An Englishman Abroad , is sharp , poignant and witty .
The second play, A Question of Attribution , focused on the known but not publicly disclosed spy , Anthony Blount . It is a a deft attempt to compare a an attempt to flush out the real artist behind a painting with trying to find a spy network through a reluctant alleg fly cooperating spy .Queen Elizabeth is a character and whether she knows Blount was a spy is left undisclosed .
Profile Image for Kristine.
636 reviews
July 13, 2019
These wonderful stories are about two of the four famous English (Cambridge) spies who were unmasked in the mid 20th century. The brief snippets of their lives gave real insight not only into the characters, but also into English cultural perceptions and manners. Bennett's writing is wonderfully succinct, witty and immensely entertaining.
Profile Image for Dane Cobain.
Author 22 books322 followers
December 8, 2022
Two plays that I’d already read, oops:

An Englishman Abroad: A short but sweet Bennett play.

A Question of Attribution: This was a fun play which to me was mostly notable because it had the Queen as a character, like a return to The Uncommon Reader.
Profile Image for Ben Emlyn-Jones.
Author 6 books
July 25, 2020
It was an interesting script, but reading it is not as good as watching the play performed. Sadly there are no recordings available of the play.
Profile Image for William Harris.
721 reviews
September 5, 2025
Dryly witty, smart, full of effortless, wide ranging commentary on art, politics, espionage, theater, forgery and authenticity. Bennett is a treasure, his diaries are as great a read as his plays.
Profile Image for Nate.
994 reviews13 followers
March 15, 2017
This play really shows its age, because I only know that the Cambridge Spy Ring passed information and were British higher-ups, and very little of this made sense. The first play was better than the second. I think this also isn't a particularly readable play, requiring you to look at the paintings which I couldn't do while reading
Profile Image for Vel Veeter.
3,591 reviews64 followers
Read
May 6, 2023
These are two separate plays paired together, though apparently not written in conjunction about MI6 and their connection to the British government and the royal palace.

I was actually most interested in two conversations that happen in the plays. In “A Question of Attribution” there’s a wonderful conversation about what we know about art and how we know it, and how in many ways, it’s a guessing game ala pure speculation. Love it. But there’s also a wonderful idea of treating each piece of art as not a link upon a chain of time and being, but as an individual entry, in and of itself and worthy of its own consideration. I tend to think of literature as all being the same no matter what time period you’re considering, just different ways of looking.

In the second play, which takes place mostly in a drawing room, there’s a wonderful discussion about the abstraction of patriotism and how the idea of “love for one’s country” is not the same thing as the love for the place you live.
Profile Image for Steven.
Author 1 book66 followers
July 7, 2013
A Question of Attribution delights with its undertones, subtleties and threats. Anthony Blunt is talking about art history with the Queen and the inspector and yet he is being questioned for treason at the same time.

An Englishman Abroad does not have the same menace and elegant language but is quintessentially English in its treatment of Guy Burgess and the British reaction to one of their own spying.
Profile Image for Jason.
44 reviews
October 4, 2015
An Englishman Abroad - 4 stars. Fast, sharp, insightful dialogue. A fine drama, a little affecting, but a clever short piece about spy Guy Burgess.

A Question of Attribution: 4 1/2 stars. Virtually perfect, down to the deadpan Buckingham Palace footman (Colin). Very funny, very clever. Great, entertaining play about reality and appearances.
34 reviews
March 20, 2016
Such an interesting insight into these 2 spies, both notorious for their involvement in the Cambridge Spy Ring, really interesting to have a view of them as individuals rather than just one of a crowd.
Profile Image for Vic.
85 reviews1 follower
January 22, 2013
Favourite line:
Burgess (addressing HMQ): Because something is not what it is said to be, Ma'am, does not mean it is a fake. It may just have been wrongly attributed.
Profile Image for Jen.
593 reviews
June 18, 2015
It's always nice to find a pleasant surprise in an audiobook. Example: Dan Stevens does a reading....Yes, Matthew from Downton Abbey. Alan Bennett is good for a quirky read.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews