Untold Stories Part 2: The Diaries

by Alan Bennett

Alan Bennett's diaries from 1997-2004 are an erudite collection of witty yet poignant recollections told in his own unique voice. Whether appreciating the simple pleasures of nature, or commenting on religion, politics or the arts, his observations are incisive, funny, and yet always meaningful.

Genres: Audiobook

3 pages, Audio CD

Published April 6, 2010

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thoroughly depressing. The straightforward style of writing & deadpan deliverance by the author himself is at odds with the tragic information being imparted. I recommend if you are going to read this book that you avoid the audio version. I found that I needed more time to absorb & process the details of his mother's treatment for depression & his feeling of responsibility for his Father's death. Overall, I felt that it was an incomplete, potted history of his parent's marriage that I would rather have never read. I am left feeling very disenchanted.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another selection of stories written and read by Bennett.
Much about childhood and upbringing including the emerging realisation that he is gay and going to the pictures - not the cinema or the movies. Enjoyable.

[Jo Marchant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just Alan's voice lifts my day, I love these stories, great read!

[Sophie Bowns · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d love to read more of Alan Bennett’s work!