Alan Bennett

[Jen]

To appreciate this amazing book, I think you have to be a working -class Brit who
(a) Won scholarship like Alan Bennet
or
(b) Got out of a Welsh mining valley , like me, because of the Labour government of Harold Wilson who paid university tuition for those who they felt deserved it.It wasn't easy, mind you.Highly competitive.But if you had brains, worked hard & persevered,you could make it.So we did : we learned Latin, French, Spanish, English literature, Physics, Maths & on & on & on.
Alan had homosexuality to deal with , on top of the working-class background.
Never once in this book does he put down his parents & background.
I loved this book.
President Obama could look at what the Labour government of the 50's & 60's did for the youth of Britain .

[Jay]

I followed your lead and read it. It is totally charming, giving real insights into his life and life in general. Thanks, Jennifer, I'd have missed a real treat if you hadn't posted this.

And I was comprehensive until we moved to Wales and I had the joy of a grammar school - until Bridgend went comprehensive too. Then it was back to the sausage factory :(