As with the popular childrens work, the queens knickers, the uncommon reader is a piece of. Alan bennett was author of the year at the 2006 british book awards. A collection of quotes and sayings by alan bennett on love, poems, death, books, reading, talking, heads, funerals, library, children, theatre, life and imagination. In what ways does the uncommon reader enhance your experience of other works by alan bennett. Alan bennett reads from his short story, the uncommon reader, first published in the lrb in 2007, in which hm the queen drifts accidentally into reading. Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of picador. He took the books up to the queen s floor and, having been told to make himself as scarce as possible, when the duke came by hid behind a boulle. Alan bennett belongs to a generation of british playwrights for whom all the worlds a faculty club, and theyve got tenure. Her reading naturally changes her world view and her relationship with people. British author alan bennett s 2007 satirical novella the uncommon reader, set in modernday britain, focuses on the uncommon reader queen elizabeth iiwho narrates the story as she becomes passionate about reading after a random encounter with a mobile library.
Alan bennett the uncommon reader audiobook free online. As the book struck queen begins to devour henry james, the. Share alan bennett quotations about books, reading and writing. Imagine that the queen, old as she is, suddenly discovers the joy of reading. Alan bennett s the uncommon reader would make a perfect stocking filler for just about anyone. Or at least with the queen as imagined by writer alan bennett in the uncommon reader. Subversive and highly enjoyable, the uncommon reader offers the perfect argument for reading, written by one of its great champions, alan bennett. One of britains most distinguished television writers, playwrights and memoirists, alan bennett has now written a beguiling bedtime story for grownups. He took the books up to the queens floor and having been told to make himself as scarce as possible, when the duke came by hid behind a boulle cabinet. As the queen takes full charge of her life, the reader begins to wonder how bennett will ever end this wonderful romp of a book. How might the fictional queen respond to the uncommon reader. This is such a charming book about queen elizabeth ii and the subversive power of reading. Packaged and sized like the novelty volumes you pick up at a checkout, the uncommon reader has the tone and morally elevating intentions of a childrens book.
In his short novel, alan bennett imagines a queen who, due to reading, becomes more aware of the world around her. In bennett s charming little fantasy the queen s life takes a dramatic turn when she discovers the pleasure of reading much to the chagrin of many around her. Untold stories has sold over 700,000 copies in hardback and paperback. What would happen if the queen became a reader of taste and discernment rather than of dick francis.
When the queen in pursuit of her wandering corgis stumbles upon a mobile library she feels duty bound to borrow a book. Alan bennett reads from his book about a monarch for whom literature is an allconsuming interest. As she becomes more interested in reading than with the duties of the. Alan bennett reads from the uncommon reader youtube. Ackerley, jean genet, and ivy comptonburnett to the classics and intelligently, she finds that her view of the. Alan bennett s book the uncommon reader, is the story of her majesty who one day by chance stumbles across a mobile library, intrigued she goes aboard and in keeping with her well brought up duty, she borrows a book. His play and film the history boys won seven emmys in new york and was the most successful play in the history of the national theatre. What is the effect of reading a book about reading books. Bennett keeps the humor lowkey, evoking images which allow the reader to discover, unassisted, the ironies which are so hilarious throughout the novella. She engages a certain nelson to help her acquire books and guide her through the world of literature. Sure, but this book is about queen elizabeth ii and her unexpected fictional discovery of books. Also by alan bennett plays plays one forty years on, getting on, habeas corpus, enjoy plays two kafkas dick, the insurance man, the old country, an englishman abroad, a question of.
The uncommon reader a little gem that imagines how life in england would change if its most significant personage, queen elizabeth ii, suddenly became an. The uncommon reader of the title of this novella is english queen elizabeth ii. In her conversation with the university vicechancellor and the creative writing professor, the queen debates whether reading softens a person up while writing does the reverse. Enter alan bennett, the deft, virtuosic author of plays like the history boys, the madness of george iii and the lady in the van. She has sat, reportedly, for more than 120 portraits, conferred some 400,000. She has never been a reader, because reading isnt something that one as she invariably refers to herself does. The story follows the consequences of this obsession for the queen, her household and advisers, and her constitutional. In what is a surprising and surprisingly touching novella, mr. Im going to be like the subject of alan bennetts new novella and press it on everyone i meet. Queen elizabeth is known for loving her horses and her corgis. Alan bennett is one of the most celebrated writers in britain today.
As with the popular childrens work, the queens knickers, the uncommon reader is a piece of audacious lese majeste which, in an earlier age. The uncommon reader is none other than her majesty the queen who drifts accidentally into reading when her corgis stray into a mobile library parked at buckingham palace. He was born in leeds and attended oxford university, where he studied history and performed with the oxford revue. British writer alan bennett s novella the unusual reader london testimonial of books, 2007, set in modern britain, focuses on the uncommon visitor queen elizabeth ii that narrates the story as she comes to be consumed with reading after a random encounter with a mobile library. Alan bennett born 9 may 1934 is an english actor, author, playwright, and screenwriter. The queen feels that she should check out a book to show her support. The uncommon reader is not an insiders look into the life of the person best known as the queen of england but rather an opportunity for bennett to play around with the caricature of the queen, familiar to most of us from comedy sketches and news reels. Alan bennett presents a singular sovereign next to the rest of. He stayed to teach and research medieval history at the university for several years. He also puts the queen there, so you know you are in for a treat. As the queen extends her perusing under the heading of norman, she turns out to be less intrigued by everyday exercises, notwithstanding arriving late to the opening of parliament since she overlooked her book for the mentor ride and needed to.
His collaboration as writer and performer with dudley moore, jonathan miller and peter cook in the. One morning, while chasing her corgis, her majesty stumbles across the city of westminster mobile library parked outside the palace kitchen. The uncommon reader by alan bennett books the guardian. Thus begins alan bennett s clever and entertaining story the uncommon reader. Alan bennett imagines a reading royal if youve got a stack of books that you know you should read, but you never do, maybe you have something in common queen elizabeth ii. Like jesus, she is an idealised projection of our own best selves, which is why bennett has mapped his own literary sensibilities, more or less, on to hers. Bennett is best known for his dramatic works, and has also written. Alan bennetts book the uncommon reader, is the story of her majesty who one day by chance stumbles across a mobile library, intrigued she goes aboard and in keeping with her well brought up duty, she borrows a book. In alan bennett s majestic book, the uncommon reader, the queen broadens her perspective by immersing herself into a neverending world of words and ideas.
What if queen elizabeth at the age of 70something were suddenly to become. Alan bennett is one of englands foremost writers, and while this short novel is a departure from his usual fare of plays, he certainly has the flair for quiet, amusing, and sharply observant tales. Alan bennett imagines a reading royal september 18, 2007 if youve got a stack of books that you know you should read, but you never do, maybe you have something in common queen. How might the novellas queen have responded to the students in the history boys, and vice versa. Thus, the book responds to that public need of getting to know the human face of the monarch. Forster, emily dickinson, alice munro, proust, charles dickens, dostoevsky. The uncommon reader by alan bennett, a novella, is a story about the queen of england becoming obsessed with reading books. He took the books up to the queen s floor and having been told to make himself as scarce as possible, when the duke came by hid behind a boulle cabinet. When her corgis stray into a mobile library parked near buckingham palace, the queen feels dutybound to borrow a book. The lrb is europes leading magazine of books and ideas. Bennett shows us why books matter to the queen, his uncommon reader and why th more a delicious and very funny whatif a delightful little book that unfolds into a witty meditation on the subversive pleasures of reading.
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