Search - List of Books by Alan Bennett
"I'm all in favour of free expression provided it's kept rigidly under control." -- Alan Bennett
Alan Bennett (born 9 May 1934) is an English playwright, screenwriter and author. Born in Leeds, he attended Oxford University where he studied history and performed with The Oxford Revue. He stayed to teach and research medieval history at the university for several years. His collaboration as writer and performer with Dudley Moore, Jonathan Miller and Peter Cook in the satirical revue Beyond the Fringe at the 1960 Edinburgh Festival brought him instant fame. He gave up academia, and turned to writing full time, his first stage play Forty Years On being produced in 1968.
His output includes The Madness of George III and its film incarnation The Madness of King George, the series of monologues Talking Heads, the play The History Boys, and popular audio books, including his readings of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Winnie-the-Pooh.
"Cancer, like any other illness, is a bore.""Children always assume the sexual lives of their parents come to a grinding halt at their conception.""Definition of a classic: a book everyone is assumed to have read and often thinks they have.""I write plays about things that I can't resolve in my mind. I try to root things out.""I've never seen the point of the sea, except where it meets the land. The shore has a point. The sea has none.""If you think squash is a competitive activity, try flower arranging.""Life is generally something that happens elsewhere.""Life is like a box of sardines and we are all looking for the key.""My films are about embarrassment.""Those who have known the famous are publicly debriefed of their memories, knowing as their own dusk falls that they will only be remembered for remembering someone else.""We started off trying to set up a small anarchist community, but people wouldn't obey the rules.""We were put to Dickens as children but it never quite took. That unremitting humanity soon had me cheesed off.""Were we closer to the ground as children, or is the grass emptier now?""Your whole life is on the other side of the glass. And there is nobody watching."
Bennett was born in Armley in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire. The son of a co-op butcher, Bennett attended Leeds Modern School (now Lawnswood School), learned Russian at the Joint Services School for Linguists during his National Service and gained a place at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. However, having spent time in Cambridge during national service, and partly wishing to follow the object of his unrequited love, he decided to apply for a scholarship at Oxford University. He was accepted by Exeter College, Oxford from which he graduated with a first-class degree in history. While at Oxford he performed comedy with a number of eventually successful actors in the Oxford Revue. He was to remain at the university for several years, where he researched and taught Medieval History, before deciding he was not cut out to be an academic.
In August 1960, Bennett, along with Dudley Moore, Jonathan Miller, and Peter Cook, achieved instant fame by appearing at the Edinburgh Festival in the satirical revue Beyond the Fringe. After the Festival, the show continued in London and New York. He also appeared in My Father Knew Lloyd George. A highly regarded television comedy sketch series On the Margin (1966) was, unfortunately, erased: the BBC would habitually re-use the then-expensive videotape rather than keep it in the archives.
Around this time Bennett often found himself playing vicars, and claims that as an adolescent he assumed he would grow up to be a Church of England clergyman, for no better reason than that he looked like one.
Bennett's first stage play, Forty Years On directed by Patrick Garland 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 strong 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.
Many of Bennett's characters are unfortunate and downtrodden, or meek and overlooked. Life has brought them to an impasse, or else passed them by altogether. In many cases they have met with disappointment in the realm of sex and intimate relationships, largely through tentativeness and a failure to connect with others.
Bennett is both unsparing and compassionate in laying bare his characters' frailties. This can be seen in his television plays for LWT in the late 1970s and the BBC in the early 1980s, and in the 1987 Talking Heads series of monologues for television which were later performed at the Comedy Theatre in London in 1992. This was a sextet of poignantly comic pieces, each of which depicted several stages in the character's decline from an initial state of denial or ignorance of their predicament, through a slow realization of the hopelessness of their situation, and progressing to a bleak or ambiguous conclusion. A second set of six Talking Heads pieces followed a decade later, which was darker and more disturbing.In his 2005 prose collection Untold Stories Bennett has written candidly and movingly of the mental illness that afflicted his mother and other family members. Much of his work draws on his Leeds background and while he is celebrated for his acute observations of a particular type of northern speech ("It'll take more than Dairy Box to banish memories of Pearl Harbor"), the range and daring of his work is often undervalued – his television play The Old Crowd, for example, includes shots of the director and technical crew, while his stage play The Lady in the Van includes two characters named Alan Bennett.
The Lady in the Van was based on his experiences with a tramp called Miss Shepherd who lived on Bennett's driveway in several dilapidated vans for over fifteen years. A radio play of the same title was broadcast on 21 February 2009 on BBC Radio 4, with actress Maggie Smith reprising her role of Miss Shepherd, and Alan Bennett playing himself. The work has also been published in book form. Alan Bennett also adapted "The Lady in the Van" for the stage.
In 1994 Bennett adapted his popular and much-praised 1991 play The Madness of George III for the cinema as The Madness of King George. The film received four Academy Award nominations, including nominations for Bennett's writing and the performances of Nigel Hawthorne and Helen Mirren. It won the award for best art direction.
Bennett's critically-acclaimed The History Boys won three Laurence Olivier Awards in February 2005, for Best New Play, Best Actor (Richard Griffiths), and Best Direction (Nicholas Hytner), having previously won Critics' Circle Theatre Awards and Evening Standard Awards for Best Actor and Best Play. Bennett himself received the Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre.
The History Boys also went on to win six Tony Awards on Broadway, including best play, best performance by a leading actor in a play (Richard Griffiths), best performance by a featured actress in a play (Frances de la Tour), and best direction of a play (Nicholas Hytner).
A film version of The History Boys was released in the UK on 13 October 2006. Bennett discussed the play and its themes in an interview on STV.
Bennett wrote the play Enjoy in 1980. It was one of the rare flops in his career and barely scraped a run of seven weeks at the Vaudeville Theatre, in spite of the stellar cast of Joan Plowright, Colin Blakely, Susan Littler, Philip Sayer, Liz Smith (who replaced Joan Hickson during rehearsals) and in his first West End role Marc Sinden. It was directed by Ronald Eyre. But a new production of Enjoy has had critics raving about it during its 2008 UK tour and moved to the West End of London in January 2009. The West End show took over £1m in advance ticket sales and even extended the run to cope with demand. Starring Alison Steadman, David Troughton, Richard Glaves, Carol Macready, Josie Walker and Richard Glaves.
At the National Theatre in late 2009 Nicholas Hytner directed Bennett's newest play, The Habit of Art, about the relationship between the poet W. H. Auden and the composer Benjamin Britten.
In September 2005, Bennett revealed that, in 1997, he had undergone treatment for cancer, and described the illness as a "bore". His chances of survival were given as being "much less" than 50%. He began Untold Stories (published 2005) thinking it would be published posthumously. In the event his cancer went into remission. In the autobiographical sketches which form a large part of the book Bennett writes openly for the first time about his homosexuality (Bennett has had relationships with women as well, although this is only touched upon in Untold Stories). Previously Bennett had referred to questions about his sexuality as being like asking a man after crawling across the Sahara desert to choose between Perrier or Malvern mineral water.
Bennett has lived in Camden Town in London for 31 years, and shares his home with Rupert Thomas, his partner for the last 14 years.
Bennett earned Honorary Membership of The Coterie in the 2007 membership list.
In October 2008 Bennett announced that he was donating his entire archive of working papers, unpublished manuscripts, diaries and books to the Bodleian Library free of charge, stating that it was a gesture of thanks repaying a debt he felt he owed to the UK's social welfare system that had given him educational opportunities which his humble family background would otherwise never have afforded.
Along with the other members of Beyond the Fringe, he is portrayed in the play Come Again, by Chris Bartlett and Nick Awde.
Bennett was made an Honorary Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford in 1987. He was also awarded a D.Litt by the University of Leeds in 1990 and an honorary doctorate from the University of Kingston in 1996.
In 1998 Bennett, however refused an honorary doctorate from Oxford University, in protest at its accepting funding for a named chair in honour of press baron Rupert Murdoch. He also declined a CBE in 1988 and a knighthood in 1996.
Television
- My Father Knew Lloyd George (also writer), 1965
- Famous Gossips, 1965
- Plato—The Drinking Party, 1965
- Alice in Wonderland, 1966
- On the Margin series (actor & writer), 1966—67
- A Day Out (also writer), 1972
- Sunset Across the Bay (also writer), 1975
- A Little Outing (also writer), 1975
- A Visit from Miss Prothero (writer), 1978
- Me—I'm Afraid of Virginia Woolf (writer), 1978
- Doris and Doreen (Green Forms) (writer), 1978
- The Old Crowd (writer) with Lindsay Anderson (director), LWT 1979
- Afternoon Off (actor & writer), 1979
- One Fine Day (writer), 1979
- All Day On the Sands (writer), 1979
- Objects of Affection (also writer), 1982
- The Merry Wives of Windsor (actor), 1982
- Intensive Care (writer, actor), 1982
- An Englishman Abroad (writer), 1983
- The Insurance Man (writer), 1986
- Breaking Up, 1986
- Man and Music (narrator), 1986
- Talking Heads (also writer), 1987
- The Wind in the Willows , The Willows in Winter (Mole), 1995—1996
- The Story Store (Voices and Narrator), 1995
- Meg and Mog (Owl)
- Down Cemetery Road: The Landscape of Philip Larkin (presenter), 1987
- Fortunes of War series (actor), 1987
- Dinner at Noon (narrator), 1988
- Poetry in Motion (presenter), 1990
- 102 Boulevard Haussmann (writer), 1990
- A Question of Attribution (writer), 1991. Winner, BAFTA Television Awards, 1992.
- Selling Hitler, 1991
- Poetry in Motion 2 (presenter), 1992
- A Night In (presenter), 1992
- The Long Summer (narrator), 1993
- Portrait or Bust (presenter), 1994
- The Abbey (presenter), 1995
- A Dance to the Music of Time (actor), 1997
- Talking Heads 2, 1998
- Telling Tales (writer, as himself), 2000
- The South Bank Show (documentary), 2005
- Being Alan Bennett (BBC documentary), 2009
- Mark Lawson Talks To Alan Bennett (BBC, extended interview), 2009
- Bennett On Bennett (5 10-minute monologues, as himself), 2009
Stage
- Better Late, 1959
- Beyond the Fringe (also co-writer), 1960. Winner of a Special Tony Award, 1963.
- The Blood of the Bambergs, 1962
- A Cuckoo in the Nest, 1964
- Forty Years On (also writer), 1968
- Sing a Rude Song (co-writer), 1969
- Getting On (writer), 1971
- Habeas Corpus (also writer), 1973
- The Old Country (writer), 1977
- Enjoy (writer), 1980
- Kafka's Dick (writer), 1986
- A Visit from Miss Prothero (writer), 1987
- Single Spies (An Englishman Abroad and A Question of Attribution) (also writer and director), 1988. Winner of the Olivier Award for Best New Comedy 1989.
- The Wind in the Willows (adaptation), 1990
- The Madness of George III (writer), 1991
- Talking Heads (Waiting for the telegram, A Chip in the Sugar, Bed Among the Lentils, A Lady of Letters, Her Big Chance, Soldiering On, A Cream Cracker Under the Settee) (also writer), 1992
- The History Boys (writer), 2004; Winner of the Best New Play 2005, the Society of London Theatre Special Award 2005, and the Tony Award for Best Play, 2006.
- The Habit of Art (writer), 2009
Film
- Long Shot, 1980
- Dreamchild (voice only), 1985
- The Secret Policeman's Ball, 1986
- The Secret Policeman's Other Ball, 1982
- A Private Function (screenplay), 1986
- Pleasure At Her Majesty's, 1987
- Prick Up Your Ears (screenplay), 1987
- Little Dorrit, 1987
- Wind in the Willows animated adaptation, 1994
- Parson's Pleasure (writer), 1995
- The Madness of King George (screenplay from his play "The Madness of George III" and cameo appearance), 1995
- The History Boys (screenplay, from his play of the same name), 2006
Radio
- The Great Jowett, 1980
- Dragon, 1982
- Uncle Clarence (writer, narrator), 1985
- Better Halves (narrator), 1988
- The Lady in the Van (writer, narrator), 1990
- Winnie-the-Pooh (narrator), 1990
- Alice in Wonderland and Through The Looking-Glass (narrator, BBC Audiobooks)
Bibliography
- Beyond the Fringe (with Peter Cook, Jonathan Miller, and Dudley Moore). London: Souvenir Press, 1962, and New York: Random House, 1963
- Forty Years On. London: Faber, 1969
- Getting On. London: Faber, 1972
- Habeas Corpus. London: Faber, 1973
- The Old Country. London: Faber, 1978
- Enjoy. London: Faber, 1980
- Office Suite. London: Faber, 1981
- Objects of Affection. London: BBC Publications, 1982
- A Private Function. London: Faber, 1984
- Forty Years On; Getting On; Habeas Corpus. London: Faber, 1985
- The Writer in Disguise. London: Faber, 1985
- Prick Up Your Ears: The Film Screenplay. London: Faber, 1987
- Two Kafka Plays. London: Faber, 1987
- Talking Heads. London: BBC Publications, 1988; New York: Summit, 1990
- Single Spies. London: Faber, 1989 (Olivier Award winner: England's best comedy for 1989)
- Single Spies and Talking Heads. New York: Summit, 1990
- The Lady in the Van, 1989
- Poetry in Motion (with others). 1990
- The Wind in the Willows. London: Faber, 1991
- Forty Years On and Other Plays. London: Faber, 1991
- The Madness of George III. London: Faber, 1992
- Poetry in Motion 2 (with others). 1992
- Writing Home (memoir & essays). London: Faber, 1994 (winner of the 1995 British Book of the Year award).
- The Madness of King George (screenplay), 1995
- Father ! Father ! Burning Bright (prose version of 1982 TV script, Intensive Care), 1999
- The Laying on of Hands (Stories), 2000
- The Clothes They Stood Up In (novella), 2001
- Untold Stories (autobiographical and essays), London, 2005, ISBN 0-571-22830-5
- The Uncommon Reader (novella), London, 2007
- A Life Like Other People's (memoir), London, 2009
Audio releases
- Alan Bennett At The BBC (compilation)
- Diaries 1980—1990
- Diaries 1997—2004
- Telling Tales
- Hymn
- The Lady In The Van
- Alan And Thora
- Untold Stories
- Written On The Body
- A Common Assault
- Beyond The Fringe
- Alan Bennett's On The Margin
- Forty Years On (1973 version)
- Forty Years On (2003 version)
- Kafka's Dick
- An Englishman Abroad (1983 version)
- An Englishman Abroad (2006 version)
- A Question Of Attribution
- The Madness Of King George III
- The History Boys
- The Lady In The Van (play)
- A Woman Of No Importance
- The Clothes They Stood Up In
- The Laying On Of Hands
- Father! Father! Burning Bright
- Say Something Happened
- A Visit From Miss Protheroe
- Two In Torquay
- The Uncommon Reader
- Dear Philip, Dear Kingsley (with Robert Hardy)
- Poetry In Motion
- Winnie The Pooh (narrator)
- The House At Pooh Corner (narrator)
- A Party For Pooh (narrator)
- The Wind In The Willows (narrator)
- Peter Pan And Wendy (narrator)
- The Story Of Doctor Dolittle (narrator)
- The Voyages Of Doctor Dolittle (narrator)
- Doctor Dolittle's Garden (narrator)
- The Owl & The Pussycat (narrator)
- The Little Prince (narrator)
- Animal Farm (narrator)
Translations
- Català
- Una lectora poc corrent, 2008
- French
- Soins intensifs, 2006
- La reine des lectrices, 2009
- German
- Der Rote Baron, Sein letzter Flug, 2001
- Vater, Vater, lichterloh, 2002
- Così fan tutte, (previously published as Alle Jahre wieder) 2003
- Die Lady im Lieferwagen, 2004
- Handauflegen, 2005
- Die souveräne Leserin, 2008
- Italian
- La pazzia di re Giorgio, 1996
- Nudi e crudi, 2001
- La cerimonia del massaggio, 2002
- La signora nel furgone, 2003
- Signore e signori, 2004
- Scritto sul corpo, 2006
- La sovrana lettrice, 2007
- Il letto di lenticchie
- Spanish
- Una Patata Frita en el Azúcar, 2003
- Una Cama Entre Lentejas, 2003
- Una Señora de Letras, 2003
- Su Gran Opportunidad, 2003
- Ir Tirando, 2003
- Una Galleta Crácker Bajo el Sofá, 2003
- Una Mujer Sin Importancia, 2003
- Con lo puesto, 2003 (The Clothes They Stood Up In)
- La Señora del Furgón, 2004
- La Mano de Dios, 2004
- La Señorita Fozzard Hace Pie, 2004
- Jugando a los Bocadillos, 2004
- Una lectora nada común", 2008
- El Perro en el Patio, 2004
- Noches en los Jardines de España, 2004
- Esperando el Telegrama, 2004
- Chinese
- Peter Wolfe, Understanding Alan Bennett, University of South Carolina Press, ISBN 1-57003-280-7.
- Joseph H. O'Mealy,Alan Bennett: A Critical Introduction, Routledge, 2007.
- Kara McKechnie, Alan Bennett, The Television Series, Manchester University Press, 2007. ISBN 978-0-7190-6806-5
- Robert Hewison Footlights – A Hundred Years of Cambridge Comedy, Methuen, 1983
- Roger Wilmut From Fringe to Flying Circus – Celebrating a Unique Generation of Comedy 1960–1980, Eyre Methuen, 1980
