Description

The complete collected edition of the awardwinning writers unforgettable Untold Stories

Over the course of his distinguished entertainment career Alan Bennett has received multiple awards and honours including two BAFTAs four Laurence Olivier Awards two Tony Awards an Academy Award nomination for his film The Madness of King George and a British Book Award for Author of the Year in 2006 In this fourpart collection of his remarkable Untold Stories the acclaimed writer considers his childhood career and the current state of the world with his customary blend of wit and poignancy

Part 1 Stories is a moving family memoir recalling his parents marriage the lives and deaths of his aunts and the revelation of a longheld family secret Part 2 The Diaries covers Alan Bennetts celebrated diaries for 19972004 in which he celebrates the joys of nature and comments on the state of the arts and politics with humour and sharp observation Part 3 Written on the Body is a reflection on youth and a meditation on writing itself with a look at Alans schooling in Leeds the growing pains of puberty and a window into his creative process Part 4 A Common Assault harks back to a mugging incident in Italy a glimpse into his own schooldays that became the inspiration for The History Boys and a light note on his thoughts on the Honours System

Funny thoughtful and fascinating this wonderful series of essays and stories read by the author offers an extraordinary journey into an exceptional career For those who want to hear Alan Bennett narrate more of his memoirs Alan Bennett Diaries is also available from BBC Audio

Extracts originally broadcast on Radio 4
10 October 14 October 2005
20 November 24 November 2006

Production credits
Read by Alan Bennett
Produced by Gordon House

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