Alan Bennett (1) (1934–)
Author of The Uncommon Reader
For other authors named Alan Bennett, see the disambiguation page.
About the Author
Bennett was born in Armley in Leeds, West Yorkshire. 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. He was born on May 9, 1934; he is an English author, actor, humorist and show more playwright. 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 Hon. PhD from Kingston in 1996. In October 2008 Bennett announced that he was donating his entire archive of working papers, unpublished manuscripts, diaries and books to the Bodleian Library free of charge, as a gesture of thanks and repaying a debt he felt he owed to the UK's social welfare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. In 2015 his title, Six Poets: Hardy to Larkin: An Anthology by Alan Bennett, made The New Zealand Best Seller List. He also made the list in 2016 with his title The Lady in the Van. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: Courtesy of Allen and Unwin
Works by Alan Bennett
Three Stories: "Father! Father! Burning Bright", "The Clothes They Stood Up in", "The Laying on of Hands" (2003) — Author — 81 copies
Alan Bennett Plays One: Forty Years On, Getting On, Habeas Corpus and Enjoy (Faber Contemporary Classics) (1991) 52 copies
Alan Bennett: Plays 2 : Kafka's Dick, the Insurance Man, the Old Country, an Englishman Abroad, a Question of… (1998) 48 copies
A Box of Alan Bennett: Clothes They Stood Up in WITH The Lady in the Van AND Father! Father! Burning Bright (2000) 13 copies
Two in Torquay 4 copies
Patricia Routledge in Three Portraits (A Woman of No Importance / A Lady of Letters / Miss Fozzars Finds Her Feet) (2004) — Author — 3 copies
A Question of Attribution 3 copies
Six Plays By Alan Bennett: The Complete Series [DVD] — Playwright — 3 copies
Diary 2018 selections 2 copies
Diary 2019 2 copies
The Last of the Sun 2 copies
Diary 2017 selections 2 copies
The Insurance Man 2 copies
Bennett Alan 1 copy
Hymn [theatre programme] 1 copy
Alan Bennett Box Set: Forty Years On; Habeas Corpus; Kafka's Dick; The Madness of George III; The Lady In The Van;… (2014) 1 copy
People [theatre programme] 1 copy
Alan Bennett Reads Childhood Classics: The Wind in the Willows; Alice in Wonderland; Through the Looking Glass;… (2017) 1 copy
The Outside Dog (Video) 1 copy
Associated Works
The Assassin's Cloak: An Anthology of the World's Greatest Diarists (2000) — Contributor, some editions — 544 copies
The Utterly Utterly Definitive and Pretty Damn Amusing Comic Relief Revue Book (1989) — Contributor — 11 copies
Alice in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass [Abridged] BBC Radio Version (1997) — Narrator, some editions — 9 copies
Dear Philip, Dear Kingsley: Starring Alan Bennett & Robert Hardy (BBC Radio Collection) (2002) — Actor — 6 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Bennett, Alan
- Birthdate
- 1934-05-09
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- UK
- Birthplace
- Armley, Leeds, Yorkshire, England, UK
- Places of residence
- London, England, UK
Leeds, England, UK
Camden Town, London, England, UK - Education
- Oxford University (Exeter College ∙ BA ∙ 1957 ∙ First class degree in History)
Joint Services School for Linguists
Leeds Modern School - Occupations
- actor
humorist
playwright
screenwriter - Relationships
- Thomas, Rupert (partner)
- Awards and honors
- British Book Award (Author of the Year, 2006)
British Book Award (Lifetime Achievement Award, 2003)
Society of London Theatre Special Award (2005)
Members
Reviews
Very funny true book about the dignity afforded an elderly citizen by Alan Bennett and his neighbours. Wonderfully written.
This was a delightful read, a fictional account of Queen Elizabeth of England and what happens when she discovers the joys of reading. With some laugh-out-loud funny observations and quips, this novella was a quick read with a helluva a zinger at the very end that made me go "Ha!" because I never saw it coming.
Playwright Alan Bennett splendidly explores the aftermath of the great British spy scandal of the 1950s in two plays, "An Englishman Abroad" and "A Question of Attribution." Also in this volume, "Talking Heads," a collection of monologues that begin innocuously but end with a real impact. Great stuff.
Lists
Folio Society (1)
Comfort Reads (1)
Short and Sweet (1)
Awards
You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 145
- Also by
- 17
- Members
- 15,242
- Popularity
- #1,498
- Rating
- 4.1
- Reviews
- 817
- ISBNs
- 520
- Languages
- 19
- Favorited
- 56
Sweet and funny and so believable and the ending comes as a little tickle under the chin. Read it!