Keeping On Keeping On

The pleasure of reading the excerpts from Bennett’s diaries comes from his joys, simply conveyed, and from recognition of small familiarities, books read and places visited. For me, the best quote is: “Nowadays the road to Damascus would be called ‘a steep learning curve’.”

The other pieces are more of interest because of what we know of Bennett from his diaries and his plays. It’s not challenging or sublime, rather it’s comforting, enjoyable and a pleasure to read.

This is not where you start with Bennett, try The History Boys (2004), An Uncommon Reader (2006) or even the recent Killing Time (2024). Then if you appreciate his style and humour, start his diaries with Writing Home (1994) and relax into some delightful reading.

Apart from the last part of the book, which were plays he had written, the book was personal and as usual with Bennett delightful. It is semi diary form and relates events and stories about friends which are gentle and usually amusing. A relaxing read written by an author who doesn't take himself to seriously and remembers his working class origins.

The greater part of the book comprises extracts from the author's diaries from 2010 t0 2015. These are usually interesting although, as Mr Bennett himself says, there are perhaps a few too many visits to churches.

The rest of the book contians a couple of play scripts, with the introductions to them and to other better known plays, or films made from them. Alan Bennett rarely disappoints.

very interesting peek into the later years - I have yet to read the diaries that fall directly before this.

Read July 2025

see also LRB for his yearly posting in January