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  • Alan Bennett: Stories

  • Read by Alan Bennett
  • By: Alan Bennett
  • Narrated by: Alan Bennett
  • Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (340 ratings)

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Alan Bennett: Stories

By: Alan Bennett
Narrated by: Alan Bennett
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Summary

A unique collection of eight Alan Bennett stories, read by the author. Alan Bennett is one of Britain's best-loved authors and an acclaimed storyteller. This exclusive compilation includes eight of his best tales, collected together for the first time.

Here is his celebrated, iconic memoir 'The Lady in the Van'; as well as two fascinating autobiographical accounts of his family and childhood. 'Uncle Clarence' sees Bennett visiting the grave of a relative who died in Flanders in 1917; while in 'Hymn' he joins forces with composer George Fenton and the Medici String Quartet to explore his musical memories.

Bennett's incisive, acute observations shine through in his fiction too, with wry, moving and darkly humorous meditations on death ('Father! Father! Burning Bright' and 'The Laying On of Hands'), sex ('The Shielding of Mrs Forbes) and middle-age ennui ('The Clothes They Stood Up In'). His gift for affectionate satire reaches its pinnacle in 'The Uncommon Reader', a delightful tale in which the Queen discovers the pleasures of literature.

Poignant, compassionate, wise and witty, the stories included are 'The Lady in the Van', 'Uncle Clarence', 'The Clothes They Stood Up In', 'Father! Father! Burning Bright', 'Hymn', 'The Laying On of Hands', 'The Uncommon Reader' and 'The Shielding of Mrs Forbes'.

©2016 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2016 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
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What listeners say about Alan Bennett: Stories

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  • Overall
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brilliant

includes lady in the van this short story collection is Bennett at his best. highly recommended

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Just love hearing Allan Bennett reading me his story’s

I love the sound of Allan.s voice. Reading his own books to me is a real treasure. Can’t wait to hear the rest of them in my collection. Keep writing you books & I will keep listen to them, thank you lady in Kingston ❤️

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A quite brilliant understated writer.

Allan Bennet is an absolute pleasure to listen to. I find his writing humourous and his narration so soothing.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Very entertaining

Very well narrated by the author, excellent writing and quirky engaging characters. I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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The sublime AB

Incredible - amazing writing, wonderful narration. I shall listen to it again and again.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Tales of twists, turns and secrets

This collection is magnificently read by the author and includes all flavours of life from an old lady with mental health problems who prevails upon the writer in her old age, to a couple who are completely cleared out and then mysteriously returned to normal, to a son learning the truth of life as he awaits his fathers death, a reflection upon music, a life celebration where all the congregation wants is a cause of death and a family swarming with secrets, lies and dodgy policemen.
Just wonderful, warm and witty with a sting in the tale.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Superb

Of course this is amazing, it's Alan Bennett reading Alan Bennett.
Had me in tears of laughter. Love him x

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Jjust wonderful.

Alan Bennett is our greatest playwrite and author and no one reads his work like he does. The best listen ever. 11/10

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What more could you ask for?!

Alan Bennett stories read by Alan Bennett himself - what more could you ask for. His amazing observations of human nature, his wit, the occasional dark twist. A joy to listen to.

(I have to admit, I skipped the music one - perhaps I wasn’t in the right mood, so might return to it, but it didn’t hit the spot on a long car journey. The other stories all did!!)

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Brilliant, obviously.

Painfully honest observations and a familiar view of the world for me at 56. I know these people.

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2 people found this helpful