Alan Bennett : Keeping On, Keeping On

mikey4444 | 08:41 Sun 26th Nov 2017 | Books & Authors

16 Answers

I am halfway through this and am enjoying it immensely, just as I have enjoyed all his previous stuff. The Dairies this time are from 2005 to 2015, and are full of delicious quotes.

Recommended to all !

Jdi Taylor - Chronicles Of St Mary's

Mrs Pepperpot

Answers

1 to 16 of 16

Best Answer

No best answer has yet been selected by mikey4444. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.

For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.

Tilly2

I have a copy. It's taking me a while to get though it. Fascinating book.

mikey4444

Question Author

I like his quote from Rupert.

Rupert is watching "Wuthering Heights" and turns to Bennett and says "you're rather like Heathcliff"

Bennett (gratified) "Really ?"

"Yeah. Difficult, Northern and a C"

Page 189.

Another one that comes to mind ::

A child in Settle is said to have asked what the Mafia was and his grandfather said " Its like the Settle Rotary Club, only with guns"

Page 217

There are so many others....its an absolute treasure !

mikey4444

Question Author

Tilly....just found this on Youtube :::::

jourdain2

I got this for last Christmas, mikey, and am just now leisurely wading though it. It is, as you say, a wonderful read.
Did you know that he used to just sit in Leeds art gallery and listen to people talking in order to write normal speech accurately. I wonder if I were one of the ones he heard as I used to go there quite a lot.

Tilly2

Thanks for the video, Mikey. I shall really enjoy listening to that when I have an hour by myself.

goodgoalie

Didn't know about Alan Bennett's Dairies, Mikey - I'm sure people have been milking them for those delicious quotes.....:)

mikey4444

Question Author

J....Bennett is now a national treasure, although he probably won't thank me for saying so.

You remind me of a trick that Joe Orton used to play....
.he also valued real dialogue and he hid a tape recorder behind a loaf of bread in the kitchen, in order to be able to catch what his Mother used to say.

Another quote from Bennett's diaries I rather like.

His mother once remarked about seeing a bald man

" How would he know when he had finished washing his face ! "

mikey4444

Question Author

Goodgoalie....get thee to a Library......its a good read !

Also, his own story of the Lady in the Van is to be recommended.

Another quote from the Dairies. The Jehovah Witnesses called on him once and asked "Does God live in this house ?

"No" he said, try the van"

Tilly2

Here you go, GG. Take your pick. :-)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alan-Bennett/e/B001H6O0IY