Keeping On Keeping On
A decade of diaries and reflections from a beloved playwright
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Profile Books Ltd
Published:5th Oct '17
Should be back in stock very soon
This paperback is available in another edition too:
- Hardback£25.00(9781781256497)
This insightful collection captures a decade of Alan Bennett's life, blending humor and sharp observations in Keeping On Keeping On.
In Keeping On Keeping On, Alan Bennett presents a compelling collection of his diaries spanning from 2005 to 2015. This third volume of prose follows the successful Writing Home and Untold Stories, both of which were published a decade apart. Throughout this collection, Bennett reflects on a transformative decade in his life, marked by significant theatrical productions, including four premieres at the National Theatre and the successful adaptations of The History Boys and The Lady in the Van. His unique voice shines through as he navigates the highs and lows of his experiences during this period.
Bennett's wit and charm are evident as he tackles various subjects, from a thought-provoking sermon on private education delivered at King's College Chapel to a passionate defense of public libraries in 'Baffled at a Bookcase'. The author's candid observations and humorous anecdotes create an engaging narrative that resonates with readers, offering both insight and entertainment. His ability to blend personal reflections with broader cultural commentary makes Keeping On Keeping On a noteworthy addition to his body of work.
This collection serves not only as a diary but also as a testament to Bennett's enduring relevance in contemporary literature and theatre. The book encapsulates the essence of his personality—kindly, cozy, and undeniably sharp—making it a delightful read for both longtime fans and new readers alike. It is a rich, humane, and unforgettable chronicle of a decade in the life of one of Britain's beloved playwrights.
Cleverer and funnier than any one person has a right to be. -- John Carey * Sunday Times *
Our most subversive playwright... and able to make the world dance with a single word. On every page there is a phrase to make you smile, poetry disguised as comedy. -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *
Fire lit. Hot, thick toast. Coffee. Reading the inimitable Mr Bennett. Happiness. -- Nigel Slater
Confirms his reputation as one of the sharpest and funniest writers in the English language. -- Robert Douglas-Fairhurst * Spectator *
Our greatest living writer. -- Roger Lewis * The Times *
Screamingly funny. -- Observer * Miranda Sawyer *
An endlessly rewarding read by a man for all seasons and one who occupies a unique place in our culture and affections -- Liz Thomson * The Arts Desk *
Few diarists could offer such a consistently funny and touching authorial voice as Bennett. Long may he keep on keeping on. -- Ben Lawrence * Daily Telegraph *
There is no other writer, certainly none from any other era or nation, quite like Alan Bennett, and having this much more of his work is an uncovenanted blessing. -- David Sexton * Evening Standard *
There is not a dull or uninteresting page here ... teddy bear he may be but he has a tiger's teeth * The Herald *
This latest anthology of diaries and essays is a beautiful, humane and honest collection of reflections -- Rachel Reeves
Every piece here conveys the sense of an idiosyncratic and cussed mind, alive and open to the world -- Joe Moran * Guardian *
The literary equivalent of a warm cup of Horlicks spiked lavishly with whisky * Metro, Books of the Year 2016 *
[A] lavish miscellany ... appreciative, nostalgic and also hugely funny. * Prospect *
'Alan Bennett, with his combination of pitiless observation and gentle understatement, is perhaps the best-loved of English writers alive today * Sunday Telegraph *
Intelligent, educated, engaging, humane, self-aware, cantankerous and irresistibly funny -- John Carey * Sunday Times *
Alan Bennett's work, which stands as one of the major achievements across several genres in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, demands the very best of us: not our praise but our attention. -- Ian Samson * TLS *
ISBN: 9781781256503
Dimensions: 192mm x 124mm x 36mm
Weight: 480g
560 pages