The Uncommon Reader: A NovellaFrom the author of The History Boys and The Clothes They Stood Up In A deliciously funny novella that celebrates the pleasure of reading. When the Queen in pursuit of her wandering corgis stumbles upon a mobile library she feels duty bound to borrow a book. Aided by Norman, a young man from the palace kitchen who frequents the library, Bennett describes the Queen's transformation as she discovers the liberating pleasures of the written word. With the poignant and mischievous wit of The History Boys, England's best loved author revels in the power of literature to change even the most uncommon reader's life. |
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LibraryThing Review
User Review - kaulsu - www.librarything.comWhat a silly little read--but utterly delightful. Perfect book to read when life, family, work, whatever, has laid you low. A fast (they call it a "Novella," but it's really just a long short story ... Read full review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - ParadisePorch - www.librarything.comWhat a delightful surprise this little book is! The Queen of England discovers reading for pleasure with consequences for her realm. I laughed out loud at the end of this book. Read full review
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Common terms and phrases
actually ALAN BENNETT Alice Munro Alzheimer’s asked audience awkward borrow cake Cecil Beaton chair course desk disliked Dog Tulip dogs door duke duty E. M. Forster East Anglia equerries feel felt garden George Gerald gone hands Henry James home secretary household human Hutchings Ian McEwan interest Ivy Compton-Burnett Jane Austen Jean Genet kitchens knew Lady late least less literature London Library ma’am maid Majesty Majesty’s monarch Nancy Mitford never nodded Norman notebook novel occasional once one’s opened palace party people’s perhaps prime minister prime minister’s private secretary Queen looked Queen Mother Queen thought round royal family scarcely Seakins seemed seldom Sir Claude Sir Kevin sitting smiled helpfully someone special adviser sure surprise talk tell there’s thing tion told took travelling library turned Uncommon Reader voice Windsor wonder wrote young Zealand
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Uncommon Reader: A Novella |
| Author | Alan Bennett |
| Edition | reprint, large print |
| Publisher | Macmillan, 2007 |
| ISBN | 0374280967, 9780374280963 |
| Length | 120 pages |
| Subjects | › › Fiction / Humorous / General Fiction / Literary |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |