Telling Tales

by Alan Bennett

The childhood memoir of one of Britain’s best-loved writers.

In this delightful collection of reminiscences Alan Bennett recalls his early years in a sequence of tales that are funny, touching and written in his unique style. These beautifully rendered snapshots, which include poignant portraits of his parents, confirm Bennett at the forefront of contemporary writing. Presented here as a new edition, Telling Tales will delight Bennett fans and enchant a new generation of readers.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Autobiography, Audiobook, Memoir, British Literature, Drama

144 pages, Hardcover

First published November 6, 2000

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Alan Bennett is an English author and Tony Award-winning playwright. Bennett's first stage play, Forty Years On, was produced in 1968. Many television, stage and radio plays followed, along with screenplays, short stories, novellas, a large body of non-fictional prose and broadcasting, and many appearances as an actor. Bennett's lugubrious yet expressive voice (which still bears a slight Leeds accent) and the sharp humour and evident humanity of his writing have made his readings of his own work (especially his autobiographical writing) very popular. His readings of the Winnie the Pooh stories are also widely enjoyed.

Reviews

[Petra X · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a lot of Alan Bennett, I hope he forgives me if I ever gave him less than 5 stars, because that was a defect in me, and not in his writing. The Lady In The Van and the wondrous The Uncommon Reader about the Queen discovering books, are among the best books I've ever read. So this memoir of his years growing up in Leeds is a sheer delight.

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only thing better than reading what Alan Bennett has written is listening to Alan Bennett reading what Alan Bennett's written.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm halfway through, and absolutely love it. One of those books I won't want to finish.

[David Campton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originating as BBC TV monologues by the author himself you cannot read these without hearing his distinctive accent and delivery even without having heard them broadcast. I love Bennett's plays and other monologues; his use of language and observational skills are second to none, and while I really enjoyed this short anthology, focusing on his own early life, it also pointed up a number of reasons why I, surprisingly, found his own autobiography stultifying. The first is that while his style is refreshing and perceptive in such short pieces, it is seemingly unending in the larger tome. In one piece he accuses an aunt of engaging in "interminable, over-detailed and ultimately inconsequential narrative" and he could be said to have inherited some of her traits... Within these monologues that is curtailed... not so in his auobiography. This is emphasised when he disengenuously in both these monologues and his autobiography tries to point out how dull his early life was. In the autobiography it becomes a self-fullfilling prophecy. However, in the monologues his clarity of insight is more self evident... particularly in the chapters on ageing and names, the sad one reflecting on his faith life and the closing and very pertinent one on education. Better stop now... this is nearly as long as one of his monologues... And I'm not getting paid for this (which was actually a very sour note with which Bennett launched the whole work, suggesting that he had written these monologues rather than do interviews where he would trot out such anecdotes for free... I suspect he wasn't joking...)

[David Hallstrom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Telling Tales is a series of often funny and poignant short stories - about 12 pages each - about growing-up in Leeds.

The pieces slowly advance from his young boyhood, confused by a war that colored everything, yet also seemed far away, on through his start as a writer.

Telling Tales is not as powerful or moving as his "Talking Heads" series but I am not certain it is meant to be. Bennett highlights his knack for catching the poetry of the absurd humor and melancholy sadness of simple day to day life.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too good to rush I limited myself to one reminiscence at a time between other books. These tales don't disappoint but then Bennett never does, (I've just come across him in Olivia Manning's Fortunes of War - free on YouTube) he's great in it although the adaptation is a mere sketch of Manning's two trilogies.

Every tale in this is worth 5 stars but if I had to pick a favourite it would be the penultimate. I went through much the same with supernatural beliefs but fortunately jettisoned them at a younger age.

[Luke · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is with regret that I give this book 2 stars. This book has some value as a historical document as people like Bennett are slowly fading away. Having said that, I still have a few older relatives that remind me of Alan Bennett so there was no real reason for me to read this book.

There are a few themes that interested me, such as growing up during the war and it being a big part of his life but at the same time feeling detached from it up in Leeds. There were some other themes that didn't quite land, it was a bit all over the place to be honest. If he had written a linear memoir then I might have liked it more... then again whenever I read a celebrity autobiography, I always want to get past the early life section and into the juicy stuff...

[Lisa Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely little collection. Photo at start of each one adds to the Magic. You can hear him in every sentence.

[Swee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really humorous summary of some of Bennett's childhood memories, really good for those who want to experience a flavour of his wiring style.

[Davino Nascimento · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming, enjoyable and entertaining.

[Graham Sillars · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in Bennett’s usual deadpan manner, but somehow still feeling full of life.

A writer I will always recommend to anyone looking for a brilliantly written and impactful read!

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short little book that manages simultaneously to be about nothing and everything.

[Marcus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Small book of childhood anecdotes.

[Deborah Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I hear Alan Bennett's voice in my head whenever I read his books, it didn't seem too much of a leap to download an audio edition of this book. I need something to distract me from the treadmill misery that is both January, when I'm keen to exercise and Winter so the ground is covered in snow, here in Idaho. This created a problem. Periodically I would have to step to the side of the treadmill, clutching my side, unable to breathe with laughter. At other times I had to stop and let the tears course down my face. This is Alan Bennett - I don't know what it is about the man's writing that affects me so strongly (aside from the fact that it's very good, obviously). These are people you know, real people with real stories, and I never tire of hearing them.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alan Bennett, award-winning playwright, writer, actor, etc., remembers his childhood in Leeds, Great Britain.

These ten tales are perfect little wisps of remembrances, delicate curls of chocolate on the cake of Bennett's other memoirs. I've read his bigger autobiographical tome "Untold Stories" and I seem to remember some of the same incidents.

No matter - Bennet is simply charming in his writings. There's a slight melancholy throughout which is perfectly balanced by his sly wit.

I think my favourite is "Aunt Eveline." His description of her decollete is laugh-out-loud hilarious.

I give this only 4 stars because it's simply too short!

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable and entertaining collection of autobiographical pieces, originally broadcast by the BBC, covering Alan Bennett's childhood and early adult years, most notably concerning his thoughts on his parents. Consistently amusing and warm-hearted, a cup of hot chocolate kind of read.

[Bettie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alan Bennett reads his wry recollections and observations about his early life, growing up in Leeds.

[Paul Servini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming talks about his childhood, his parents, life in the provinces etc. Very personal and warm.

[William Mankelow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved every story, will be reading this a few times I think.

[Connaire Demain · Rating 4 out of 5]

if your not reading them in his distinictive voice your doing it all wrong.

[Sal Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now as an audio book can you ask for anything more?

[Michel Dignand · Rating 3 out of 5]

ten vignettes from his early life. Amusing, interesting.

[Anthony Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witty, nostalgic and pure Bennett