Details for 'House arrest' by Alan Bennett

House arrest

by Alan Bennett
A short diary of the early days of lockdown for playwright Alan Bennett. Wonderful!
House arrest
by Alan Bennett
My review:

It will be interesting to see how many writers will seek to share their lockdown experience with us.

Some of the memoirs and novels were published very swiftly, others will need a particular 'hook' to draw us in as we tire of the subject, perhaps.

But for many of us, anything written by Alan Bennett is a delight and I was full of anticipation when I picked up this slim but beautiful volume.

It's a thoughtful and rather melancholic account, though of course full of humour and wry asides on a life which Bennett acknowledges isn't that different from how he had gone about his business before lockdown. Now, though, he finds that "with Rupert working from home my life is much easier, as I get regular cups of tea and a lovely hot lunch."

In this modest diary, he shares behind-the-scenes gossip about the 'Talking Heads' series, both in the past and also the special episodes produced during lockdown with profits donated to the NHS.

I particularly liked his reference to an exchange with the actor Martin Freeman who sent Bennett a thank you letter. He was so pleased to receive it that he sent Freeman a thank you for the thank you and carried the card around with him in his pocket "like a hand warmer".

There are thoughts on Boris Johnson, memories of childhood and his experience of having a haircut. An afterword recalls a train journey from London to Yorkshire, and you're left wishing there's much, much more.

Date of my review August 2022
Book publication date: 5th May 2022