Writing Home

"[A] wonderful book, the wit of which spills over even into the index . . . There's so much here . . . [Bennett] is angry, hilariously self-pitying, and he writes beautifully."—The Times

"Brilliantly perceptive . . . If anyone wants to define the distinctive Englishness of English writing, they can find it all in this book—modesty, irony, self-deprecating wit, and supremely good observation."—The Daily Telegraph

"A classic performance."—The Times Literary Supplement

"The book [contains] perhaps the funniest piece ever written about the theater . . . Marvelous, marvelous, marvelous."—The Independent

"Irresistibly well written, wry, witty . . . Every sentence a pleasure . . . Humane, observant, and sharply intelligent."—The Sunday Times

"A literary gem."—Booklist

"Bennett, the playwright whose works include Forty Years On (1968) and An Englishman Abroad (1983), here brings together reminiscences of family and friends, character sketches of literary figures and famous people (e.g., Sir John Gielgud, John Osborne, Innes Lloyd), extracts from his diaries, and prefaces to some of his better-known plays. Some of the pieces were begun as radio talks for the BBC or published in the London Review of Books. Bennett touches on English society and literary life, the occupational hazards of writing plays, and writing for television vs. writing for the stage. He is an astute, erudite commentator, and there is much to chuckle over, including his thoughts on English eccentricity, rehearsals, and his hilarious experiences of 'going round' after a performance. Anglophiles of all stripes will enjoy this book; highly recommended for serious collections in modern British literature and theater."—Lesley Jorbin, Cleveland State University Library, Library Journal