{"product_id":"book-21lj","title":"Alan Bennett: Stories","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA unique collection of eight Alan Bennett stories, read by the author.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAlan Bennett is one of Britain's best-loved authors and an acclaimed storyteller. Poignant, compassionate, wise and witty, this compilation includes eight of his best tales: His celebrated, iconic memoir \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Lady in the Van\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e; as well as two fascinating autobiographical accounts of his family and childhood. \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eUncle Clarence\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e sees Bennett visiting the grave of a relative who died in Flanders in 1917; while in \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eHymn\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e he joins forces with composer George Fenton and the Medici String Quartet to explore his musical memories.\u003cbr\u003eBennett's incisive, acute observations shine through in his fiction too, with wry, moving and darkly humorous meditations on death (\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eFather! Father! Burning Bright\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Laying On of Hands\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e), sex (\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Shielding of Mrs Forbes\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e) and middle-age ennui (\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Clothes They Stood Up In\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e). His gift for affectionate satire reaches its pinnacle in \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Uncommon Reader\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, a delightful tale in which the Queen discovers the pleasures of literature.\u003cbr\u003eThis collection includes:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eThe Lady in the Van \u003c\/i\u003e(tracks 1-2)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eUncle Clarence \u003c\/i\u003e(track 3)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eThe Clothes They Stood Up In \u003c\/i\u003e(tracks 4-5)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eFather! Father! Burning Bright \u003c\/i\u003e(tracks 6-7)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eHymn \u003c\/i\u003e(tracks 8-9)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eThe Laying On of Hands \u003c\/i\u003e(tracks 10-11)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eThe Uncommon Reader \u003c\/i\u003e(track 12)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eThe Shielding of Mrs Forbes \u003c\/i\u003e(track 13)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e©2016 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2016 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin UK","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":67373490241840,"sku":"BD21lj","price":11.67,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/21lj-Square-cover.jpg?v=1784157416","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-21lj","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}