The finale of 'Gavin and Stacey' on Christmas Day of 2024, and its incredible success, is (for me, anyway) forever tied to the genius of Alan Bennett and the film, of the stage play, 'The History Boys'. The play's cast (including James Corden) were all seen on screen as a few of Smithy's friends in the BBC comedy classic. As plays go, it's one of his best, but the thing with Alan Bennett is this - it's merely the tip of an extraordinary literary iceberg. Alongside his plays, Alan is a celebrated diarist.
At the back end of last year, and following the finale of 'Gavin and Stacey' I finally got around to reading 'Keep on Keeping On' a collection of Alan's diaries from 2005 - 2015, which included 'backstage' insight into The History Boys play and subsequent film.
Alan Bennett's third collection of prose 'Keeping On Keeping On' follows in the footsteps of the phenomenally successful Writing Home and Untold Stories, each published ten years apart. This latest collection contains Bennett's peerless diaries from 2005 to 2015, reflecting on a decade that saw four premieres at the National Theatre (The Habit of Art, People, Hymn and Cocktail Sticks), a West End double-bill transfer, and the films of The History Boys and The Lady in the Van. The book also includes Alan's passion for visiting old churches, his surprising views on private education, and snippets of essays he's written for LRB (London Review Of Books).
Alan's self-deprecating and whimsical diary is a clear example of his writing excellence, As a huge fan of Morrissey, I particularly enjoyed Alan's anecdotes of receiving notes from The Smith's songwriter and randomly seeing him outside a pub. Alan Bennett displays many characteristics shared with Morrissey - the whimsical, mundane, almost curmudgeon worldviews whipped into a literary and musical masterpiece. Suffice it to say, like a good The Smiths Album, or indeed, the finale of Gavin and Stacey, I can highly recommend this book, and the works in general, of Yorkshire's greatest playwright. I am also from Yorkshire, so I think that adds to the magic.
I bought this book via 'World of Books' a brilliantly cheap source of second-hand and rare books!
Ryan's Reads BOOK SCORE 4/5
Words by @rybazoxo