A few years ago Alan Bennett was scheduled to be interviewed by
The Independent. However, when he saw himself described as “winsome” in an article in the same newspaper, he was so irked by the adjective that he sent a postcard, calling the interview off with the phrase: “winsome, lose some”. This story tells us a lot about Alan Bennett, regarded by many as the foremost playwright of his generation. There is the marvellous wit of course, but more significantly, there is an irritation with his public image; Bennett has long suffered from the poisoned chalice of being considered a “national treasure”.
Bennett cannot quite shake off the image of an avuncular old man of letters, somewhat out of step with the modern world. He seems to be seen as much as a lovable eccentric as one of
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Citation: Holcombe, Garan. "Alan Bennett". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 14 September 2006 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=5067, accessed 27 November 2024.]
