House Arrest: Pandemic Diaries

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His thoughts on theatres closing and cultural outlets being on the brink of extinction are almost totally absent.

The Queen watches the Remembrance Day ceremony at The Cenotaph with “ a beady eye on the revamped choreography. Although billed as a Pandemic Diary, other than having an inoculation and the odd socially distanced conversation, there was little relevant to those times and concerns. I expected insights into the pandemic, the impact on his life, the community, nothing but cups of tea, a few chats with friends over the fence and being driven around. Bennett's lugubrious yet expressive voice (which still bears a slight Leeds accent) and the sharp humour and evident humanity of his writing have made his readings of his own work (especially his autobiographical writing) very popular.Generally, I worship at the altar of Alan Bennett but this very slight volume was a big disappointment. HMQ pictured in the paper at an investiture wearing gloves, presumably as a precaution against Coronavirus. In November 2020 he notices that the Queen, nearly 10 years his senior, is able to walk backwards when laying a wreath at the Cenotaph.

So, my 4* rating reflects how good these 45 pages of musings were but don't reflect my disappointment! It's a very short selection, so easily readable in one sitting but none the less entertaining for that. On 26 March of that first year, Nicholas Hytner rings with the exciting news that the BBC would like to record a new version of Bennett’s Talking Heads monologues of 1988 because it is exactly the sort of thing that could be done on Zoom. It’s a short read, but probably no shorter than any of his previous diaries over a 12 month period, in Writing Home, Untold Stories and Keeping On Keeping On, especially when he was under ‘house arrest’.In no time, however, I was drawn in by Bennett's spot on reminiscences and comments upon current happenings. It is a typical Bennett moment, part gentle social comedy part revelation about the self-delusions of the ego.