Uncommon Reader, The
(Alan Bennett)
Printed Guide

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If you were the Queen of England, what would you be reading? Important international treatises on policy and politics? Books on current and historical events? But then again, as head of state, you might only have time for magazines, journals, and newspapers. Or more likely, you would be briefed and advised by your professional staff, in the form of short “book” reports. In these scenarios, the Queen accepts other people’s viewpoints and does not have the time or luxury to develop her own. In Alan Bennett’s majestic book, The Uncommon Reader, the Queen broadens her perspective by immersing herself into a never-ending world of words and ideas: fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, and more. Alan Bennett presents a singular sovereign next to the rest of us — the uncommon reader vs. the common ones.

We meet Bennett’s Queen as she encounters a strange van in her driveway that turns out to be a travelling library. She enters and borrows a book. One book leads to another and the Queen discovers, for the first time, the joys of reading for pleasure. As she reads more and more, and is involved in her duties less and less, her loyal servants and handlers become confused and angered by how this newfound interest has thrown the monarchy into upheaval.

Come along with Bookclub-in-a-Box and find out more about the Queen as Bennett imagines her. See how skillfully he:

Uses her to explore the world of literacy.
Celebrates the power of reading by juxtaposing the remote world of the monarchy with the more common republic of letters, as we know it.
Allows the Queen to uncover new insights about herself and her subjects.
Encourages readers to reconfirm their own thoughts about reading.

Bennett uses his customary warmth, humor, and visionary skill to outline the life of a royal celebrity, opening the door between the Queen and her subjects to allow the humanity and understanding of both to intermingle.

Every Bookclub-in-a-Box PDF discussion guide includes complete coverage of the themes and symbols, writing style and interesting background information on the novel and the author.