Very informative and entertaining, 31 Jul 2008
Great for car journeys, well produced, and lots of interesting stuff. Recommended for children 8 plus. My 10, 14 and 18 year old all enjoy these Naxos books, and so do their parents.
Well done naxos.

Excellent purchase, 06 Feb 2008
This audio CD book, alongside with other Naxos educational CDs for children, is absolutely fantastic. It contains loads of information, so adults' interest is guaranteed as well as children's fascination. It's a must for curious little minds. Presented in an easy listening format, it educates and enterntains at the same time. Boring car journeys became a highly enjoyable and educational experiences in our family since Naxos CDs were purchased. Being non-fiction, they can be listened to over and over again, offering a chance for the child to remember and/or understand more details each time.

Very informative and entertaining, 31 Jul 2008
Great for car journeys, well produced, and lots of interesting stuff. Recommended for children 8 plus. My 10, 14 and 18 year old all enjoy these Naxos books, and so do their parents.
Well done naxos.

Excellent purchase, 06 Feb 2008
This audio CD book, alongside with other Naxos educational CDs for children, is absolutely fantastic. It contains loads of information, so adults' interest is guaranteed as well as children's fascination. It's a must for curious little minds. Presented in an easy listening format, it educates and enterntains at the same time. Boring car journeys became a highly enjoyable and educational experiences in our family since Naxos CDs were purchased. Being non-fiction, they can be listened to over and over again, offering a chance for the child to remember and/or understand more details each time.

Yes! No... Maybe..., 24 Aug 2008
I'm not a great reader of biography, but I was looking forward to this book as I admire Rick Wakeman both as an amazing musician and as a quirky character. This book is OK, and has a number of of interesting and amusing recollections from Rick Wakeman's career but it is rather rambling and self indulgent. Whilst it gives a sense of some of the bizarre and whacky things that have happened to him in the course of his musical career I was hoping for something a bit more interesting than in depth details of his drinking habits which seemed to feature on every other page... Having said that some of the recollections were so funny that I did laugh out loud and have to read them to my husband. So, if you're a complete Rick Wakeman fan you may enjoy this enough to make forking out the cash worthwhile, but be warned, it is only a collection of stories and not a decent biography.

Book buyers will never tire of reading about Winston Churchill, for "the greatest adventurer of modern political history" (RA Butler's verdict) led a life of action-packed drama and global significance. Roy Jenkins' Churchill is the latest biography of this great Briton, following closely in the tailwind of Geoffrey Best's Churchill: A Study in Greatness. Where Best restores altitude to Churchill's dipping reputation, seeing off academic critics of the last decade or so, Jenkins provides a jumbo-size old-fashioned biography, lauding his subject's achievements, sympathising with his quirks, and stepping lightly over his well-known mistakes. As he did in his earlier biographies of Dilke, Asquith and Gladstone, Jenkins sticks closely to the published record, utilising in particular the definitive researches of Martin Gilbert, but he brings the authority and the inside knowledge of British politics to his book, slipping in his own memories of Churchill, and his own comparable experience sat the Cabinet table. It is all here, from the Boer Wars to the nuclear bomb, from the hustings in Oldham to the diplomacy of Yalta, with due coverage of the big moments--at the Board of Trade and at the Admiralty in Asquith's peacetime and wartime cabinets, taking on the appeasers in the 1930s and Hitler in the 1940s. All the books are here, and all the political relationships tetchy and touchy alike, from Lloyd George to Baldwin, Smuts to Stalin, and of course, the British people. Like its subject the book is bulky and at times indulgent, but impossible not to enjoy.--Miles Taylor

Very informative and entertaining, 31 Jul 2008
Great for car journeys, well produced, and lots of interesting stuff. Recommended for children 8 plus. My 10, 14 and 18 year old all enjoy these Naxos books, and so do their parents.
Well done naxos.

Excellent purchase, 06 Feb 2008
This audio CD book, alongside with other Naxos educational CDs for children, is absolutely fantastic. It contains loads of information, so adults' interest is guaranteed as well as children's fascination. It's a must for curious little minds. Presented in an easy listening format, it educates and enterntains at the same time. Boring car journeys became a highly enjoyable and educational experiences in our family since Naxos CDs were purchased. Being non-fiction, they can be listened to over and over again, offering a chance for the child to remember and/or understand more details each time.

Yes! No... Maybe..., 24 Aug 2008
I'm not a great reader of biography, but I was looking forward to this book as I admire Rick Wakeman both as an amazing musician and as a quirky character. This book is OK, and has a number of of interesting and amusing recollections from Rick Wakeman's career but it is rather rambling and self indulgent. Whilst it gives a sense of some of the bizarre and whacky things that have happened to him in the course of his musical career I was hoping for something a bit more interesting than in depth details of his drinking habits which seemed to feature on every other page... Having said that some of the recollections were so funny that I did laugh out loud and have to read them to my husband. So, if you're a complete Rick Wakeman fan you may enjoy this enough to make forking out the cash worthwhile, but be warned, it is only a collection of stories and not a decent biography.

A very interesting book, 19 Feb 2008
A biography written by a political insighter. Very readable. Minor mistake on the election period in the Weimar republic. Can be recommended if you want to read more on Churchill otherwise the best short biography is Bests: "Churchill: A study in greatness".

A Most Interesting Biography, 13 Feb 2008
Churchill by Roy Jenkins is a very readable book with lots of interesting details. It deals with all the major aspects of his life in an interesting and enjoyable style which does not become bogged down in analysis. It also unlike some biographies does not regard Churchill as a perfect prime minister but as the right man for the right time. All in all it is a very good book.

A great audio presentation, 23 Jan 2008
I listened to the abridged audio presentation of this book and have to say I found it extremely entertaining and informative.

It might have been a risky move to get a comedian/impressionist to narrate this book but it pays off. John Sessions does a great job with the text, bringing to life the quotes of Churchill, Attlee, Stalin etc with his brilliant portrayals.

The text itself is well written and doesn't mind pointing out Churchills flaws as well as his strengths. I'd have preferred some more attention being paid to the years 1939- 1945 as, of course, so much happened then. But it seems to be covered at the same pace as the years before and after.

All in all, an interesting history of a great man.

Jenkins hits the spot, 03 Jan 2008
I could give you a 6,000 word thesis on this book commenting on Jenkins' style and how appropriate and logical the information is within. However, this is a detailed and almost unbiased account of arguably the most resourceful and witty semi-American / semi-British men in history.

The fact is - for less than £10 and approximately a weeks worth of reading you can learn a great deal about this noble man and his extraordinary adventures (and good fortune) before making your own mind up about him; and Jenkins' effort!

Personally I feel that it is very much worth a read and suited my reading style better than any of the other Churchill biographies on the market today. As you may have guessed I employ a 'no nonsense' and 'straight to the point' style.

Grandiose work falls short of the mark, 23 Jun 2007
Churchill, it may be said, was great but not good. This book, it might equally be said, is good but not great. This is a pity, for in Jenkins Churchill potentially had a suitably colourful and erudite biographer. Unfortunately this offering, trumpeted on its release as the 'definitive' life of the great man, falls noticeably short of the standard set by Martin Gilbert back in the 1970s, even if it is a little more readable.

Criticisms have been justly levelled at Jenkin's style. Whilst capable of the most sparking witticisms, particularly in his character assessments, Jenkins' grandiose prose often seems turgid and affected. As might be expected, his analysis of Churchill's political evolution - from liberal Conservative to radical Liberal and back again - is perceptive and even-handed, although is lacking in detail. Much use is made of original sources, often quoted verbatim, frequently to illuminating effect and particularly so in the chapters dealing with Chruchill's wartime Premiership.

However, there is little here that has not been said before and with greater brevity. A good introductory text to Churchill, if you're not daunted by the scale, but it does neither subject nor author any great credit.

Very informative and entertaining, 31 Jul 2008
Great for car journeys, well produced, and lots of interesting stuff. Recommended for children 8 plus. My 10, 14 and 18 year old all enjoy these Naxos books, and so do their parents.
Well done naxos.

Excellent purchase, 06 Feb 2008
This audio CD book, alongside with other Naxos educational CDs for children, is absolutely fantastic. It contains loads of information, so adults' interest is guaranteed as well as children's fascination. It's a must for curious little minds. Presented in an easy listening format, it educates and enterntains at the same time. Boring car journeys became a highly enjoyable and educational experiences in our family since Naxos CDs were purchased. Being non-fiction, they can be listened to over and over again, offering a chance for the child to remember and/or understand more details each time.

Yes! No... Maybe..., 24 Aug 2008
I'm not a great reader of biography, but I was looking forward to this book as I admire Rick Wakeman both as an amazing musician and as a quirky character. This book is OK, and has a number of of interesting and amusing recollections from Rick Wakeman's career but it is rather rambling and self indulgent. Whilst it gives a sense of some of the bizarre and whacky things that have happened to him in the course of his musical career I was hoping for something a bit more interesting than in depth details of his drinking habits which seemed to feature on every other page... Having said that some of the recollections were so funny that I did laugh out loud and have to read them to my husband. So, if you're a complete Rick Wakeman fan you may enjoy this enough to make forking out the cash worthwhile, but be warned, it is only a collection of stories and not a decent biography.

A very interesting book, 19 Feb 2008
A biography written by a political insighter. Very readable. Minor mistake on the election period in the Weimar republic. Can be recommended if you want to read more on Churchill otherwise the best short biography is Bests: "Churchill: A study in greatness".

A Most Interesting Biography, 13 Feb 2008
Churchill by Roy Jenkins is a very readable book with lots of interesting details. It deals with all the major aspects of his life in an interesting and enjoyable style which does not become bogged down in analysis. It also unlike some biographies does not regard Churchill as a perfect prime minister but as the right man for the right time. All in all it is a very good book.

A great audio presentation, 23 Jan 2008
I listened to the abridged audio presentation of this book and have to say I found it extremely entertaining and informative.

It might have been a risky move to get a comedian/impressionist to narrate this book but it pays off. John Sessions does a great job with the text, bringing to life the quotes of Churchill, Attlee, Stalin etc with his brilliant portrayals.

The text itself is well written and doesn't mind pointing out Churchills flaws as well as his strengths. I'd have preferred some more attention being paid to the years 1939- 1945 as, of course, so much happened then. But it seems to be covered at the same pace as the years before and after.

All in all, an interesting history of a great man.

Jenkins hits the spot, 03 Jan 2008
I could give you a 6,000 word thesis on this book commenting on Jenkins' style and how appropriate and logical the information is within. However, this is a detailed and almost unbiased account of arguably the most resourceful and witty semi-American / semi-British men in history.

The fact is - for less than £10 and approximately a weeks worth of reading you can learn a great deal about this noble man and his extraordinary adventures (and good fortune) before making your own mind up about him; and Jenkins' effort!

Personally I feel that it is very much worth a read and suited my reading style better than any of the other Churchill biographies on the market today. As you may have guessed I employ a 'no nonsense' and 'straight to the point' style.

Grandiose work falls short of the mark, 23 Jun 2007
Churchill, it may be said, was great but not good. This book, it might equally be said, is good but not great. This is a pity, for in Jenkins Churchill potentially had a suitably colourful and erudite biographer. Unfortunately this offering, trumpeted on its release as the 'definitive' life of the great man, falls noticeably short of the standard set by Martin Gilbert back in the 1970s, even if it is a little more readable.

Criticisms have been justly levelled at Jenkin's style. Whilst capable of the most sparking witticisms, particularly in his character assessments, Jenkins' grandiose prose often seems turgid and affected. As might be expected, his analysis of Churchill's political evolution - from liberal Conservative to radical Liberal and back again - is perceptive and even-handed, although is lacking in detail. Much use is made of original sources, often quoted verbatim, frequently to illuminating effect and particularly so in the chapters dealing with Chruchill's wartime Premiership.

However, there is little here that has not been said before and with greater brevity. A good introductory text to Churchill, if you're not daunted by the scale, but it does neither subject nor author any great credit.

Excellent purchase, 06 Feb 2008
This audio CD book, alongside with other Naxos educational CDs for children, is absolutely fantastic. It contains loads of information, so adults interest is guaranteed as well as children's fascination. It's a must for curious little minds. Presented in an easy listening format, it educates and enterntains at the same time. Boring car journeys became a highly enjoyable and educational experiences in our family since Naxos CDs were purchased. Being non-fiction, they can be listened to over and over again, offering a chance for the child to remember and/or understand more details each time.

Very informative and entertaining, 31 Jul 2008
Great for car journeys, well produced, and lots of interesting stuff. Recommended for children 8 plus. My 10, 14 and 18 year old all enjoy these Naxos books, and so do their parents.
Well done naxos.

Excellent purchase, 06 Feb 2008
This audio CD book, alongside with other Naxos educational CDs for children, is absolutely fantastic. It contains loads of information, so adults' interest is guaranteed as well as children's fascination. It's a must for curious little minds. Presented in an easy listening format, it educates and enterntains at the same time. Boring car journeys became a highly enjoyable and educational experiences in our family since Naxos CDs were purchased. Being non-fiction, they can be listened to over and over again, offering a chance for the child to remember and/or understand more details each time.

Yes! No... Maybe..., 24 Aug 2008
I'm not a great reader of biography, but I was looking forward to this book as I admire Rick Wakeman both as an amazing musician and as a quirky character. This book is OK, and has a number of of interesting and amusing recollections from Rick Wakeman's career but it is rather rambling and self indulgent. Whilst it gives a sense of some of the bizarre and whacky things that have happened to him in the course of his musical career I was hoping for something a bit more interesting than in depth details of his drinking habits which seemed to feature on every other page... Having said that some of the recollections were so funny that I did laugh out loud and have to read them to my husband. So, if you're a complete Rick Wakeman fan you may enjoy this enough to make forking out the cash worthwhile, but be warned, it is only a collection of stories and not a decent biography.

A very interesting book, 19 Feb 2008
A biography written by a political insighter. Very readable. Minor mistake on the election period in the Weimar republic. Can be recommended if you want to read more on Churchill otherwise the best short biography is Bests: "Churchill: A study in greatness".

A Most Interesting Biography, 13 Feb 2008
Churchill by Roy Jenkins is a very readable book with lots of interesting details. It deals with all the major aspects of his life in an interesting and enjoyable style which does not become bogged down in analysis. It also unlike some biographies does not regard Churchill as a perfect prime minister but as the right man for the right time. All in all it is a very good book.

A great audio presentation, 23 Jan 2008
I listened to the abridged audio presentation of this book and have to say I found it extremely entertaining and informative.

It might have been a risky move to get a comedian/impressionist to narrate this book but it pays off. John Sessions does a great job with the text, bringing to life the quotes of Churchill, Attlee, Stalin etc with his brilliant portrayals.

The text itself is well written and doesn't mind pointing out Churchills flaws as well as his strengths. I'd have preferred some more attention being paid to the years 1939- 1945 as, of course, so much happened then. But it seems to be covered at the same pace as the years before and after.

All in all, an interesting history of a great man.

Jenkins hits the spot, 03 Jan 2008
I could give you a 6,000 word thesis on this book commenting on Jenkins' style and how appropriate and logical the information is within. However, this is a detailed and almost unbiased account of arguably the most resourceful and witty semi-American / semi-British men in history.

The fact is - for less than £10 and approximately a weeks worth of reading you can learn a great deal about this noble man and his extraordinary adventures (and good fortune) before making your own mind up about him; and Jenkins' effort!

Personally I feel that it is very much worth a read and suited my reading style better than any of the other Churchill biographies on the market today. As you may have guessed I employ a 'no nonsense' and 'straight to the point' style.

Grandiose work falls short of the mark, 23 Jun 2007
Churchill, it may be said, was great but not good. This book, it might equally be said, is good but not great. This is a pity, for in Jenkins Churchill potentially had a suitably colourful and erudite biographer. Unfortunately this offering, trumpeted on its release as the 'definitive' life of the great man, falls noticeably short of the standard set by Martin Gilbert back in the 1970s, even if it is a little more readable.

Criticisms have been justly levelled at Jenkin's style. Whilst capable of the most sparking witticisms, particularly in his character assessments, Jenkins' grandiose prose often seems turgid and affected. As might be expected, his analysis of Churchill's political evolution - from liberal Conservative to radical Liberal and back again - is perceptive and even-handed, although is lacking in detail. Much use is made of original sources, often quoted verbatim, frequently to illuminating effect and particularly so in the chapters dealing with Chruchill's wartime Premiership.

However, there is little here that has not been said before and with greater brevity. A good introductory text to Churchill, if you're not daunted by the scale, but it does neither subject nor author any great credit.

Excellent purchase, 06 Feb 2008
This audio CD book, alongside with other Naxos educational CDs for children, is absolutely fantastic. It contains loads of information, so adults interest is guaranteed as well as children's fascination. It's a must for curious little minds. Presented in an easy listening format, it educates and enterntains at the same time. Boring car journeys became a highly enjoyable and educational experiences in our family since Naxos CDs were purchased. Being non-fiction, they can be listened to over and over again, offering a chance for the child to remember and/or understand more details each time.

Fascinating and very witty, 20 Jan 2008
What a fascinating character!

One of those books that I was reluctant to finish as the last page drew nearer.

Prior to reading this book I only knew Peter Ustinov as the delightful character Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie films. But I learned that he had a very long career in the theatre and that his talents seemed to include almost all areas in it.

His background alone makes for interesting reading. He is the child of Russian immigrants who settled in England but his (very talented) ancestors came from far and wide and included countries such as Ethiopia and Israel.

Parts of the book is written in the style of a soul searching dialogue between Peter Ustinov and himself, hence the title. He makes some insightful comments about life and the world. In general throughout the book I was struck by what appears to be the extreme intelligence of someone who oddly enough did not do well in school.

Many parts of the book are pure entertainment. I laughed aloud in many places. His descriptions of his eccentric relatives, his experiences in the army, how he dealt with rebellious students at Durham university are all very funny.

I can recommend this book. It is highly entertaining and amusing. But it also contains some insightful observations by a highly intelligent, observant and unique personality.


good car talk, 17 Apr 2003
Why i bought this i dont know.I put it in the car and the trip flew in.He has the sort of voice that relaxes you and makes time fly.

Very informative and entertaining, 31 Jul 2008
Great for car journeys, well produced, and lots of interesting stuff. Recommended for children 8 plus. My 10, 14 and 18 year old all enjoy these Naxos books, and so do their parents.
Well done naxos.

Excellent purchase, 06 Feb 2008
This audio CD book, alongside with other Naxos educational CDs for children, is absolutely fantastic. It contains loads of information, so adults' interest is guaranteed as well as children's fascination. It's a must for curious little minds. Presented in an easy listening format, it educates and enterntains at the same time. Boring car journeys became a highly enjoyable and educational experiences in our family since Naxos CDs were purchased. Being non-fiction, they can be listened to over and over again, offering a chance for the child to remember and/or understand more details each time.

Yes! No... Maybe..., 24 Aug 2008
I'm not a great reader of biography, but I was looking forward to this book as I admire Rick Wakeman both as an amazing musician and as a quirky character. This book is OK, and has a number of of interesting and amusing recollections from Rick Wakeman's career but it is rather rambling and self indulgent. Whilst it gives a sense of some of the bizarre and whacky things that have happened to him in the course of his musical career I was hoping for something a bit more interesting than in depth details of his drinking habits which seemed to feature on every other page... Having said that some of the recollections were so funny that I did laugh out loud and have to read them to my husband. So, if you're a complete Rick Wakeman fan you may enjoy this enough to make forking out the cash worthwhile, but be warned, it is only a collection of stories and not a decent biography.

A very interesting book, 19 Feb 2008
A biography written by a political insighter. Very readable. Minor mistake on the election period in the Weimar republic. Can be recommended if you want to read more on Churchill otherwise the best short biography is Bests: "Churchill: A study in greatness".

A Most Interesting Biography, 13 Feb 2008
Churchill by Roy Jenkins is a very readable book with lots of interesting details. It deals with all the major aspects of his life in an interesting and enjoyable style which does not become bogged down in analysis. It also unlike some biographies does not regard Churchill as a perfect prime minister but as the right man for the right time. All in all it is a very good book.

A great audio presentation, 23 Jan 2008
I listened to the abridged audio presentation of this book and have to say I found it extremely entertaining and informative.

It might have been a risky move to get a comedian/impressionist to narrate this book but it pays off. John Sessions does a great job with the text, bringing to life the quotes of Churchill, Attlee, Stalin etc with his brilliant portrayals.

The text itself is well written and doesn't mind pointing out Churchills flaws as well as his strengths. I'd have preferred some more attention being paid to the years 1939- 1945 as, of course, so much happened then. But it seems to be covered at the same pace as the years before and after.

All in all, an interesting history of a great man.

Jenkins hits the spot, 03 Jan 2008
I could give you a 6,000 word thesis on this book commenting on Jenkins' style and how appropriate and logical the information is within. However, this is a detailed and almost unbiased account of arguably the most resourceful and witty semi-American / semi-British men in history.

The fact is - for less than £10 and approximately a weeks worth of reading you can learn a great deal about this noble man and his extraordinary adventures (and good fortune) before making your own mind up about him; and Jenkins' effort!

Personally I feel that it is very much worth a read and suited my reading style better than any of the other Churchill biographies on the market today. As you may have guessed I employ a 'no nonsense' and 'straight to the point' style.

Grandiose work falls short of the mark, 23 Jun 2007
Churchill, it may be said, was great but not good. This book, it might equally be said, is good but not great. This is a pity, for in Jenkins Churchill potentially had a suitably colourful and erudite biographer. Unfortunately this offering, trumpeted on its release as the 'definitive' life of the great man, falls noticeably short of the standard set by Martin Gilbert back in the 1970s, even if it is a little more readable.

Criticisms have been justly levelled at Jenkin's style. Whilst capable of the most sparking witticisms, particularly in his character assessments, Jenkins' grandiose prose often seems turgid and affected. As might be expected, his analysis of Churchill's political evolution - from liberal Conservative to radical Liberal and back again - is perceptive and even-handed, although is lacking in detail. Much use is made of original sources, often quoted verbatim, frequently to illuminating effect and particularly so in the chapters dealing with Chruchill's wartime Premiership.

However, there is little here that has not been said before and with greater brevity. A good introductory text to Churchill, if you're not daunted by the scale, but it does neither subject nor author any great credit.

Excellent purchase, 06 Feb 2008
This audio CD book, alongside with other Naxos educational CDs for children, is absolutely fantastic. It contains loads of information, so adults interest is guaranteed as well as children's fascination. It's a must for curious little minds. Presented in an easy listening format, it educates and enterntains at the same time. Boring car journeys became a highly enjoyable and educational experiences in our family since Naxos CDs were purchased. Being non-fiction, they can be listened to over and over again, offering a chance for the child to remember and/or understand more details each time.

Fascinating and very witty, 20 Jan 2008
What a fascinating character!

One of those books that I was reluctant to finish as the last page drew nearer.

Prior to reading this book I only knew Peter Ustinov as the delightful character Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie films. But I learned that he had a very long career in the theatre and that his talents seemed to include almost all areas in it.

His background alone makes for interesting reading. He is the child of Russian immigrants who settled in England but his (very talented) ancestors came from far and wide and included countries such as Ethiopia and Israel.

Parts of the book is written in the style of a soul searching dialogue between Peter Ustinov and himself, hence the title. He makes some insightful comments about life and the world. In general throughout the book I was struck by what appears to be the extreme intelligence of someone who oddly enough did not do well in school.

Many parts of the book are pure entertainment. I laughed aloud in many places. His descriptions of his eccentric relatives, his experiences in the army, how he dealt with rebellious students at Durham university are all very funny.

I can recommend this book. It is highly entertaining and amusing. But it also contains some insightful observations by a highly intelligent, observant and unique personality.


good car talk, 17 Apr 2003
Why i bought this i dont know.I put it in the car and the trip flew in.He has the sort of voice that relaxes you and makes time fly.

A saving grace, 18 Jun 2003
I bought Alan Bennett's books on tape for my mother. She used to listen to them in bed at night, lying in the dark as Bennett's gentle, querulous voice described the minutiae of his family life in all its banal detail, illuminated by his wonderful observation and humour. Any one of his sentences will raise a smile. A whole book's-worth leaves you glowing with a feeling that all of our lives are equally full of this richness. How could they not be, when Bennett has found so much in what appears to be such a constrained and circumscribed world? He is indeed a national institution and we are fortunate that his voice on tape is perfectly equal to the poignancy and intimacy of his writing.

Alan Bennett - Telling Tales, 14 Feb 2002
In this most superbly written autobiography, Alan Bennett turns his well observed prose onto his own past and vividly recreates and relives his childhood and youth for us over 10 seperate chapters.
These 10 chapters are like snapshots - all are immensely readable and are full of Bennett's wry observations of working class life, the pecularities and foibles of his own family and his ever present awareness of the effect change has on a family holding itself together day-by-day with the spectre of World War II ever present in the book.

Bennett succeeds in bringing his wartime world to life as we enter a world of family picnics out on the moors and singing on a Sunday around the piano (with his enduring Aunt Eveline) Food - and in particular 'fancy' food gets the Bennett treatment, as his mother, Lilian, remarks on the growing popularity of new ingredients in salad "all the boundaries are coming down". A must for all Bennett fans and a good entry point for those who are new to his writing also.

A Total Delight, 02 Oct 2001
The mixture as before, warmth, charm, humour and a wonderful eye (and ear) for detail. Most people of the World War II generation will have similar memories, and for the younger listener these short tales bring to life, as does little else, what life was like more than half a century ago. The subject matter may be 'ordinary', but there is nothing ordinary in the way Bennett recounts it. He is one of the great joys of English literature and his inimical reading of his own texts is a source of constant delight.

From cover to cover - pure plessure, 19 Mar 2001
This was a present and one which I shall treassue. The tales of family habbits, obersavitons of the human character and life in 1940s Leeds is pure plessure. Mam, Dad,Grandma and Aunt Eveline will live with you forever. No matter if you grew up in the war years or like me were not born till much latter you can't help wanting a part of Bennetts Leeds. The feelings of a young boy and the accute observations of the writer looking back shine through. The observations of family and hometown are so accurate you think outloud yes that happen to me. Long live Alan Bennett.

Nostalgia for the Yorkshire of 60 years ago, 31 Dec 2000
Yorkshire people live their lives in ever-decreasing circles, according to a recent report in the Yorkshire Evening Post. A majority of them, we are told, live within 12 miles of their mothers. For a Yorkshireman about to leave this womb-like comfort zone and move to the dreaming spires of Oxford, it seemed a good idea to feed my nostalgia in advance by reading Bennett's Tales. Bennett, the "lad from Armley", has been the archetypal professional Yorkshireman on TV, radio and in print for many years now, but this latest collection is a supreme distillation of his memories of a particular time and place. My own memories are about ten years behind Bennett's, but he has the gift of making that world so real, so vivid - even in its very ordinariness and, often, its drabness. His eye for whimsical detail is second to none. Of the many of his idle ramblings which stick in the mind, my favourite is his musing on the typical first names of nursing home residents. Currently, the trend is for Harolds, Walters, and Dorises - to be replaced over the coming decades by Waynes, Darrens and Kevins. ("You're our first Kevin", he reports one matron excitedly telling a new inmate). My only reservation is that the fare is spread a little thinly - only 95 pages...which raises a very serious issue for Yorkshiremen about whether we are getting value for money. This is why I have withheld the final star from an otherwise impeccable book.

Very informative and entertaining, 31 Jul 2008
Great for car journeys, well produced, and lots of interesting stuff. Recommended for children 8 plus. My 10, 14 and 18 year old all enjoy these Naxos books, and so do their parents.
Well done naxos.

Excellent purchase, 06 Feb 2008
This audio CD book, alongside with other Naxos educational CDs for children, is absolutely fantastic. It contains loads of information, so adults' interest is guaranteed as well as children's fascination. It's a must for curious little minds. Presented in an easy listening format, it educates and enterntains at the same time. Boring car journeys became a highly enjoyable and educational experiences in our family since Naxos CDs were purchased. Being non-fiction, they can be listened to over and over again, offering a chance for the child to remember and/or understand more details each time.

Yes! No... Maybe..., 24 Aug 2008
I'm not a great reader of biography, but I was looking forward to this book as I admire Rick Wakeman both as an amazing musician and as a quirky character. This book is OK, and has a number of of interesting and amusing recollections from Rick Wakeman's career but it is rather rambling and self indulgent. Whilst it gives a sense of some of the bizarre and whacky things that have happened to him in the course of his musical career I was hoping for something a bit more interesting than in depth details of his drinking habits which seemed to feature on every other page... Having said that some of the recollections were so funny that I did laugh out loud and have to read them to my husband. So, if you're a complete Rick Wakeman fan you may enjoy this enough to make forking out the cash worthwhile, but be warned, it is only a collection of stories and not a decent biography.

A very interesting book, 19 Feb 2008
A biography written by a political insighter. Very readable. Minor mistake on the election period in the Weimar republic. Can be recommended if you want to read more on Churchill otherwise the best short biography is Bests: "Churchill: A study in greatness".

A Most Interesting Biography, 13 Feb 2008
Churchill by Roy Jenkins is a very readable book with lots of interesting details. It deals with all the major aspects of his life in an interesting and enjoyable style which does not become bogged down in analysis. It also unlike some biographies does not regard Churchill as a perfect prime minister but as the right man for the right time. All in all it is a very good book.

A great audio presentation, 23 Jan 2008
I listened to the abridged audio presentation of this book and have to say I found it extremely entertaining and informative.

It might have been a risky move to get a comedian/impressionist to narrate this book but it pays off. John Sessions does a great job with the text, bringing to life the quotes of Churchill, Attlee, Stalin etc with his brilliant portrayals.

The text itself is well written and doesn't mind pointing out Churchills flaws as well as his strengths. I'd have preferred some more attention being paid to the years 1939- 1945 as, of course, so much happened then. But it seems to be covered at the same pace as the years before and after.

All in all, an interesting history of a great man.

Jenkins hits the spot, 03 Jan 2008
I could give you a 6,000 word thesis on this book commenting on Jenkins' style and how appropriate and logical the information is within. However, this is a detailed and almost unbiased account of arguably the most resourceful and witty semi-American / semi-British men in history.

The fact is - for less than £10 and approximately a weeks worth of reading you can learn a great deal about this noble man and his extraordinary adventures (and good fortune) before making your own mind up about him; and Jenkins' effort!

Personally I feel that it is very much worth a read and suited my reading style better than any of the other Churchill biographies on the market today. As you may have guessed I employ a 'no nonsense' and 'straight to the point' style.

Grandiose work falls short of the mark, 23 Jun 2007
Churchill, it may be said, was great but not good. This book, it might equally be said, is good but not great. This is a pity, for in Jenkins Churchill potentially had a suitably colourful and erudite biographer. Unfortunately this offering, trumpeted on its release as the 'definitive' life of the great man, falls noticeably short of the standard set by Martin Gilbert back in the 1970s, even if it is a little more readable.

Criticisms have been justly levelled at Jenkin's style. Whilst capable of the most sparking witticisms, particularly in his character assessments, Jenkins' grandiose prose often seems turgid and affected. As might be expected, his analysis of Churchill's political evolution - from liberal Conservative to radical Liberal and back again - is perceptive and even-handed, although is lacking in detail. Much use is made of original sources, often quoted verbatim, frequently to illuminating effect and particularly so in the chapters dealing with Chruchill's wartime Premiership.

However, there is little here that has not been said before and with greater brevity. A good introductory text to Churchill, if you're not daunted by the scale, but it does neither subject nor author any great credit.

Excellent purchase, 06 Feb 2008
This audio CD book, alongside with other Naxos educational CDs for children, is absolutely fantastic. It contains loads of information, so adults interest is guaranteed as well as children's fascination. It's a must for curious little minds. Presented in an easy listening format, it educates and enterntains at the same time. Boring car journeys became a highly enjoyable and educational experiences in our family since Naxos CDs were purchased. Being non-fiction, they can be listened to over and over again, offering a chance for the child to remember and/or understand more details each time.

Fascinating and very witty, 20 Jan 2008
What a fascinating character!

One of those books that I was reluctant to finish as the last page drew nearer.

Prior to reading this book I only knew Peter Ustinov as the delightful character Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie films. But I learned that he had a very long career in the theatre and that his talents seemed to include almost all areas in it.

His background alone makes for interesting reading. He is the child of Russian immigrants who settled in England but his (very talented) ancestors came from far and wide and included countries such as Ethiopia and Israel.

Parts of the book is written in the style of a soul searching dialogue between Peter Ustinov and himself, hence the title. He makes some insightful comments about life and the world. In general throughout the book I was struck by what appears to be the extreme intelligence of someone who oddly enough did not do well in school.

Many parts of the book are pure entertainment. I laughed aloud in many places. His descriptions of his eccentric relatives, his experiences in the army, how he dealt with rebellious students at Durham university are all very funny.

I can recommend this book. It is highly entertaining and amusing. But it also contains some insightful observations by a highly intelligent, observant and unique personality.


good car talk, 17 Apr 2003
Why i bought this i dont know.I put it in the car and the trip flew in.He has the sort of voice that relaxes you and makes time fly.

A saving grace, 18 Jun 2003
I bought Alan Bennett's books on tape for my mother. She used to listen to them in bed at night, lying in the dark as Bennett's gentle, querulous voice described the minutiae of his family life in all its banal detail, illuminated by his wonderful observation and humour. Any one of his sentences will raise a smile. A whole book's-worth leaves you glowing with a feeling that all of our lives are equally full of this richness. How could they not be, when Bennett has found so much in what appears to be such a constrained and circumscribed world? He is indeed a national institution and we are fortunate that his voice on tape is perfectly equal to the poignancy and intimacy of his writing.

Alan Bennett - Telling Tales, 14 Feb 2002
In this most superbly written autobiography, Alan Bennett turns his well observed prose onto his own past and vividly recreates and relives his childhood and youth for us over 10 seperate chapters.
These 10 chapters are like snapshots - all are immensely readable and are full of Bennett's wry observations of working class life, the pecularities and foibles of his own family and his ever present awareness of the effect change has on a family holding itself together day-by-day with the spectre of World War II ever present in the book.

Bennett succeeds in bringing his wartime world to life as we enter a world of family picnics out on the moors and singing on a Sunday around the piano (with his enduring Aunt Eveline) Food - and in particular 'fancy' food gets the Bennett treatment, as his mother, Lilian, remarks on the growing popularity of new ingredients in salad "all the boundaries are coming down". A must for all Bennett fans and a good entry point for those who are new to his writing also.

A Total Delight, 02 Oct 2001
The mixture as before, warmth, charm, humour and a wonderful eye (and ear) for detail. Most people of the World War II generation will have similar memories, and for the younger listener these short tales bring to life, as does little else, what life was like more than half a century ago. The subject matter may be 'ordinary', but there is nothing ordinary in the way Bennett recounts it. He is one of the great joys of English literature and his inimical reading of his own texts is a source of constant delight.

From cover to cover - pure plessure, 19 Mar 2001
This was a present and one which I shall treassue. The tales of family habbits, obersavitons of the human character and life in 1940s Leeds is pure plessure. Mam, Dad,Grandma and Aunt Eveline will live with you forever. No matter if you grew up in the war years or like me were not born till much latter you can't help wanting a part of Bennetts Leeds. The feelings of a young boy and the accute observations of the writer looking back shine through. The observations of family and hometown are so accurate you think outloud yes that happen to me. Long live Alan Bennett.

Nostalgia for the Yorkshire of 60 years ago, 31 Dec 2000
Yorkshire people live their lives in ever-decreasing circles, according to a recent report in the Yorkshire Evening Post. A majority of them, we are told, live within 12 miles of their mothers. For a Yorkshireman about to leave this womb-like comfort zone and move to the dreaming spires of Oxford, it seemed a good idea to feed my nostalgia in advance by reading Bennett's Tales. Bennett, the "lad from Armley", has been the archetypal professional Yorkshireman on TV, radio and in print for many years now, but this latest collection is a supreme distillation of his memories of a particular time and place. My own memories are about ten years behind Bennett's, but he has the gift of making that world so real, so vivid - even in its very ordinariness and, often, its drabness. His eye for whimsical detail is second to none. Of the many of his idle ramblings which stick in the mind, my favourite is his musing on the typical first names of nursing home residents. Currently, the trend is for Harolds, Walters, and Dorises - to be replaced over the coming decades by Waynes, Darrens and Kevins. ("You're our first Kevin", he reports one matron excitedly telling a new inmate). My only reservation is that the fare is spread a little thinly - only 95 pages...which raises a very serious issue for Yorkshiremen about whether we are getting value for money. This is why I have withheld the final star from an otherwise impeccable book.

There's small choice in rotten apples, 11 Aug 2008
Bill Bryson is more or less superman in today's literary world. He transcends subjects in a single bound and the globe in another. He's a talented critic, writer and humourist. It's a good job, to use modern vernacular, that he's the daddy because, with this one, he's taken on the mother of all literary subjects.

He's done so wisely. He's not attempted to become an original researcher and posit new theories about the man's identity or his plays and other works. He has essentially evaluated and sumamrised the existing state of Shakepearian debate and study, providing his own critique of what is compelling and credible. Thankfully, Bryson was born without a 'boredom gene' and the book reaches any audience, reading so easily. The man does not do dull.

Typically, Bryson's prose is litered with diverting and revealing anecdoes, we get a potted physical history of the theatre alongside the exposition of the central figure. Bryson is expert at demonstrating the lack of hard information about Shakespeaare (I spelled that incorrectly, but then, so did the Bard...) and the vulnerability about the claims and surmises made about his life and character. That will no doubt ruffle feathers. I found it interesting to learn that Shakespeare had thieved so many of his stories from others. As also did I find the battle for written English over Latin. The fact there were lost plays is new to me too. So to non-Shakespeare scholars this offers a lot.

To those who are scholars I am not sure it will be depthy enough to satisfy but they are not the prime audience I'd suppose. Bryson's great economy of expression, wit and clarity mean he is less self-indulgent in this book than perhaps any other of his that I have read (which is all but one, that being the African diaries). Although always near the surface, his trademark wit is less in evidence, reserved for a full scale assault on those who feel Shakespeare was somebody else. That business is clearly a cottage industry and I know Bryson has trodden on somebody else's cucumbers here by reason of the ridicule he heaps on the alternate theories.

It is a short book. There could have been more. But how much more was truly needed? And at whatever point should he have stopped on an almost inexhaustible subject populated by many including purists and pedants? Nevertheless one gets the impression he made a judgement about the length that possibly excluded a little more hard work examining various omissions from the life of the Bard and those who knew or worked with him.

Bryson's book has one central curiosity. It is really the oppositite of a biography - more a book about what we don't know than what we do - and that is refreshing in itself. I think he's done a first rate job here given how well aired the subject is.

And for his next trick...?

Incidentally, the title I gave to this is a quote from one of the Bard's plays and seems to convey Bryson's attitude to much of the literature he discovered!


Informative, entertaining and readable, 06 Aug 2008
Any biographer of Shakespeare is faced with a problem: the known facts about Shakespeare's life would only fill one rather short chapter. Some biographers discuss at length various speculations about possible events in his life, but Bill Bryson wisely avoids most of this, briefly dismissing, for example, the story that he was caught poaching.

Instead, Bryson fills the book with a colourful depiction of life in Elizabethan England, describing for example food and drink, religion, the theatre, and the city of London. My only criticism of the book is that some of the historical stories, such as the Spanish Armada, the Essex rebellion and the gunpowder plot, will already be known to many readers.

Bryson has clearly taken his research seriously, and interviewed leading Shakespeare scholars as well as visiting the Folger library where many of the First Folios are kept.

Particularly entertaining is the final chapter where Bryson debunks the various theories (one of them proposed by a Thomas Looney) that the plays were written by someone else.

This is an informative and enjoyable book, and much easier to read than the more substantial Shakespeare biographies.






Enjoyable and informative, 04 Aug 2008
This is an easy to enjoy book offering the latest thinking on the world's greatest playwright, written in Bryson's typical witty and brisk style. It can be read over a short period of time - in fact, you find yourself wishing it was longer.
One of the most common phrases in the book is 'nothing is known about...' or 'very little is known about...' Bryson does not include information that is not fully backed up, or if he does, he discounts it. So there are times when you become a little exasperated at the lack of information. But the book is never less than highly entertaining, and full of piquant anecdotes and nuggets of information.

Combining facts and humour, 02 Aug 2008
When Bill Bryson is going to tackle a subject like William Shakespeare, you know that it is going to informative and very funny, an excellent combination. In his usual wry style Bill Bryson tries to unravel fact and fiction about Shakespeare's life, time and works. Because of the scarcity of facts, people have over the ages made up whole stories based on no evidence whatsoever. Also, there was (and is) a strong movement that Shakespeare's plays were not written be Shakespeare, because they consider him too much of a country yokel to write about the sophisticated topics covered in his plays. Bill bryson describes the times in which Shakespeare was alive, including the way in which theaters and plays were run, and makes a convincing case for not over-fantasizing, but also a realistic believe that Shakespeare has actually existed. A very readible book that combines fact and humor in a very pleasant way.

Excellent ...but..., 26 Jul 2008
I am a great Bill Bryson fan ...and I did enjoy this book.

When you see the Bryson name on the front, you know it is a mark of quality. What is contained within will inform and carry with it the trademark Bryson wit. This book will not disappoint. There is much to inform here but there is also rather a lot of assumptions. I don't actually believe that William Shakespeare was the actual author of the plays that bear his name, but all that is academic - Bryson offers us a lively debate.

This is a good book - worthy of 4 stars, but I can't help wishing that Mr Bryson would go back to what he excels at.

In his absence, a new book called 'Shakespeare My Butt!' by a new author on the block, debunks the Shakespeare argument in just one chapter and the rest of the book takes us back into the a Brysonesque world as it tours around the bizarre named places in Britain, amongst other things.

Quick Mr Bryson - excellent book and all that, but get back to your travel writing before someone steals your throne.

Very informative and entertaining, 31 Jul 2008
Great for car journeys, well produced, and lots of interesting stuff. Recommended for children 8 plus. My 10, 14 and 18 year old all enjoy these Naxos books, and so do their parents.
Well done naxos.

Excellent purchase, 06 Feb 2008
This audio CD book, alongside with other Naxos educational CDs for children, is absolutely fantastic. It contains loads of information, so adults' interest is guaranteed as well as children's fascination. It's a must for curious little minds. Presented in an easy listening format, it educates and enterntains at the same time. Boring car journeys became a highly enjoyable and educational experiences in our family since Naxos CDs were purchased. Being non-fiction, they can be listened to over and over again, offering a chance for the child to remember and/or understand more details each time.

Yes! No... Maybe..., 24 Aug 2008
I'm not a great reader of biography, but I was looking forward to this book as I admire Rick Wakeman both as an amazing musician and as a quirky character. This book is OK, and has a number of of interesting and amusing recollections from Rick Wakeman's career but it is rather rambling and self indulgent. Whilst it gives a sense of some of the bizarre and whacky things that have happened to him in the course of his musical career I was hoping for something a bit more interesting than in depth details of his drinking habits which seemed to feature on every other page... Having said that some of the recollections were so funny that I did laugh out loud and have to read them to my husband. So, if you're a complete Rick Wakeman fan you may enjoy this enough to make forking out the cash worthwhile, but be warned, it is only a collection of stories and not a decent biography.

A very interesting book, 19 Feb 2008
A biography written by a political insighter. Very readable. Minor mistake on the election period in the Weimar republic. Can be recommended if you want to read more on Churchill otherwise the best short biography is Bests: "Churchill: A study in greatness".

A Most Interesting Biography, 13 Feb 2008
Churchill by Roy Jenkins is a very readable book with lots of interesting details. It deals with all the major aspects of his life in an interesting and enjoyable style which does not become bogged down in analysis. It also unlike some biographies does not regard Churchill as a perfect prime minister but as the right man for the right time. All in all it is a very good book.

A great audio presentation, 23 Jan 2008
I listened to the abridged audio presentation of this book and have to say I found it extremely entertaining and informative.

It might have been a risky move to get a comedian/impressionist to narrate this book but it pays off. John Sessions does a great job with the text, bringing to life the quotes of Churchill, Attlee, Stalin etc with his brilliant portrayals.

The text itself is well written and doesn't mind pointing out Churchills flaws as well as his strengths. I'd have preferred some more attention being paid to the years 1939- 1945 as, of course, so much happened then. But it seems to be covered at the same pace as the years before and after.

All in all, an interesting history of a great man.

Jenkins hits the spot, 03 Jan 2008
I could give you a 6,000 word thesis on this book commenting on Jenkins' style and how appropriate and logical the information is within. However, this is a detailed and almost unbiased account of arguably the most resourceful and witty semi-American / semi-British men in history.

The fact is - for less than £10 and approximately a weeks worth of reading you can learn a great deal about this noble man and his extraordinary adventures (and good fortune) before making your own mind up about him; and Jenkins' effort!

Personally I feel that it is very much worth a read and suited my reading style better than any of the other Churchill biographies on the market today. As you may have guessed I employ a 'no nonsense' and 'straight to the point' style.

Grandiose work falls short of the mark, 23 Jun 2007
Churchill, it may be said, was great but not good. This book, it might equally be said, is good but not great. This is a pity, for in Jenkins Churchill potentially had a suitably colourful and erudite biographer. Unfortunately this offering, trumpeted on its release as the 'definitive' life of the great man, falls noticeably short of the standard set by Martin Gilbert back in the 1970s, even if it is a little more readable.

Criticisms have been justly levelled at Jenkin's style. Whilst capable of the most sparking witticisms, particularly in his character assessments, Jenkins' grandiose prose often seems turgid and affected. As might be expected, his analysis of Churchill's political evolution - from liberal Conservative to radical Liberal and back again - is perceptive and even-handed, although is lacking in detail. Much use is made of original sources, often quoted verbatim, frequently to illuminating effect and particularly so in the chapters dealing with Chruchill's wartime Premiership.

However, there is little here that has not been said before and with greater brevity. A good introductory text to Churchill, if you're not daunted by the scale, but it does neither subject nor author any great credit.

Excellent purchase, 06 Feb 2008
This audio CD book, alongside with other Naxos educational CDs for children, is absolutely fantastic. It contains loads of information, so adults interest is guaranteed as well as children's fascination. It's a must for curious little minds. Presented in an easy listening format, it educates and enterntains at the same time. Boring car journeys became a highly enjoyable and educational experiences in our family since Naxos CDs were purchased. Being non-fiction, they can be listened to over and over again, offering a chance for the child to remember and/or understand more details each time.

Fascinating and very witty, 20 Jan 2008
What a fascinating character!

One of those books that I was reluctant to finish as the last page drew nearer.

Prior to reading this book I only knew Peter Ustinov as the delightful character Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie films. But I learned that he had a very long career in the theatre and that his talents seemed to include almost all areas in it.

His background alone makes for interesting reading. He is the child of Russian immigrants who settled in England but his (very talented) ancestors came from far and wide and included countries such as Ethiopia and Israel.

Parts of the book is written in the style of a soul searching dialogue between Peter Ustinov and himself, hence the title. He makes some insightful comments about life and the world. In general throughout the book I was struck by what appears to be the extreme intelligence of someone who oddly enough did not do well in school.

Many parts of the book are pure entertainment. I laughed aloud in many places. His descriptions of his eccentric relatives, his experiences in the army, how he dealt with rebellious students at Durham university are all very funny.

I can recommend this book. It is highly entertaining and amusing. But it also contains some insightful observations by a highly intelligent, observant and unique personality.


good car talk, 17 Apr 2003
Why i bought this i dont know.I put it in the car and the trip flew in.He has the sort of voice that relaxes you and makes time fly.

A saving grace, 18 Jun 2003
I bought Alan Bennett's books on tape for my mother. She used to listen to them in bed at night, lying in the dark as Bennett's gentle, querulous voice described the minutiae of his family life in all its banal detail, illuminated by his wonderful observation and humour. Any one of his sentences will raise a smile. A whole book's-worth leaves you glowing with a feeling that all of our lives are equally full of this richness. How could they not be, when Bennett has found so much in what appears to be such a constrained and circumscribed world? He is indeed a national institution and we are fortunate that his voice on tape is perfectly equal to the poignancy and intimacy of his writing.

Alan Bennett - Telling Tales, 14 Feb 2002
In this most superbly written autobiography, Alan Bennett turns his well observed prose onto his own past and vividly recreates and relives his childhood and youth for us over 10 seperate chapters.
These 10 chapters are like snapshots - all are immensely readable and are full of Bennett's wry observations of working class life, the pecularities and foibles of his own family and his ever present awareness of the effect change has on a family holding itself together day-by-day with the spectre of World War II ever present in the book.

Bennett succeeds in bringing his wartime world to life as we enter a world of family picnics out on the moors and singing on a Sunday around the piano (with his enduring Aunt Eveline) Food - and in particular 'fancy' food gets the Bennett treatment, as his mother, Lilian, remarks on the growing popularity of new ingredients in salad "all the boundaries are coming down". A must for all Bennett fans and a good entry point for those who are new to his writing also.

A Total Delight, 02 Oct 2001
The mixture as before, warmth, charm, humour and a wonderful eye (and ear) for detail. Most people of the World War II generation will have similar memories, and for the younger listener these short tales bring to life, as does little else, what life was like more than half a century ago. The subject matter may be 'ordinary', but there is nothing ordinary in the way Bennett recounts it. He is one of the great joys of English literature and his inimical reading of his own texts is a source of constant delight.

From cover to cover - pure plessure, 19 Mar 2001
This was a present and one which I shall treassue. The tales of family habbits, obersavitons of the human character and life in 1940s Leeds is pure plessure. Mam, Dad,Grandma and Aunt Eveline will live with you forever. No matter if you grew up in the war years or like me were not born till much latter you can't help wanting a part of Bennetts Leeds. The feelings of a young boy and the accute observations of the writer looking back shine through. The observations of family and hometown are so accurate you think outloud yes that happen to me. Long live Alan Bennett.

Nostalgia for the Yorkshire of 60 years ago, 31 Dec 2000
Yorkshire people live their lives in ever-decreasing circles, according to a recent report in the Yorkshire Evening Post. A majority of them, we are told, live within 12 miles of their mothers. For a Yorkshireman about to leave this womb-like comfort zone and move to the dreaming spires of Oxford, it seemed a good idea to feed my nostalgia in advance by reading Bennett's Tales. Bennett, the "lad from Armley", has been the archetypal professional Yorkshireman on TV, radio and in print for many years now, but this latest collection is a supreme distillation of his memories of a particular time and place. My own memories are about ten years behind Bennett's, but he has the gift of making that world so real, so vivid - even in its very ordinariness and, often, its drabness. His eye for whimsical detail is second to none. Of the many of his idle ramblings which stick in the mind, my favourite is his musing on the typical first names of nursing home residents. Currently, the trend is for Harolds, Walters, and Dorises - to be replaced over the coming decades by Waynes, Darrens and Kevins. ("You're our first Kevin", he reports one matron excitedly telling a new inmate). My only reservation is that the fare is spread a little thinly - only 95 pages...which raises a very serious issue for Yorkshiremen about whether we are getting value for money. This is why I have withheld the final star from an otherwise impeccable book.

There's small choice in rotten apples, 11 Aug 2008
Bill Bryson is more or less superman in today's literary world. He transcends subjects in a single bound and the globe in another. He's a talented critic, writer and humourist. It's a good job, to use modern vernacular, that he's the daddy because, with this one, he's taken on the mother of all literary subjects.

He's done so wisely. He's not attempted to become an original researcher and posit new theories about the man's identity or his plays and other works. He has essentially evaluated and sumamrised the existing state of Shakepearian debate and study, providing his own critique of what is compelling and credible. Thankfully, Bryson was born without a 'boredom gene' and the book reaches any audience, reading so easily. The man does not do dull.

Typically, Bryson's prose is litered with diverting and revealing anecdoes, we get a potted physical history of the theatre alongside the exposition of the central figure. Bryson is expert at demonstrating the lack of hard information about Shakespeaare (I spelled that incorrectly, but then, so did the Bard...) and the vulnerability about the claims and surmises made about his life and character. That will no doubt ruffle feathers. I found it interesting to learn that Shakespeare had thieved so many of his stories from others. As also did I find the battle for written English over Latin. The fact there were lost plays is new to me too. So to non-Shakespeare scholars this offers a lot.

To those who are scholars I am not sure it will be depthy enough to satisfy but they are not the prime audience I'd suppose. Bryson's great economy of expression, wit and clarity mean he is less self-indulgent in this book than perhaps any other of his that I have read (which is all but one, that being the African diaries). Although always near the surface, his trademark wit is less in evidence, reserved for a full scale assault on those who feel Shakespeare was somebody else. That business is clearly a cottage industry and I know Bryson has trodden on somebody else's cucumbers here by reason of the ridicule he heaps on the alternate theories.

It is a short book. There could have been more. But how much more was truly needed? And at whatever point should he have stopped on an almost inexhaustible subject populated by many including purists and pedants? Nevertheless one gets the impression he made a judgement about the length that possibly excluded a little more hard work examining various omissions from the life of the Bard and those who knew or worked with him.

Bryson's book has one central curiosity. It is really the oppositite of a biography - more a book about what we don't know than what we do - and that is refreshing in itself. I think he's done a first rate job here given how well aired the subject is.

And for his next trick...?

Incidentally, the title I gave to this is a quote from one of the Bard's plays and seems to convey Bryson's attitude to much of the literature he discovered!


Informative, entertaining and readable, 06 Aug 2008
Any biographer of Shakespeare is faced with a problem: the known facts about Shakespeare's life would only fill one rather short chapter. Some biographers discuss at length various speculations about possible events in his life, but Bill Bryson wisely avoids most of this, briefly dismissing, for example, the story that he was caught poaching.

Instead, Bryson fills the book with a colourful depiction of life in Elizabethan England, describing for example food and drink, religion, the theatre, and the city of London. My only criticism of the book is that some of the historical stories, such as the Spanish Armada, the Essex rebellion and the gunpowder plot, will already be known to many readers.

Bryson has clearly taken his research seriously, and interviewed leading Shakespeare scholars as well as visiting the Folger library where many of the First Folios are kept.

Particularly entertaining is the final chapter where Bryson debunks the various theories (one of them proposed by a Thomas Looney) that the plays were written by someone else.

This is an informative and enjoyable book, and much easier to read than the more substantial Shakespeare biographies.






Enjoyable and informative, 04 Aug 2008
This is an easy to enjoy book offering the latest thinking on the world's greatest playwright, written in Bryson's typical witty and brisk style. It can be read over a short period of time - in fact, you find yourself wishing it was longer.
One of the most common phrases in the book is 'nothing is known about...' or 'very little is known about...' Bryson does not include information that is not fully backed up, or if he does, he discounts it. So there are times when you become a little exasperated at the lack of information. But the book is never less than highly entertaining, and full of piquant anecdotes and nuggets of information.

Combining facts and humour, 02 Aug 2008
When Bill Bryson is going to tackle a subject like William Shakespeare, you know that it is going to informative and very funny, an excellent combination. In his usual wry style Bill Bryson tries to unravel fact and fiction about Shakespeare's life, time and works. Because of the scarcity of facts, people have over the ages made up whole stories based on no evidence whatsoever. Also, there was (and is) a strong movement that Shakespeare's plays were not written be Shakespeare, because they consider him too much of a country yokel to write about the sophisticated topics covered in his plays. Bill bryson describes the times in which Shakespeare was alive, including the way in which theaters and plays were run, and makes a convincing case for not over-fantasizing, but also a realistic believe that Shakespeare has actually existed. A very readible book that combines fact and humor in a very pleasant way.

Excellent ...but..., 26 Jul 2008
I am a great Bill Bryson fan ...and I did enjoy this book.

When you see the Bryson name on the front, you know it is a mark of quality. What is contained within will inform and carry with it the trademark Bryson wit. This book will not disappoint. There is much to inform here but there is also rather a lot of assumptions. I don't actually believe that William Shakespeare was the actual author of the plays that bear his name, but all that is academic - Bryson offers us a lively debate.

This is a good book - worthy of 4 stars, but I can't help wishing that Mr Bryson would go back to what he excels at.

In his absence, a new book called 'Shakespeare My Butt!' by a new author on the block, debunks the Shakespeare argument in just one chapter and the rest of the book takes us back into the a Brysonesque world as it tours around the bizarre named places in Britain, amongst other things.

Quick Mr Bryson - excellent book and all that, but get back to your travel writing before someone steals your throne.


Grossly overrated, 31 Jul 2008
This is probably the most boring and unenlightening book I have ever read. My wife was asked to read it as part of a literature appreciation group and said it was shocking in its revelations. I bought another copy of it from Waterstones for one of her friends and the assistant was gushing in her enthusiasm for it. I decided to read it and thus wasted an unnecessary amount of valuable time.
If you can believe 10% of what Jung Chang asks you to believe you will be stretching credulity. She is obsessed with her own family's righteousness in the face of unmitigated evil and her attention to trivialities shows a great sense of imagination.
Instead of a simple family tree we have a long boring tirade of the minutiae of everyday life affecting 900 million people - perhaps! I have no connection with China but the only other reviewer who claims to be Chinese is sceptical - and so am I.
This may be the only sort of material available on this era in Chinese history but we should not accept it at face value.
Don't waste your time on this. I wish I hadn't.

A Captivating Read, 11 Jul 2008
This book tells 150 years history of China through the personal lives of 3 generations of women from one family.

Wild Swans is a beautifully written book, that is desperately sad, desperately hopeful and shocking. The plight of these 3 women captures the reader and transports them to different periods in China's history. The 3 women and the people around them come to life through Changs beautiful way with words.

I have come away from this book with a greater understanding of China and Mao's absolute rule. The power, control and violence Mao inflicted on the Chinese people is horrific. 10's of millions of innocent people died under his rule and this book heroically describes the terror and fear the Chinese faced every day.

If you only read one book this year, make it Wild Swans.

A Story of Courage and Tyranny, 17 Jun 2008
Wild Swans is a candid and harrowing account of three remarkable Chinese women -grandmother, mother and daughter- but also gives us a very good picture of what China was like from the turn of the Century to the 1980's
We learn about the ancient culture of the Chinese which included much that was beautiful and some that seems cruel. We learn of the hope of so many Chinese that the overthrow of the Kuomintang would lead to a' just social order' but how it soon became clear that the worst excesses of the Kuomintang and those of Imperial China before that paled into insignificance compared to the hell on earth created by Mao's Chinese Communist Party
One is left aghast that a system can destroy even the most basic human instincts of decency and compassion while turning people into inhumane monsters totally possessed -as if by a demon - by a cruel and totally destructive system
It sends shivers down one's spine to realise that 'The Great Helmsman' Mao Ze Dong -who ranks with Hitler and Stalin as among the most evil men of the 20th century-had his image worn on T-shirts by 'progressive' students and youth in the west and these same young 'champions of equality' hung large pictures of Mao in their dormitory rooms .This at the same time as millions of Chinese were being slaughtered and physically and psychologically maimed on the orders of Mao and his Chinese Communist Party -as described in this book.
Today many in the West laud the economic 'reforms' towards a type of totalitarian 'capitalist' system but fail to remember that human rights have not improved at all and China is still a hideous and inhuman hell for hundreds of millions of its inhabitants. And the world turns a blind eye and wards Beijing the 2008 Olympic While we a re left asking how much longer the people of China will remain enslaved by their inhumane Communist masters. How Long?
But the book is also about the strength of the human spirit , about wonderful people-especially the three remarkable women who are the central characters of this book- as well as the cruel ones
It is a story of love and hate, strength and weakness , the beautiful and the ugly
But more than anything it is about how the human spirit can never in the end be crushed by cruelty, evil and tyranny

The stuff of nightmares, 03 Jun 2008
Jung Chang's autobiographical story of three generations of women living through China's tumultuous 20th century is fascinating and terrifying. Given that it is a subjective account of the key events in modern Chinese history, 'Wild Swans' provides a compelling and informative narrative that brings to life complex socio-historic transformations in ways that a straight historical account could not.

'Wild Swans' is most interesting when it deals with Jung Chang's firsthand experiences during Chairman Mao's cultural revolution, where a climate of paranoia and political denouncement caused society to practically implode. It seems almost beyond comprehension how Mao could have held such God-like power over his people when the very communist principals he espoused seemed to contradict such form of deification as undignified. Even more extraordinary is how he succeeded in maintaining his grip on power without the assistance of a KGB-type secret police, but by turning the people against each other. By making himself a god, he subtly provoked his populace to fight vendettas in his name while remaining aloof and almost mythical. In effect he presided over a kind of controlled civil war, only reigning in the violence when he perceived his own position to be under threat.

While not particularly literary - it doesn't need to be - Jung Chang keeps the style relatively factual for an autobiography. But the facts speak horrifically for themselves, with individuals competing for the largely imagined grace of Mao driven to acts of extreme cruelty and humiliation. While 'Wild Swans' often shows a dispiritingly brutal side of people when put in particular conditions, the acts of bravery, kindness and incredible physical and emotional endurance allow a little faith in human nature to persist. Absolutely essential reading.

Brilliant!, 08 Apr 2008
I have found this book really interesting in it's description of life in China over 100 years. I will most certainly read it again.

Very informative and entertaining, 31 Jul 2008
Great for car journeys, well produced, and lots of interesting stuff. Recommended for children 8 plus. My 10, 14 and 18 year old all enjoy these Naxos books, and so do their parents.
Well done naxos.

Excellent purchase, 06 Feb 2008
This audio CD book, alongside with other Naxos educational CDs for children, is absolutely fantastic. It contains loads of information, so adults' interest is guaranteed as well as children's fascination. It's a must for curious little minds. Presented in an easy listening format, it educates and enterntains at the same time. Boring car journeys became a highly enjoyable and educational experiences in our family since Naxos CDs were purchased. Being non-fiction, they can be listened to over and over again, offering a chance for the child to remember and/or understand more details each time.

Yes! No... Maybe..., 24 Aug 2008
I'm not a great reader of biography, but I was looking forward to this book as I admire Rick Wakeman both as an amazing musician and as a quirky character. This book is OK, and has a number of of interesting and amusing recollections from Rick Wakeman's career but it is rather rambling and self indulgent. Whilst it gives a sense of some of the bizarre and whacky things that have happened to him in the course of his musical career I was hoping for something a bit more interesting than in depth details of his drinking habits which seemed to feature on every other page... Having said that some of the recollections were so funny that I did laugh out loud and have to read them to my husband. So, if you're a complete Rick Wakeman fan you may enjoy this enough to make forking out the cash worthwhile, but be warned, it is only a collection of stories and not a decent biography.

A very interesting book, 19 Feb 2008
A biography written by a political insighter. Very readable. Minor mistake on the election period in the Weimar republic. Can be recommended if you want to read more on Churchill otherwise the best short biography is Bests: "Churchill: A study in greatness".

A Most Interesting Biography, 13 Feb 2008
Churchill by Roy Jenkins is a very readable book with lots of interesting details. It deals with all the major aspects of his life in an interesting and enjoyable style which does not become bogged down in analysis. It also unlike some biographies does not regard Churchill as a perfect prime minister but as the right man for the right time. All in all it is a very good book.

A great audio presentation, 23 Jan 2008
I listened to the abridged audio presentation of this book and have to say I found it extremely entertaining and informative.

It might have been a risky move to get a comedian/impressionist to narrate this book but it pays off. John Sessions does a great job with the text, bringing to life the quotes of Churchill, Attlee, Stalin etc with his brilliant portrayals.

The text itself is well written and doesn't mind pointing out Churchills flaws as well as his strengths. I'd have preferred some more attention being paid to the years 1939- 1945 as, of course, so much happened then. But it seems to be covered at the same pace as the years before and after.

All in all, an interesting history of a great man.

Jenkins hits the spot, 03 Jan 2008
I could give you a 6,000 word thesis on this book commenting on Jenkins' style and how appropriate and logical the information is within. However, this is a detailed and almost unbiased account of arguably the most resourceful and witty semi-American / semi-British men in history.

The fact is - for less than £10 and approximately a weeks worth of reading you can learn a great deal about this noble man and his extraordinary adventures (and good fortune) before making your own mind up about him; and Jenkins' effort!

Personally I feel that it is very much worth a read and suited my reading style better than any of the other Churchill biographies on the market today. As you may have guessed I employ a 'no nonsense' and 'straight to the point' style.

Grandiose work falls short of the mark, 23 Jun 2007
Churchill, it may be said, was great but not good. This book, it might equally be said, is good but not great. This is a pity, for in Jenkins Churchill potentially had a suitably colourful and erudite biographer. Unfortunately this offering, trumpeted on its release as the 'definitive' life of the great man, falls noticeably short of the standard set by Martin Gilbert back in the 1970s, even if it is a little more readable.

Criticisms have been justly levelled at Jenkin's style. Whilst capable of the most sparking witticisms, particularly in his character assessments, Jenkins' grandiose prose often seems turgid and affected. As might be expected, his analysis of Churchill's political evolution - from liberal Conservative to radical Liberal and back again - is perceptive and even-handed, although is lacking in detail. Much use is made of original sources, often quoted verbatim, frequently to illuminating effect and particularly so in the chapters dealing with Chruchill's wartime Premiership.

However, there is little here that has not been said before and with greater brevity. A good introductory text to Churchill, if you're not daunted by the scale, but it does neither subject nor author any great credit.

Excellent purchase, 06 Feb 2008
This audio CD book, alongside with other Naxos educational CDs for children, is absolutely fantastic. It contains loads of information, so adults interest is guaranteed as well as children's fascination. It's a must for curious little minds. Presented in an easy listening format, it educates and enterntains at the same time. Boring car journeys became a highly enjoyable and educational experiences in our family since Naxos CDs were purchased. Being non-fiction, they can be listened to over and over again, offering a chance for the child to remember and/or understand more details each time.

Fascinating and very witty, 20 Jan 2008
What a fascinating character!

One of those books that I was reluctant to finish as the last page drew nearer.

Prior to reading this book I only knew Peter Ustinov as the delightful character Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie films. But I learned that he had a very long career in the theatre and that his talents seemed to include almost all areas in it.

His background alone makes for interesting reading. He is the child of Russian immigrants who settled in England but his (very talented) ancestors came from far and wide and included countries such as Ethiopia and Israel.

Parts of the book is written in the style of a soul searching dialogue between Peter Ustinov and himself, hence the title. He makes some insightful comments about life and the world. In general throughout the book I was struck by what appears to be the extreme intelligence of someone who oddly enough did not do well in school.

Many parts of the book are pure entertainment. I laughed aloud in many places. His descriptions of his eccentric relatives, his experiences in the army, how he dealt with rebellious students at Durham university are all very funny.

I can recommend this book. It is highly entertaining and amusing. But it also contains some insightful observations by a highly intelligent, observant and unique personality.


good car talk, 17 Apr 2003
Why i bought this i dont know.I put it in the car and the trip flew in.He has the sort of voice that relaxes you and