It was the corgis' fault. When they strayed through the grounds of Buckingham Palace, the Queen discovered the City of Westminster travelling library. The Queen has never had much time for reading - pleasure's always come second place to duty - though now that one is here I suppose one ought to borrow a book. She is about to discover the joys of literature, albeit late in life. One book leads to another and the Queen is soon engrossed in the delights of reading.
However, this uncommon reader creates an uncommon problem. The royal household dislikes the Queen's new interest; it makes them uneasy. Books are devices that ignite the imagination. And devices like that are likely to explode.
Alan Bennett reads his new story about HM the Queen's all-consuming new interest, as heard on BBC Radio 4. This exclusive and extended edition is twice as long as originally broadcast.
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"This was one of the best stories I've read in a long while, detailing how Queen Elizabeth II accidentally becomes a reader and how that upsets those around her. It's full of social commentary, literary commentary, and wonderful humor. I love Alan Bennett! " — Daniel (5 out of 5 stars)
"This was one of the best stories I've read in a long while, detailing how Queen Elizabeth II accidentally becomes a reader and how that upsets those around her. It's full of social commentary, literary commentary, and wonderful humor. I love Alan Bennett! "
" It's the second time I've read this. Gawd I love it. A book for book lovers if ever I read one :) "
" Beautiful treasure. Lots of subtleties to enjoy. Witty yet simple. "
" I loved this book. Made me feel very fond of the Queen. "
" A light-hearted novella about the love of reading. My only regret was that I had not personally read a lot of the books mentioned in the novel, so sometimes it was hard to connect. "
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