Enough Said by Alan Bennett Review – A Man for All Seasons
In the introduction to the fourth instalment of Alan Bennett's diaries, spanning from 2016 to 2024, the author expresses concern about repetition, noting at age 90, it is impossible to avoid saying things again. This volume, which includes previously published pandemic diaries from 2022, initially feels familiar, but the prose gains new layers of meaning as context shifts over time.
Nostalgia and Shame from National Service
Bennett's diaries delve deeply into his past, particularly his two years of national service, which left a lasting impact. He consistently marks the anniversary of his call-up, reflecting on intense memories of physical shame, such as the anxiety of undressing in front of others. Despite yearning for casual nudity among fellow servicemen, he avoided it entirely, and a brief encounter left him with eternal embarrassment, a theme he revisits throughout the entries.
Rivalry and Cattiness in Literary Circles
The diaries reveal Bennett's competitive side, especially in his reaction to Michael Palin's fourth volume of diaries in 2024. Bennett criticizes Palin's work as overly detailed, calling it an animated desk diary, and notes his own restraint in not boasting about the greater success of his play, The History Boys, compared to Jonathan Miller's The Mikado. This rivalry extends to his ambivalence towards Miller, whom he observes with a mix of admiration and silent competition.
Creative Flourishing Amid Physical Decline
Despite unflinching accounts of his physical decline over the nine-year period, Bennett's creative life thrives. His 2018 stage play, Allelujah!, a tribute to the NHS, achieved commercial success and was adapted into a film starring Judi Dench and Derek Jacobi. Similarly, The Choral, a film about Elgar and Yorkshire during World War I, became a late-life hit. Both projects were directed by Nicholas Hytner, whom Bennett credits as a life-changing influence, alongside his partner, Rupert Thomas.
Avoiding Sentimentality in Reflections
The tone of the diaries remains free from sentimentality, as evidenced by Bennett's practical concerns, such as navigating the terrain at Jonathan Miller's memorial unveiling in 2022. He worries that his frailty might force him to perch on the monument, a gesture that could be misinterpreted as schadenfreude, highlighting his self-awareness and the loneliness of being the last survivor among his peers.
Enough Said by Alan Bennett is published by Faber, offering a rich tapestry of gossip, nostalgia, and insight into the life of a celebrated writer in his later years.
