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Alan & Thora
- Narrated by: Alan Bennett, Thora Hird
- Length: 1 hr and 35 mins
- Performance
- Categories: Politics & Social Sciences, Social Sciences
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 147
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 606
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Summary
This splendid title showcases the combined talents of Alan Bennett, one of our foremost dramatists and writers, and Thora Hird, the celebrated and much-loved actor who died in 2003. It features an exclusive and unique recording, The Last of the Sun, that Thora made for BBC Audiobooks a couple of months before her death. A short piece written by Alan especially for Thora, The Last of the Sun is controversial and challenging, and yet it has all the pathos and tenderness that we expect of Bennett's writing. This performance, Thora's last, is very moving and memorable.
Accompanying The Last of the Sun are two best-selling Talking Head monologues, A Cream Cracker Under the Settee and Waiting for the Telegram.
Also featured is a specially written introduction and postscript, in which Alan recalls the experience of knowing and working with Thora.
This is a fitting tribute to the talents of a pair who, in the course of their longstanding working relationship, combined drama and comedy to leave a legacy of unique work. Alan and Thora is sure to appeal to all Bennett and Hird fans.
Listen to our charming interview with Alan Bennett on the Audible.co.uk Podcast.
More from the same
What listeners say about Alan & Thora
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Christine Hargreaves
- 02-04-14
lovely memiors of a truly loved lady.
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes it is a large bit of recent history
Who was your favorite character and why?
Thora was a treat to hear her voice
Which character – as performed by Alan Bennett and Thora Hird – was your favourite?
Thora
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Both
Any additional comments?
A true insight to a cleverly impish true lady
4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- ROSALIND BUCK
- 29-10-15
Simply brilliant in every way
What did you like best about this story?
So true to life, Bennett creates super realistic characters and the stories and performance are touching, a delight to savour.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
There simply wasn't enough of it!
3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Linda
- 03-01-15
Alan and Thora
I thought it was a very fitting tribute to Thora. I had never heard her last performance before and am very pleased that it was included in this tribute.
3 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mrs
- 07-10-13
A lovely , thought provoking listen
What made the experience of listening to Alan & Thora the most enjoyable?
The story lines, the way Alan Bennett gently explores characters and hints at their lives and the way the character's monologues are so beautifully acted by Thora Hird
What did you like best about this story?
Waiting for the telegram is one of the most poignant and beautifully written exploration of ageing and life I have heard . I am playing it to all my nursing students as it encapsulates many themes around caring for older people and how people see them is not necessarily who they are and have been
Have you listened to any of Alan Bennett and Thora Hird ’s other performances? How does this one compare?
I have only listened to one previous recording with Thora Hird which was fab - a cracker under the settee. This is better as there is more of Thora
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
In waiting for the telegram the character's remembering her first love
Any additional comments?
I have listened to this time and again, something I rarely do
3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Charlotte Street
- 29-10-16
Heartwarming.
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audible book. Waiting for the telegram was beautifully scripted and brought tears to my eyes.
2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Paul Brookes
- 30-05-16
Touching portrayal of a working relationship
I adore her down to earth attitude and humour. They complement one another perfectly. Funny and touching.
2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- denise
- 09-07-13
Wonderful Alan and Thora at their best
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
If you like Alan Bennett and Loved Thora Hird this is a really nice listen.
What other book might you compare Alan & Thora to, and why?
Any other Alan Bennett book to be honest his style of writing is very inspirational
What does Alan Bennett and Thora Hird bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
I've always found Thora Hird to be like a relative, a nice Auntie someone who listens, and her and Alan Bennett had an amazing collaboration, two people who worked together perfectly.
A wonderful closing chapter to Thora Hirds career and life on the stage.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No I listened in 2 sittings but I will listen again at some point
5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Honesty is the best Policy
- 03-06-19
Excellent performance by Thora Hird
I really enjoyed this. Well written by Alan Bennett and Thora Hirds performance was memorable .
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- David Rogers
- 24-03-21
Nostalgic narrative
Loved listening to the northern way of speaking. These are the words my parents and their generation used. I could listen to Thora’s voice all day long. Alan’s script and introduction complete the story.