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  • Smut: Two Unseemly Stories: The Greening of Mrs Donaldson & The Shielding of Mrs Forbes

  • By: Alan Bennett
  • Narrated by: Alan Bennett
  • Length: 3 hrs and 52 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (132 ratings)
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Smut: Two Unseemly Stories: The Greening of Mrs Donaldson & The Shielding of Mrs Forbes cover art

Smut: Two Unseemly Stories: The Greening of Mrs Donaldson & The Shielding of Mrs Forbes

By: Alan Bennett
Narrated by: Alan Bennett
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Summary

Two unexpected tales written and read by the best-selling author of The Uncommon Reader, Untold Stories and The History Boys.

"The Greening of Mrs Donaldson" - Mrs Donaldson is a conventional middle-class woman beached on the shores of widowhood after a marriage that had been much like many others: happy to begin with, then satisfactory and finally dull. But when she decides to take in two lodgers, her mundane life becomes much more stimulating…

"The Shielding of Mrs Forbes" - Graham Forbes is a disappointment to his mother, who thinks that if he must have a wife, he should have done better. True, her own husband isn’t all that satisfactory either. Still, this is Alan Bennett, so what is happening in the bedroom (and in lots of other places too) is altogether more startling, perhaps shocking, and ultimately more true to people’s predilections.

©2011 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2011 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Critic reviews

"Artfully entertaining…On one particular subject Bennett is incomparably brilliant: role-playing, which is the meat of both stories." (Simon Schama, Financial Times, London)
"Bennett’s humor consistently resides in the logic of the parenthetical aside, the comedy of the false appearances or misperceptions being challenged or disabused.…Mrs. Donaldson is not as unconventional as she thought herself, and no one around Mr. Forbes is where—or who—they pretend to be." ( The Guardian, London)
"Tender and comic…This is Bennett’s world, where repression is never far from the sexual act….Good, old-fashioned British humor with the lightest of subversive twists." ( The Independent, London)

What listeners say about Smut: Two Unseemly Stories: The Greening of Mrs Donaldson & The Shielding of Mrs Forbes

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Bennett at his best!

I love Alan Bennett, the man can do no wrong. These two short stories revolving around sex in its various forms are funny and oddly sweet. Bennett is brilliant at forming flawed, human characters who are, if not likeable, at least relatable. A great quick listen, definitely one for a rainy day or a long journey.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Strangely familiar but unknown

Sir Alan' cosy tea cake voice delivering exactly what it says ion the tin, Smut. A bit rude, very funny and a mix of Bennett's bittersweet humour and a touch of the risqué make this an enjoyable listen. Perhaps not one for the car while travelling with my Thirteen year old Bennett fan!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Naughty, naughty

Both stories are great fun from start to finish and are the apotheosis of his front parlour hanky-panky delivered with a sure touch for the turn of phrase and twitch of net.

There are some great set-pieces, particularly a visit to a police station - “there’s coffee on the go, but you’ve just missed the croissants” and a strategically placed mobile phone.

Maybe it all fits together a little bit too snugly at the end, all the tops flattened and the corners tucked in - but ooh, I don’t know you can’t complain can you, I mean, two stories for the price of one........and wasn’t Alan thoughtful to read it to us as well, though I hear he’s not got that much else on at the moment, so he probably had a little bit of time on his hands and thought he might put it to good use. He always was a thoughtful boy...

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Amusing

Very light, enjoyable and amusing stories. Excellently read by the author, whose observations are as sharp as ever.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Bennett at his best !

If you love Alan Bennett you'll love this. Two glorious stories to keep you tickled pink.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

anything by alan bennett is spell binding!

What made the experience of listening to Smut: Two Unseemly Stories: The Greening of Mrs Donaldson & The Shielding of Mrs Forbes the most enjoyable?

the unexpected oddness of the tales told in such a matter of fact way

Who was your favorite character and why?

graham, i loved his sanguine take on life

Which character – as performed by Alan Bennett – was your favourite?

they are all so beautifully rounded and intimately described, i can't choose!

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

i don't know!

Any additional comments?

alan bennett is not only a magical writer but is the best reader ever, what a combination!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Bennett delights as always.

Surprising stuff from Mr Bennett. Risqué and funny. Wonderful to hear Alan Bennett reading his own material.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Enormous fun

While listening to 'The Greening of Mrs Donaldson' walking down the road, I almost fell off the pavement I was laughing so much - and I certainly got some strange looks.

Such good entertainment - a lovely pair of unlikely stories, superb narration (as one always expects from Mr Bennett), great characters. My only regret is that there were only two of them!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

My First Foray Into Alan Bennett

I thought the first story over long and the 2nd a comedy of errors! I didn’t like or dislike either tale - stories of ‘repressed Victorian’ women.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

brilliant

Brilliant as always! Alan Bennett is a genius! Timeless, smart, funny and sharp!! Great fun!

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