A week of readings from Alan Bennett's new book The Uncommon Reader is on BBC Radio 4 this week.

AB is now of an age when he might be considered a 'National Treasure' and this tale of a chance encounter by the Queen with the Mobile Library parked outside the kitchens of Buckingham Palace is delightful.

Reading opens up a new perspective on life for HM though her changing interests and growing literary tastes bring problems for the Royal Household . . . and the Prime Minister.

US RP'ers will be familiar with AB's work through the play The Madness of George III . . . which had to be retitled The Madness of King George as Hollywood seemed to think Americans were unable to count.

I should have posted this on Monday, but hadn't managed to hear the programmes. So you, as I did, will need to use 'Real Player' (or similar) and 'Listen Again'.

Bennett reads them himself in his dry, flat, gentle Yorkshire accent; and I can't recommend these enough.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Uncommon Reader