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February 27, 2026 by

The Uncommon Reader

The Uncommon Reader

$17.00

Categories: Books About Books, Fiction
  • Description

Description

The Uncommon Reader: A Novella by Alan Bennett

From one of England’s most celebrated writers, a funny and superbly observed novella about the Queen of England and the subversive power of reading

When her corgis stray into a mobile library parked near Buckingham Palace, the Queen feels duty-bound to borrow a book. Discovering the joy of reading widely (from J. R. Ackerley, Jean Genet, and Ivy Compton-Burnett to the classics) and intelligently, she finds that her view of the world changes dramatically. Abetted in her newfound obsession by Norman, a young man from the royal kitchens, the Queen comes to question the prescribed order of the world and loses patience with the routines of her role as monarch. Her new passion for reading initially alarms the palace staff and soon leads to surprising and very funny consequences for the country at large.

With the poignant and mischievous wit of The History Boys, England’s best-loved author Alan Bennett revels in the power of literature to change even the most uncommon reader’s life.

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International Affairs Forum is a platform to encourage a more complete understanding of the world’s opinions on international relations and economics. It presents a cross-section of all-partisan mainstream content, from left to right and across the world. Bay Books is proud to be partnering with the International Affairs Forum. Please click here to pre-order books of this season’s featured authors.

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