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Please, Mister Postman
- Narrated by: Alan Johnson
- Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins
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Please, Mister Postman
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Summary
In July 1969, while the Rolling Stones played a free concert in Hyde Park, Alan Johnson and his young family left West London to start a new life. The Britwell Estate in Slough, apparently notorious among the locals, in fact came as a blessed relief after the tensions of Notting Hill, and the local community welcomed them with open arms.
Alan had become a postman the previous year, and in order to support his growing family took on every bit of overtime he could, often working 12-hour shifts six days a week. It was hard work, but not without its compensations - the crafty fag snatched in a country lane, the farmer’s wife offering a hearty breakfast and even the mysterious lady on Glebe Road who appeared daily, topless, at her window as the postman passed by.…Please, Mister Postman paints a vivid picture of England in the 1970s, where no celebration was complete without a Party Seven of Watney’s Red Barrel, smoking was the norm rather than the exception, and Sunday lunchtime was about beer, bingo, and cribbage. But as Alan’s life appears to be settling down and his career in the Union of Postal Workers begins to take off, his close-knit family is struck once again by tragedy.… Moving, hilarious and unforgettable, Please, Mister Postman is another astonishing book from the award-winning author of This Boy.
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What listeners say about Please, Mister Postman
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- MR NIGEL SMITH
- 30-05-18
Frank,honest with plenty of humour
Most enjoyable look back at this period in history. Humour is never far away in this insightful look at UK Politics and what it was like for the ordinary man.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- barfordian
- 24-08-18
Worth the time to read or listen to.
I'm taken with this series of autobiographies, perhaps because I'm of a similar age and can draw comparisons with my life and recollections at similar stages. In the time of special advisers and politicians who have done little in the "real word" before entering politics it's refreshing to read of someone's life and progress leading up to the time when he became a politician.
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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
- Mr G A Wicks
- 06-01-15
Brilliant and evocative of the time
A human story of life, progression and triumphs. Particularly entertaining to a postman's wife of 13 years and counting, who started as one of the author's cadets.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Mrs.Noelle
- 14-04-15
A good read
The last sentence makes me want to read more about this amiable man and his future quest for inner contentment.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- S. Daly-parks
- 28-02-17
Fascinating
I enjoyed this book because it is a personal account of a politicians life in the making. Whereas so many politicians have a privileged start in life, Alan Johnson didn't. He shows us that the power of strong family bonds and love can help someone to care about ordinary people. This is a good sequel to 'This Boy'.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- toptone
- 12-04-17
Another interesting insight
Part 2 of, not only Alan Johnson's life, but of the social history of the era. Highly recommended.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Marie Layton
- 27-07-18
Enjoyed but struggled in places
Interesting to hear the other side of the political argument from such a principled and decent man. I have always been puzzled how anyone can vote labour after the damage they have done to our economy, taking us into an illegal war in Iraq and their often disreputable front bench set ups. However, after hearing Alan’s story and especially the plight of his mother in his first book, I understand a little better. I loved the family element of this second book but struggled with the dryness and boredom of the union tales. It’s a shame Alan didn’t stand for leader as he would have made labour a more credible and appealing party.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- BeaglePup
- 17-12-14
Can't wait for the next volume!
Brilliant evocation of the 1970s in the post office and family life on a council estate.
Although Alan Johnson is not a top rate reader of his own moving story he is totally authentic so you warm to him. The story of industrial practices, union politics and the heart breaks of domestic life are wonderful told.
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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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- Peter D King
- 02-04-18
Please mister postman
A very readable social history of Britain, it is both funny and emotional. I can't wait to read the next one.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Helen
- 02-04-15
The happily ever after...or not
The follow on to "This Boy" is another compelling listen. I love the writing and Alan Johnson's narration. His artistic streak finally making it through to the public arena.
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