What's on your ideal bookshelf?

We'd like to hear about the select few books that mean the most to you

In My Ideal Bookshelf, a website and now a book, more than 100 cultural figures reveal what books are most meaningful to them – the books that shaped their outlook on life, the ones they keep returning to, and those they couldn't bear to be parted from.

If you had to choose just 12 or fewer books that mean the most to you, the ones you'd have on your "ideal bookshelf" – what would they be, and why?

We'd like to hear about your choices in the comment thread below – but perhaps you'd consider illustrating your selection? In My Ideal Bookshelf the contributors' selections are accompanied by beautiful drawings by artist Jane Mount – and readers are invited to sketch (or photograph) their own bookshelves featuring their books of choice. Fancy having a go? If so, submit your pictures to our My Ideal Bookshelf Flickr group

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