Jeffrey Archer
Not done any purhcases yet, but will do soon... in the meantime, here are some that I have enjoyed previously, and read many times.
Hope you enjoy some of them.
The 39 Steps, John Buchan
Buchan has written a classic adventure, the first of five novels featuring his intrepid all-English hero, Richard Hannay. Buchan mixed with Prime Ministers and senior civil servants, and this rollercoaster tale is peppered with insider knowledge – and don’t forget, Buchan was ‘our man’ in Quebec. It was thrilling for me to read at a young age, and from there I couldn’t get enough of adventure stories, and swiftly moved on to Ian Fleming’s Bond.
Duveen by S N Behrman
I fell in love with an art student when I was about 16 and she was 17. The only way I could get anywhere near her was to accompany her to art galleries. I ended up falling out of love with her and in love with art, and have had a lifelong passion both as a collector and a lover, for 60 years. This book on Lord Duveen, who was considered the greatest dealer of his time, is one of the great biographies of the era. I learnt so much about how the art world can be corrupt and unscrupulous when you have the veneer of respectability attached to your name.
Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall
For a long time, I thought I knew a thing or two about European politics and history until I read this book. It has that great gift of being written by a scholar, but is also accessible to people like me. I learned so much from Marshall’s insight and scholarship, while at the same time enjoying it as a good read.
DC Confidential by Christopher Meyer
My favourite TV show of all time remains The West Wing, as I’ve always been interested in American politics, and this memoir, written by our former Ambassador to Washington, covers that vital period when Tony Blair supported President George W Bush on his preparations for the Iraq war. It’s an unusual memoir, as diplomats tend to be cautious and conservative, whereas Sir Christopher has left us in no doubt of his views. A fascinating read for those of us who are interested in international politics.
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
This has been the best novel I’ve read for the past couple of years, and is a wonderful example of originality. It’s very difficult for an author nowadays to pen a novel that isn’t a variation of something that has been done in the past. And this book is genuinely original, and teaches us what divides a great novel from a good one.
Beware of Pity by Stefan Zweig
I didn’t discover Stefan Zweig until I was 60 when the Pushkin Press brought him back, and I began with his brilliant novel, Beware of Pity, which pulls you in to its moving tale of unrequited love and the tragic consequences of pity. Zweig is that rare combination of great writer and great storyteller, who leaves the modern pack, myself included, far behind.
Hope you enjoy some of them.
The 39 Steps, John Buchan
Buchan has written a classic adventure, the first of five novels featuring his intrepid all-English hero, Richard Hannay. Buchan mixed with Prime Ministers and senior civil servants, and this rollercoaster tale is peppered with insider knowledge – and don’t forget, Buchan was ‘our man’ in Quebec. It was thrilling for me to read at a young age, and from there I couldn’t get enough of adventure stories, and swiftly moved on to Ian Fleming’s Bond.
Duveen by S N Behrman
I fell in love with an art student when I was about 16 and she was 17. The only way I could get anywhere near her was to accompany her to art galleries. I ended up falling out of love with her and in love with art, and have had a lifelong passion both as a collector and a lover, for 60 years. This book on Lord Duveen, who was considered the greatest dealer of his time, is one of the great biographies of the era. I learnt so much about how the art world can be corrupt and unscrupulous when you have the veneer of respectability attached to your name.
Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall
For a long time, I thought I knew a thing or two about European politics and history until I read this book. It has that great gift of being written by a scholar, but is also accessible to people like me. I learned so much from Marshall’s insight and scholarship, while at the same time enjoying it as a good read.
DC Confidential by Christopher Meyer
My favourite TV show of all time remains The West Wing, as I’ve always been interested in American politics, and this memoir, written by our former Ambassador to Washington, covers that vital period when Tony Blair supported President George W Bush on his preparations for the Iraq war. It’s an unusual memoir, as diplomats tend to be cautious and conservative, whereas Sir Christopher has left us in no doubt of his views. A fascinating read for those of us who are interested in international politics.
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
This has been the best novel I’ve read for the past couple of years, and is a wonderful example of originality. It’s very difficult for an author nowadays to pen a novel that isn’t a variation of something that has been done in the past. And this book is genuinely original, and teaches us what divides a great novel from a good one.
Beware of Pity by Stefan Zweig
I didn’t discover Stefan Zweig until I was 60 when the Pushkin Press brought him back, and I began with his brilliant novel, Beware of Pity, which pulls you in to its moving tale of unrequited love and the tragic consequences of pity. Zweig is that rare combination of great writer and great storyteller, who leaves the modern pack, myself included, far behind.
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