21 books for a godson, pt. 1

There is much to be said for godfathers. They offer the wisdom of maturity without the complications of direct filial ties. Likewise there is much to be said for 21st birthday celebrations, the last relic in our ossified, post-industrial society of the adulthood rituals of traditional peoples. However, it is the fusion of these two noble quantities that gives the most pleasing outcome.

The godfather’s 21st birthday present to his godson marks a notable point in the annals of gift giving, unmatched since the general demise of dowries and Danegeld.  The occasion suggests gifts with an Edwardian tone, badger hair and ivory shaving tackle or rawhide hand luggage; stout apparatus that will last a lifetime of abuse and eventually be passed on to the next generation. However, I proffer an alternative. The ultimate godfather’s 21st birthday present should be books.

There should be 21 of them, self-evidently. Clearly they must be paper editions, ideally hardback, nothing digital here.