This week’s Bookbencher is Michael Fallon, MP for Sevenoaks.
What book’s on your bedside table at the moment?
David Abulafia The Great Sea: A Human History of the Mediterranean (2011) – a magisterial successor to Fernand Braudel’s survey of mare nostrum.
What book would you read to your children?
Winston Churchill My Early Life (1930) – inspirational.
What literary character would you most like to be?
George Smiley – public duty over private.
What book do you think best sums up ‘now’?
Blake Morrison South of the River (2005) – captures the misplaced hopes of the early Blair years.
What was the last novel you read?
Pascal Mercier Night Train to Lisbon (2008) – haunting.
What book would you most recommend?
George Orwell Essays – including “Why I Write”, and “Politics and the English Language”.
Given enough time, which book would you like to study deeply?
Edward GibbonThe Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1776-88)– often dipped into, still to finish.
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