Shelf Life: John Simpson

On this week’s Shelf Life, the genial John Simpson confesses which classics he’s never finished, and gives a very thorough account of which literary characters he would most like to bed.

1) As a child, what did you read under the covers?

Nothing dodgy, I’m afraid. I remember being caught reading The Coral Island under the sheets at the age of eight by my father, and watching the expression of sheer relief crossing his face when he saw the title.

2) Has a book ever made you cry, and if so which one?

I find myself becoming increasingly emotional, especially on topics involving sacrifice, forgiveness and honourable behaviour. Most recently I wept as I read Six Weeks by John Lewis-Stempel, which is about the life of the British subaltern in the First World War. Guess what usually happened after six weeks.

3) You are about to be put into solitary confinement for a year and allowed to take three books.