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These aren't the only authors whose work I admire,
but they are those who pass the 'read again' test,
ie books that I liked enough to read more than once
and may well do again in the future. |
Just
William
A total of thirty-eight William books were published
between 1922 and 1970, the last after author Richmal
Crompton's death in 1969. Apart from their timeless
humour, they also chronicle the changing face of 'middle
England.'
You can find out of copyright stories on the web at
ongoing-tales.
Or go here
for details of how to obtain the printed and audio
versions.
Find out more about her and her adult works at the
Lost
Club.
The
List of Seven
An excellent horror/thriller novel, the hero being
Arthur
Conan Doyle. Read the opening
extract.
A similar idea of using 'real' Victorian novelists
as heroes is Poe
Must Die by Marc Olden. Despite the lurid title,
it is a great read, featuring both Edgar
Allan Poe and Charles
Dickens, although there isn't much about the book
or the author on the web.
Bill
Bryson
"What do you look for
in a woman? At my age, a pulse and a full complement
of limbs, although I'm prepared to compromise on the
latter."
Best known for his hilarious travel books, but also
on the English language, such as the Dictionary of
Troublesome
Words and Mother
Tongue. (Please don't be offended by this explanation
of the derivation of expletives!) There is an informative
interview with Bill in January
Magazine.
Gates
of Fire
"Stranger, go tell the
Spartans that here we lie in obedience to their laws."
- Epigram on the tomb of Leonidas'
Three Hundred.
An excellent novel by Steven
Pressfield recounting the epic Battle
of Thermopylae. Read an excerpt. |
Flashman
George
Macdonald Fraser is one of our greatest living
novelists and his Flashman character an immortal
creation. This UK site links to the many others
worldwide. Read an
interview with GMD.
My favourite volume is Flashman at the
Charge, featuring our hero's involvement in the
Charge
of the Light Brigade (Garry
Owen being their canter tune) and then with
Yakub
Beg leaving on the Silk
Road.
Douglas
Adams
The late and much lamented author who died while
still at his most creative. In particular, seek
out the Hitchhiker's
Guide to the Galaxy.
Jerome
K Jerome
Humorist, playwright and author of Three
Men in a Boat. The site gives information on
the man
and the JKJ Society's museum
in Walsall. Much of his work is available on
the web, including Three
Men on the Bummel. Alternatively, go to Online
Books which includes TMiaB.
Isaac
Asimov
A prolific author (500+ books) and an interesting
thinker. Best known (to me) for his Foundation
series and the I Robot books.
Wilfred
Owen
My favorite War Poet. In particular, check out
"The
Last Laugh" and its earlier form "The
Last Words" in many ways softer and more
moving than the final version.
Terry
Pratchett
Extremely funny, extremely clever author of the
Discworld novels.
David
Gemmell
Another great author, if heroic fantasy novels are
to your taste.
Bartleby
Brilliant site full online literature, verse and
quotations. |
