Thirteen books you have to read
- Peter Tinniswood: A TOUCH OF DANIEL (1968). My greatest literary influence. Cartoon light with ultimate truths. All three Brandon Family novels take me to a world in which I’d like to reside.
- Willie Dixon with Don Snowdon: I AM THE BLUES: THE WILLIE DIXON STORY (1990). I believe Mr Dixon is one of the most important figures in modern music. From Chuck Berry to Led Zepplin – an entire genre followed his largely uncredited lead. Listen to any version of ‘Spoonful’ as the perfect pop song.
- Erwin Panofsky: THE LIFE AND ART OF ALBRECHT DÜRER (1955). A manifold masterpiece; as Dürer’s German zeitgeist avidly embraced the rampant Renaissance, radical politics, analytical philosophy, Protestantism, capitalism, Science, technology, those prints and paintings. The dawning of our Modern Age.
- Arthur Rimbaud: A SEASON IN HELL (1873). Best read in your teens, then in your sixties. I’m saving proper poetry until I hit my eighties.
- JP Donleavy: THE GINGERMAN (1955). Had such an effect; was embarrassed to compare my emulative efforts as I hadn’t read Donleavy for 20-odd years when I started ‘The **** Shop’ in 2011?
- Christopher Hill: THE CENTURY OF REVOLUTION, 1603-1714 (1961). Is my favourite historian. So easy to read while quietly challenging the vintage veracity of provided and received information. Fact is stranger than folklore fable, and often a lot more entertaining.
- Enid Starkie: ARTHUR RIMBAUD: A BIOGRAPHY (1938). Best on Rimbaud; the ultimate punk. There will never be another.
- Karl Marx: CAPITAL: VOLUME ONE (1867). Changed my life. Mostly in exposing how stupid I had been. A forensic criticism of capitalist hypocrisy. As applies today.
- Charles Wolfe and Kip Lornell: THE LIFE AND LEGEND OF LEADBELLY (1999). On a massive talent, mostly misspent. I wonder what he would be today? This work records the magnificent myth with guts and glory – and heavy regret.
- Allan Bloom: THE CLOSING OF THE AMERICAN MIND (1987). Found through Saul Bellow. Explains how the vain libertarian mindset is dragging us into the middling mire, inexorably.
- John Burnet: EARLY GREEK PHILOSOPHY (1892). Opened my eyes to the scary truth of how well our ancestors understood our mysterious Universe. What on earth were the Christians thinking in denying us access to this necessary knowledge for a thousand years?
- Victor Bokris: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF ANDY WARHOL (1990). Mr Bokris was on Warhol’s staff and saw IT all; the blatant sarcasm, the latent love. Another no-nonsense exposé.
- Immanuel Kant: CRITIQUE OF PURE REASON (1781). Included despite many qualified others. The Categorical Imperative – per example. Taught me how to stop… and think for a day… or maybe more… about one thing… and then another…