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Philip Kerr's Reading List

The author, most recently, of "The Other Side of Silence" thinks heroes are "always too heroic to be real. Or wholly sympathetic. James Bond is nicely flawed. Sadistic. Sexist. Bitter. I like that."

By the Book: Philip Kerr (2016)

NYT By the Book column (2016-04-14).

Source: www.nytimes.com

Voyage of the Beagle

Charles Darwin · Buy on Amazon

"One book that continues to astonish me — and not for the obvious reason — is Darwin's "Voyage of the Beagle." The man is an amazing writer. He was just 23 years old when he started writing this book; but his descriptive powers are nothing short of miraculous."

The Sonnets

William Shakespeare · Buy on Amazon

"I would probably recommend to everyone "The Sonnets," by William Shakespeare. That contains everything, and after all, "in black ink my love may still shine bright.""

Lolita

Vladimir Nabokov · 1955 · Buy on Amazon

"I think "Lolita" is probably the most thrilling book I have read because of the writing."

Great Expectations

Charles Dickens · Buy on Amazon

"I think David Lean's version of "Great Expectations" is the greatest film version of a truly great book. And probably my favorite."

Heart of Darkness

Joseph Conrad · Buy on Amazon

"I suppose the one that had the biggest impact in that I've read it again many times since, was Conrad's "Heart of Darkness.""

The Magus

John Fowles · Buy on Amazon

""The Outsider," by Colin Wilson, had a big impact when I was 15. And so did "The Magus," by John Fowles."

The Grapes of Wrath

John Steinbeck · 1939 · Buy on Amazon

"The president of the United States should be required to read "The Grapes of Wrath," by John Steinbeck."

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