Completely revised and updated to include the most up-to-date selections, this is a bold and bright reference book to the novels and the writers that have excited the world's imagination. This authoritative selection of novels, reviewed by an international team of writers, critics, academics, and journalists, provides a new take on world classics and a reliable guide to what's hot in contemporary fiction. Featuring more than 700 illustrations and photographs, presenting quotes from individual novels and authors, and completely revised for 2012, this is the ideal book for everybody who loves reading.
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About the Author
Peter Ackroyd is well known for writing historical fiction. His awards are numerous, including the Guardian Fiction Prize, Whitbread Biography Award, Royal Society of Literature William Heinemman Award and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize to name but a few. He has written biographies on T.S. Eliot, Charles Dickens and more and also holds a C.B.E for services to literature. London
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die is a controversial volume among book-lovers. Let me say at the start that as a book lover, I really value this book - apart from its rich content, with its high production values it is a thing of beauty in itself and will not be a book to be placed on a shelf and forgotten about.
Some people hate it with a vengeance. Others disagree with the selection of the 1001 books, while others accuse it of just being a collection of synopses of the sort you find on the back cover of a paper-back. One reviewer on Amazon.com described it as "a cynical exercise in marketing to the culturally insecure".
On the other hand, many reviews are glowing - for example, so many people think that the list of 1001 books is valuable that they have formed a group on GoodReads with over 11,000 members. More than a few have signed up to read all 1001 books - and why not? - its as good a list as any and at least has more rational thought behind it than just randomly picking books with attractive covers, or books you read reviews of in the newspapers.
This year sees a completely revised edition of the book and I think its well-worth writing about it. Firstly, lets say very clearly that this book is not the work of one man. The General Editor, Peter Boxall, is a Professor of English at Sussex University. He has drawn on a very large panel of getting on for 200 contributors to write much of the text of the books. It is clear from Peter Boxall's introduction to the book that nobody is claiming that this is the only possible list, and despite the title of the book, there really is no "must" about it.
For myself however, I find the book a great reminder about books I've omitted to read, or books I've heard about but have since forgotten.... Read more ›
Some people hate it with a vengeance. Others disagree with the selection of the 1001 books, while others accuse it of just being a collection of synopses of the sort you find on the back cover of a paper-back. One reviewer on Amazon.com described it as "a cynical exercise in marketing to the culturally insecure".
On the other hand, many reviews are glowing - for example, so many people think that the list of 1001 books is valuable that they have formed a group on GoodReads with over 11,000 members. More than a few have signed up to read all 1001 books - and why not? - its as good a list as any and at least has more rational thought behind it than just randomly picking books with attractive covers, or books you read reviews of in the newspapers.
This year sees a completely revised edition of the book and I think its well-worth writing about it. Firstly, lets say very clearly that this book is not the work of one man. The General Editor, Peter Boxall, is a Professor of English at Sussex University. He has drawn on a very large panel of getting on for 200 contributors to write much of the text of the books. It is clear from Peter Boxall's introduction to the book that nobody is claiming that this is the only possible list, and despite the title of the book, there really is no "must" about it.
For myself however, I find the book a great reminder about books I've omitted to read, or books I've heard about but have since forgotten.... Read more ›
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By sjlf
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought this book as a Christmas gift for my sister in law who thought it was a fantastic reference book which would encourage anyone to pick up a novel and work their way through the many 1001 suggested titles.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Gives the essentials of key novels. Novels chosen are from 18 century to the present. Highly recommended. Some surprises as well as familiar books.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well researched and reminded me of loads of books I've not got around to yet
2 Jan 2013
By Sian-Nia
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought my son the 1001 FILMS you must read before you die. He loved it! So this seemed like a great follow up idea.
My teenage son has now made a long list of all the books he wants to read as a priority. Great to encourage reading but I have a feeling it'll cost me a fortune in books and kindle downloads.
A lovely book for the whole family to flick through.
My teenage son has now made a long list of all the books he wants to read as a priority. Great to encourage reading but I have a feeling it'll cost me a fortune in books and kindle downloads.
A lovely book for the whole family to flick through.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Very informative and easy to find information on the books on the list. Will keep it as a great reference book.
By Book Lover
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a brilliant book which should be owned by all serious book lovers. It is something you will never get bored of and she kept quite close to where ever you relax so as you can dip into whenever the urge takes you
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Very useful resource. Have dipped into the book for information time and time again. Definitely a book to have at home.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I LOVE THIS BOOK AND BOUGHT AS A PRESENT. I FOUND IT HARD TO WRAP AS I WANTED TO KEEP LOOKING AT THE BOOK. I WILL TREAT MYSELF TO MY OWN COPY. IREAD REVIEWS OF BOOKS THAT I HAVE READ AND I WOULD TAKE THE ADVICE OF THE REVIEWERS FOR A FUTURE READ, IF YOU LOVE BOOKS YOU'LL LOVE THIS ONE!
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