(lan Patterson, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, £20)
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This detailed account of how Patterson went about assembling and curating an extensive home library describes a scenario that will lie outside of most people's experiences (or even aspirations). It does, however, serve as a wonderful excuse for this book's wide-ranging discussions of books, authors, the process of understanding poetry, the challenges facing translators and the perennial clash between tradition and innovation.
What emerges is a compelling read that's bound to make even the most well-read among us feel somewhat under-educated. The ease with which Patterson weaves together considerations of seemingly disparate works is impressive to behold, though perhaps the book's main appeal is as a starting point for literary exploration.
Were I an English teacher, I'd be delving into it frequently to gain inspiration and pick up all manner of fascinating background information for my students. Highly recommended.
This review was first published in Teach Secondary magazine.
Postscript
Reading this book reminded me of my belief that all Computing departments or areas in a school should have a library. Even a small library on a window sill or in a small bookcase is better than nothing. I wrote about that here:
