Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Conservative MP for North East Somerset, is this week’s Bookbencher. He prescribes Psmith for all ailments.
1) Which book is on your bedside table at the moment?
Paper Promises by Philip Coggan. This is a straightforward review of the current financial crisis in the context of a brief history of paper money and its instability. It argues that creditors will probably lose out to debtors as the crisis is solved. I am also reading M.R. James’ Collected Ghost Stories, which I have by my bedside in Somerset. It is a splendid series of short stories which he wrote to entertain friends after dinner. I was given this copy for Christmas.
2) Which book would you read to your children?
I tend to read the books they demand but they particularly enjoy The Anatole Stories and Captain Pugwash (anything on pirates).
3) Which literary character would you most like to be?
Lord Emsworth, as long as Blandings Castle could be moved to Somerset.
4) Which book do you think best sums up ‘now’?
I do not know and if I did know I doubt I would like it.
5) What was the last novel you read?
The Fear Index by Robert Harris. This was very reassuring for an investment manager as the computerised approach ultimately failed spectacularly.
6) Which book would you most recommend?
Leave it to Psmith by P.G. Woodhouse. This is one of the funniest books I have ever read. The confusion between a carnation and a chrysanthemum when Psmith has arranged to meet the Hon. Freddie is almost as amusing as when Baxter starts throwing flower pots at Lord Emsworth in, of all things, yellow pyjamas.
7) Given enough time, which book would you like to study deeply?
Edward Gibbon, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. The fact that it is in so many volumes is always a disincentive to starting and although I have over the years read the first two volumes there are still another six to go. It is interesting both because of its subject matter but also because of the insight it gives into the concerns and interests of the educated eighteenth century man.
8) Which books do you plan to read next?
I have a backlog of books that I have been given as presents which include a biography of Bismark, essays on the Dormition of Our Lady, and English Catholic Exiles in Late Sixteenth-Century Paris by Katy Gibbons. However, I shall probably start with the rather lighter Dinner with Churchill by Cita Stelzer which rather splendidly argues that Churchill did not drink very much because he did not have a tumbler of sherry for breakfast, merely a very modest whisky. I am also looking forward to reading Thomas Caplan’s novel, The Spy Who Jumped off the Screen.
9) If the British Library were on fire and you could only save three books, which ones would you take?
St. Cuthbert’s Gospel, The Gutenberg Bible and Shakespeare’s first folio. Fortunately we have a family copy of Collinson’s The History and Antiquities of the County of Somerset otherwise that would of course be top of the list.
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