The Boy in the Dress
The sharp and funny first novel for children from bestselling publishing phenomenon David Walliams. More
A Woman of Substance
With her unforgettable heroine Emma Harte, Bradford popularized the rags-to-riches family saga. More
Magician
Bestselling epic fantasy masterpiece that launched Feist’s career and influenced a generation of modern fantasy authors. More
What Do People Do All Day?
Over 100 million Scarry books have sold worldwide; a favorite in his classic Busytown series. More
Building Literary Identities: Canada, Australia, India
In the mid-1800s, William Collins took his UK publishing business international–from the Americas, through Australia, to Africa. More
The War of the Worlds
The much-adapted classic from “the father of science fiction.” More
Emma Freedman
Why I read: To escape the everyday in worlds that wildly creative people invite us into, and to expand the mind. More
The Butterfly Lion
A moving story of enduring friendship, this is the award-winning favorite from a master storyteller. More
A Game of Thrones
First volume in the internationally bestselling series that has sold upward of 70 million copies. More
Goodnight Moon
Every child’s must-have bedtime classic; beloved by generations of readers and listeners. More
The Giving Tree
Poignant, game-changing picture book for readers of all ages that has been a favorite for generations. More
Heaven Is for Real
The life-changing story of a boy who experiences Heaven, with 11 million copies sold. More
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Thompson’s highly subjective blend of fact and fiction that popularized what has become known as gonzo journalism. More
Bernard Cornwell
The most magical phrase I knew as a child was “Once upon a time” because those four words meant a story was coming. More
The Golden Notebook
A feminist landmark and the best-known work by Nobel Prize winner Doris Lessing. More
Richard Fidler
Books have always excited me, and helped me place my tiny life in the great stream of events and ideas. More
Jane Eyre
Brontë’s masterpiece of Gothic romance; a milestone title in the history of British feminist literature. More
Judith Kerr
Why I write: Usually, so that I can do the illustrations. More
J.R.R. Tolkien and the Trilogy
Sir Stanley Unwin, chairman of British publishers George Allen & Unwin (later acquired by HarperCollins), originally rejected the 9,250-page manuscript of The Lord of the Rings, the sequel to J. R. R. Tolkien’s moderately successful (at the time) The Hobbit, as it was too long, and the author would make a deal with the publisher only if they also agreed to take another of his unfinished books. More
The Inklings
Clive Staples Lewis (better known as C. S. Lewis) loved nothing more than sitting in the back room of his favorite pub, The Eagle and Child, surrounded by his closest literary friends, including J. R. R. Tolkien. More
I, Robot
Asimov’s science fiction masterpiece that influenced a legion of future authors. More
The Known World
The Pulitzer Prize–winning novel that examines the troubling complexities of slavery. More
All the Light We Cannot See
The multimillion-copy bestseller and winner of the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. More
George R. R. Martin
It was in 1993 that George R. R. Martin–already an acclaimed author of science fiction and horror novels, and well known for his work in Hollywood as a screenwriter on The Twilight Zone and Beauty and the Beast–decided he needed a broader outlet for his creativity and conceived of A Song of Ice and Fire, a truly monumental fantasy series. More
Jackie French
I write for kids because each book builds kids’ intelligence. It’s muscle-building for the brain. More
Empire of the Sun
Winner of the Guardian Fiction Prize and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize. More
The Hours
Winner of the 1999 Pulitzer Prize and PEN/Faulkner Award; made into an Oscar-winning film. More