Best books… Chris Patten
The peer and former Conservative Party chairman chooses his favourite books. His new book, The Hong Kong Diaries (Allen Lane £30), describes his experiences as the last governor of Hong Kong
Life and Fate by Vasily Grossman, translated by Robert Chandler, 1980 (Vintage £10.99). This is one of the greatest novels of the 20th century. In this brilliant translation, it can be compared with Tolstoy, with touches of Chekhov. A huge Russian contribution to European civilisation despite the efforts of Soviet leaders to suppress it.
On Warne by Gideon Haigh, 2012 (Simon & Schuster £9.99). The finest contemporary writer on cricket on the greatest ever spin bowler. Two of Australia’s finest contributors to contemporary culture, of which red-ball cricket is such a key part. No argument there, OK?
Paris to the Moon by Adam Gopnik, 2000 (Quercus £12.99). Gopnik, a New Yorker magazine writer, has written superbly in recent years about liberal values, but this early work is one of my favourite books about Paris, and indeed France. Sharply funny and full of the insights of a clever, decent man.
Complete Poems by C.P. Cavafy, translated by Daniel Mendelsohn, 2012 (William Collins £25). Along with W.H. Auden, this Alexandrian poet is my favourite and certainly the best poet of public affairs. With Cavafy we await the barbarians, though whether they are a solution to our problems is questionable.
The World of Yesterday by Stefan Zweig, 1942 (Pushkin Press £12.99). The great Jewish-Viennese intellectual describes European civilisation in the early years of the 20th century, and recounts fearfully the early assaults on the values of an open society by fascism. The day after he sent it to his publisher, he and his wife both committed suicide. He thought that night had descended on Europe – even before the Wannsee Conference plotted the murder of six million Jews.
Oleander, Jacaranda by Penelope Lively, 1994 (Penguin £9.99). A charming memoir by one of my favourite English novelists, largely about her childhood in wartime Egypt.
Titles in print are available from The Week Bookshop on 020-3176 3835. For out-of-print books visit biblio.co.uk