The Duchess of Cornwall has released her recommended Easter reading list, to help entertain during lockdown.
Camilla, who is currently at Birkhall, is an avid reader, championing literacy in children as well as adults. Some of her patronages include the National Literacy Trust, BookTrust, Coram Beanstalk and the Royal Society of Literature.
The Duchess has chosen nine books to share and a short reason as to why she loved them, from the likes of Dickens to Philip Pullman.
Clarence House have also shared a statement introducing the list: “Ernest Hemingway, famously, once said “There is no friend as loyal as a book”. In these challenging times when we are isolated from the ones we love, many of us are finding comfort in reading, to fire up our imaginations, to take us on journeys and to make us laugh. With that in mind here is a list of my dearest ‘friends’…
The Duchess of Cornwall reads ‘All Change’ – part of The Cazalet Chronicles – on a step at Birkhall (Clarence House)
The image accompanying her list was taken at Birkhall, on the day Prince Charles and Camilla released a photo to mark their 15th wedding anniversary.
1. Restless by William Boyd
“A wartime thriller featuring a resourceful woman in grave danger… a great read,” Camilla states.
2. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
“This is a wonderful story of romantic and familial love set against the violence of the French Revolution. It is one of my favourite books by Charles Dickens and, in my humble opinion, one of his best!”
3. The Simon Serrailler Series by Susan Hill
“Simon Serrailler, Susan Hill’s brilliant detective, is the central character in the great writer’s crime fiction novels…”
4. The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman
“I have enjoyed every book that Philip Pullman has written and have followed Lyra through all her trials. This book (the second in the trilogy) is no exception, as we immerse ourselves in this fantasy’s mystical adventures. Storytelling at its best…”
5. The Cazalet Chronicles by Elizabeth Jane Howard
“A multi-generational saga by this brilliant author, of a British family before, during and after World War II. If I were sent to a desert island with one book this would be my choice…!”
6. A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
“A wonderful book which gives the reader an understanding of life in post revolution Moscow, through the eyes of a Russian aristocrat sentenced to life in Moscow’s Metropol Hotel,” was the Duchess’ review.
7. The Red Notebook by Antoine Laurain
“A clever, funny novel… a masterpiece of Parisian perfection.”
8. The Architect’s Apprentice by Elif Shafak
“A magical, colourful tale set during the height of the Ottoman Empire…”
9. Travels on my Elephant by Mark Shand
“My late brother’s tale of his love affair with Tara, an Asian elephant, on their journey across India… it always brings a tear to my eye.”
Camilla’s brother Mark died in 2014; he was a passionate conservationist and got his sister and The Prince of Wales involved in the Elephant Family charity, to help protect these magnificent beasts.
While we have provided Amazon affiliate links, we urge you to see if any local bookshops are able to supply you with these titles, should you be interested, to help support local businesses in this trying time.
