Frequently asked questions

What was your favourite book when you were a child?

I had dozens. I read everything. Old books from the book cases at home, new ones from the library. All the classics, L M Montgomery, Ursula le Guin, Tolkien, Joan Aiken, Rosemary Sutcliff, Elizabeth Goudge, Eleanor Estes, Nesbit, Kipling, Blyton, Arthur Ransome, John Masefield. As much Natural History and Travel as I could get my hands on. I remember giving my mother a Christmas list of books when I was eleven: Lord of the Rings, Ring of Bright Water (Gavin Maxwell), To Kill a Mockingbird, Brave New World and something else I can't recall. She bought me them all and wrapped them up in one fat wonderful parcel.

Are there any that you still go back to as an adult?

I go back to them all.