Margaret asked Jasper Fforde:

I'm FOREVER trying to get people to read excellent, if older, books such as Jane Eyre, without which Thursday would be the poorer. It's got to the stage where I'm giving books of nursery rhymes to people's new babies, knowing the parents, too, will be subjected to them repeatedly, in preparation for the Nursery Crime books! Other than your own (natch) what books should be universal reads? Shakespeare, Bronte...

Jasper Fforde Universal reads? Wow, what a question. I think the battle is to first get people to read, and in the habit of reading. Preferably - and I think crucially - from a young age. For this reason I am a huge fan of Enid Blyton, and recommend it as a series of books that get kids into reading before they are ten. Once you are in the habit, I think all the rest drops into place. A reader will navigate the shores of literature on their own, and read, most likely, those books which often drop into anyone's must read list - so we don't have to make one!

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