This book is a delight for anyone who loves their British classics. I sat down to read one book and finished it feeling like I’d read 29. In Faulks on Fiction, Sebastian Faulks revisits 28 classic novels and examines one of the well-known main characters in each. He splits the book into sections: Heroes, Lovers, Snobs and Villains, giving his analysis of the likes of Sherlock Holmes, Tess Durbeyfield, James Bond, Fagin and plenty more.

The book naturally reads well in sequence, but is also perfect for a pick and choose journey through the characters. I started with Vanity Fair’s Becky Sharp and jumped to Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. From there I read Wuthering Heights’ Heathcliff, and then to Jack Merridrew from Lord of the Flies and so on.

As an English Literature graduate, this was a wonderful trip down memory lane, not only of books I have read over the last fifteen or so years, but of my studies at university. The essay format really appealed to me, and it was great to weigh up Faulks’ opinions with my own.

This is an enjoyable whistle-stop tour of some of Britain’s greatest works of literature, and perfect to dip into on a rainy day.