John Crace: 9 books

John Crace's 'Digested Read' column in the Guardian has rightly acquired a cult following. Each week fans avidly devour his latest razor-sharp literary assassination, while authors turn tremblingly to the appropriate page of the review section, fearful that it may be their turn to be mercilessly sent...

Did Charlotte Brontë take opium? Did the Reverend Brontë carry a loaded pistol? What, precisely, does ‘wuthering’ mean? Distinguished literary critic John Sutherland takes an idiosyncratic look at the world of the Brontës, from the bumps on Charlotte’s head to the nefarious origins of Mr...

What is Nigel Farage’s favorite novel? Why do Brexiteers love Sherlock Holmes? Is Philip Larkin the best Brexit poet ever? Through the politically relevant sideroad of English Literature, writ large, John Sutherland quarries the great literary minds of English history to assemble the ultimate reading...

'The Maybot is rebooted as strong and humble. Stumble for short.' 'Kim Jong-May awkward and incredulous as journalist asks question.' 'Supreme leader produces pure TV Valium on The One Show.' Throughout 2017 John Crace, the Guardian's parliamentary sketch writer, has watched Prime Minister...

‘Give me the daggers and I’ll pin the blame/ On Duncan’s grooms who both are also slain. /A little water clears us of this deed /Though a large scotch might also do the trick...’ To celebrate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, this is the first of a new collection of the Bard's...

Cease I say, cantankerous old fools / Thy deeds hath made our streets a no go zone / No more shall Montagues and Capulets / Enact their West Side Story Sharks and Jets / Or else shall pay the forfeit of the peace.To celebrate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, this is the second of a new...

Alas poor Yorick, he looks not at all well. I knew him, Horatio; a fellow of infinite jest, though sadly finite breath. Though thy gibes be still, yet still thou grins. I seldom saw thy teeth look quite so clean To celebrate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, this is the fourth of...

Benedick: I am man enough to say that I love thee. Is that not strange? Beatrice: Not really… Benedick: By my sword, Beatrice thou lovest me. Beatrice: Get over yourself To celebrate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, this is the third of a new collection of the Bard's greatest...

Exactly a week after the general election, two men – ‘Call me Dave’ and ‘Call me Nick’ – walked side by side into the rose garden of No. 10 Downing Street to give their first press-conference as Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, looking for all the world like men in love. It was...