I’d been thinking it was a funny coincidence how many people were going on holiday until it dawned on me, finally, that it was summer. I had nice intentions to write a special edition letter about all the books I’d recommend you read over these next few languorous weeks, and if you want that I advise you to read last year’s list, which still stands up.

But the baby has stolen my reading time. I’ve spent his life reading Wolf Hall. I’ve nearly finished it and I’m beginning to feel my brain clunk back into recognition, and so I’m turning to my unread bookcase (yes, we have a case, we have a problem) to see what I might be able to chew over next. Here are the ones I’m most excited about...