Competition

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The Book Show competition

Find out how you can win the books that all of our guests wish they had written...

Tony Parsons

Tony Parsons

The journalist and author on the book that captivated him...

Bernhard Schlink

Bernhard Schlink

The German novelist on the Chandler classic he wishes was his...

Frances Fyfield

Frances Fyfield

The crime writer on the Paterson book she wishes she'd written...

Sally Brampton

Sally Brampton

The depressive on the book that really makes her laugh...

Jane Green

Jane Green

The chick-lit author on the book that's like revisiting old friends...

Ishmael Beah

Ishmael Beah

The former child soldier on the book that makes most sense to him...

Joanna Trollope

Joanna Trollope

The acclaimed novelist on the book that's the best she's ever read...

Sir David Attenborough

Sir David Attenborough

...on the fundamental biological study that changed everything...

Gill Sanderson

Roger Sanderson

...the only male Mills & Boon author on his all-time top read...

Penny Jordan

Penny Jordan

The Mills & Boon author on the book she continually wishes she had written herself...

Richard Dawkins

Richard Dawkins

Richard Dawkins on the one book that might possibly change his beliefs...

Sophie Kinsella

Sophie Kinsella

The chick-lit author reveals a fondness for the wit and wizardry of Lewis Carroll...

Helen Dunmore

Helen Dunmore

...on the humour and cruel satire of Kingsley Amis...

Oliver James

Oliver James

Oliver James on the book that he most admires...

Melvin Burgess

Melvin Burgess

...on how he might have written The Wind in the Willows...

Mark Billingham

Mark Billingham

...on the novel without which he wouldn't have become a writer...

John Banville

John Banville

John Banville reveals the novel that he considers a work of art...

Wendy Holden

Wendy Holden

...reveals the popular novel that she wishes she had written...

William Boyd

William Boyd

...on the unique Nabokov novel that isn't Lolita...

Simon Sebag Montefiore

Simon Sebag Montefiore

Montefiore on Gibbon's divine Decline and Fall...

Conn Iggulden

Conn Iggulden

Conn Iggulden reveals his all-time favourite book...

Catherine O'Flynn

Catherine O'Flynn

The Costa Award winner on the book she wishes she'd written...

Terry Pratchett

Terry Pratchett

The acclaimed cult fantasy author on the sci-fi book he wishes he had written...

Ben Schott

Ben Schott

The master miscellanist on the dark work of Edward Gorey...

John O'Farrell

John O'Farrell

The May Contain Nuts author on Jerome K Jerome...

Sir David Frost

David Frost

The legendary interviewer confesses to the Ian McEwan book he wishes he'd written...

Alan Johnston

Alan Johnston

Alan Johnston on the book that made him decide journalism was the career for him...

Cecila Aherne

Cecelia Ahern

..on the book that made her cry her eyes out - but the one she loves the best...

Posy Simmonds

Posy Simmonds

The author and graphic novelist on what she - realistically - wishes she had written...

Michael Morpurgo

Michael Morpurgo

The former Children's Laureate on the 'hymn to creation' he wishes was his...

Fay Weldon

Fay Weldon

The acclaimed author on her surprising nomination for the book she most envies...

Jane Gardam

Jane Gardam

...the acclaimed short story writer on the book she wishes she had written...

Tony Benn

Tony Benn

...the poliitican and prolific diary-keeper on the book he wishes he had written...

Nigella Lawson

Nigella Lawson

The best-selling cook and culinary expert on her passion for Dickens...

Nikki Crisp

Martina Cole

The bestselling author on the book that had the biggest effect on her life...

Sue Townsend

Sue Townsend

The Adrian Mole creator on her 'totally realistic' favourite novel...

Jonathan Coe

Jonathan Coe

The Rain Before it Falls author on the book that he wishes he'd written...

Alastair Campbell

Alastair Campbell

The former Labour advisor on the book that proves he didn't invent spin...

Sophie Dahl

Sophie Dahl

The model-turned-author on the Fitzgerald classic that nearly put her off writing...

Peter Ackroyd

Peter Ackroyd

Peter Ackroyd on his love for Chaucer...and the Wife of Bath...

Josephine Cox

Josephine Cox

Jospehine Cox donates some of her beloved Dickens to the competition

Yann Martel

Yann Martel

The Booker winner on the book that he thinks is so great, he wishes he'd written it himself

Jeanette Winterson

Jeanette Winterson

The acclaimed author on the Woolf classic that she wishes she'd written herself...

Ken Follett

Ken Follett

The Thomas Harris chiller that Ken wishes he had written himself...

John Simpson

John Simpson

The book John Simpson thinks is "bloody hard to read" but wishes he'd written himself...

Barbara Taylor-Bradford

Barbara Taylor-Bradford

The book that Barbara Taylor-Bradford wishes she had written...