Nick Clegg's island

Nick Clegg, our Deputy Prime Minister, was 'the castaway' on Desert Island Discs this week. I only heard the end of the Friday repeat - where he was asked about the one book 'apart from the Bible and Shakespeare'  that he would take with him for the period of forced isolation that so many in his own Lib Dem party would like to see.

'The Leopard', he promptly replied. The questions have been the same on this show for decades so he knew he had to have a name ready.

By Lampedusa, he added, halting slightly over the pronunciation. Since Mr Clegg is famously multi-lingual, this was perhaps to reassure the listeners that he is a true man of the British people.

He told us that he had recently reread it - and enjoyed it as much the second time as the first. So it would be the perfect book for further re-reading when he was faraway from the hurly burly and no longer supporting David Cameron in policies which most of his party members came into politics to oppose.

'It's set in Sicily, I think', he added.

He thinks?

He's read it twice and he only 'thinks' it is set in Sicily.

No wonder he still feels it has hidden insights which only desert island concentration could provide.

Meanwhile he will certainly enjoy the forthcoming Alma Books volume of unpublished letters from London by Lampedusa, which is to be reviewed soon in the TLS.

   

 

  

Comments

[Candadai Tirumalai]

Lampedusa's "Leopard" is one of the books which more than one person has recommended to me over the years, and which I am still to read.
Some well known works are cult books and others genuine classics, and still others straddle the two. I will know only after I have read "The Leopard."

[David Martin]

Maybe 'Fag-ash Clegg' admires Lampedusa's cigarette-smoking style too.

[ricardo]

thank God they change the name , from the wrong Giovanni to the right Giuseppe on the cover of this book ...

[zhang]

Love this new feature! love this page.

[Vimax]

I've been part of the bagalicious club, some have been ok, a couple plain and uninspiring, but yours was fantastic. I completed it in a day for my daughter, including the matching purse. I made myself one too using different fabric. LOVE IT!

Hope you're ok, just go gently with yourself and don't feel pressured to blog.
Take care...