'The best book about reading I have read for a very long time' STEPHEN FRY 'A glittering gem
of a book' NATALIE HAYNES A joyful and enlightening masterclass in how reading attentively
can change our lives As an English literature professor Robert Douglas-Fairhurst has
delighted in sharing his love of reading with his students. Bringing together more than twenty
years of teaching Look Closer explores the iconic works of literature that have formed
sustained and entertained him from timeless classics like Wuthering Heights and Dracula to
modern masterpieces such as Normal People and The Handmaid's Tale as well as children's books
poetry plays short stories and comics. It is a masterclass in how to be human. By revealing
the simple techniques to slow down take note and bring a text to life Look Closer is the
culmination of a life spent reading. This book is for anyone interested in how literature works
and makes clear why reading is more relevant than ever in these turbulent times. Funny
illuminating and personal Look Closer ultimately shows us how great writing can change a
person's life. It is a celebration of the simple joy of reading and how becoming more
attentive readers can open up worlds and bring us closer to ourselves in delightful and
unexpected ways.
