Jasper Fforde's 6 favorite books that embark on daring adventures
The British writer recommends works by Charles Portis, Beryl Markham, and more

- 'True Grit' by Charles Portis (1968)
- 'The Tailor of Gloucester' by Beatrix Potter (1903)
- 'Tintin in Tibet' by Hergé (1959)
- 'West With the Night' by Beryl Markham (1942)
- 'The Little Prince' by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1943)
- 'The Reason Why: The Story of the Fatal Charge of the Light Brigade' by Cecil Woodham-Smith (1953)
When you make a purchase using links on our site, The Week may earn a commission. All reviews are written independently by our editorial team.
Jasper Fforde is the author of "The Eyre Affair" and six other Thursday Next novels. The British writer's latest novel, "Red Side Story," is a sequel to 2009's "Shades of Grey," set in a dystopian U.K. where social standing is determined by the ability to see color.
'True Grit' by Charles Portis (1968)
In the winter of 1873, 14-year-old Mattie Ross enlists the help of one-eyed federal marshal Rooster Cogburn to hunt down fugitive Tom Chaney and avenge her father's murder. Far better than the movies it inspired, Charles Portis' Western classic delivers on every single level. Buy it here.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
'The Tailor of Gloucester' by Beatrix Potter (1903)
Besides a lively narrative and illustrations of striking beauty, Beatrix Potter's finest work features Simpkin, the literary world's most realistic cat, plus an idiom that would make the English language richer if it were in greater use: "no more twist" — meaning a difficult task left unaccomplished through no fault of one's own. Buy it here.
'Tintin in Tibet' by Hergé (1959)
The Belgian cartoonist Hergé's finest work, with Tibet sparingly yet perfectly illustrated in his signature ligne claire style. There is drama and jeopardy in abundance, yet no antagonist. The story centers instead on the value of friendship: How far would you go to help a friend in a time of need? Buy it here.
'West With the Night' by Beryl Markham (1942)
Markham was born in colonial East Africa, trained racehorses, and became the first pilot to cross the Atlantic solo from East to West. A dazzlingly well-crafted memoir from a remarkable woman. The prose crackles with humor and beauty. Buy it here.
'The Little Prince' by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1943)
An allegorical tale of a young prince who descends to Earth and encounters a marooned airman. The book is short, witty, and thoughtful and speaks of love, loyalty, vanity, the seeking of truth, and the twin perils of baobab trees and poorly maintained volcanoes. Buy it here.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
'The Reason Why: The Story of the Fatal Charge of the Light Brigade' by Cecil Woodham-Smith (1953)
Woodham-Smith has been dead nearly 50 years, but her engaging style remains far better than any contemporary historian's. Her examination of the waste, politics, and military incompetence displayed by the British Empire during the Crimean War (1853–56) makes for a richly compelling read. Buy it here.
This article was first published in the latest issue of The Week magazine. If you want to read more like it, you can try six risk-free issues of the magazine here.
-
Syria's returning refugees
The Explainer Thousands of Syrian refugees are going back to their homeland but conditions there remain extremely challenging
-
Rustle up some fun at these Western hotels and dude ranches
The Week Recommends Six properties that are ready to rope you in
-
Codeword: July 2, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
-
The tourist flood in the Mediterranean: can it be stemmed?
Talking Point Finger-pointing at Airbnb or hotel owners obscures the root cause of overtourism in holiday hotspots: unmanageable demand
-
Thai fish pie with crispy turmeric potatoes recipe
The Week Recommends Tasty twist on the Lancashire hot pot is given a golden glow
-
Axel Scheffler picks his favourite books
The Week Recommends From Steig to Finkelstein, the award-winning illustrator shares his top picks
-
Lovestuck: a 'warm-hearted' musical with a 'powerhouse score'
The Week Recommends Team behind the hit podcast My Dad Wrote a Porno have created a hilarious show about a disastrous viral Tinder date
-
Outrageous: glossy Mitford family drama is full of 'fun, fashion and froth'
The Week Recommends Adaptation of Mary Lovell's biography examines the scandalous lives of the aristocratic sisters
-
F1: The Movie – a fun but formulaic 'corporate tie-in'
Talking Point Brad Pitt stars as a washed up racing driver returning three decades after a near-fatal crash
-
Lost Boys: a 'sobering' journey to the heart of the manosphere
The Week Recommends James Bloodworth examines the 'cranks and hucksters' making money through 'masculine discontent'
-
6 productivity-ready homes with great offices
Feature Featuring an office with a gas fireplace in Oregon and a shared workspace with wraparound windows in Massachusetts