My life in books sophie loxton

My love of stories came before my love of reading. I rarely slept as a baby, so my poor mum often soothed me at nights by reading to me. As a small child I listened to Storyteller tapes all night – au

The past 12 months have seen some fabulous releases. Prima ’s books editor Nina Pottell looks back at her favourites and the ones you may have missed…

What revealed the magic of books for me was The Wind in the Willows. When I was five, I contracted measles, which meant I had to spend my days in bed in a darkened room. My mother sat outside my bedro

The artist, illustrator and author on the revitalising effects of swimming in the sea, learning from her sisters and inspiration for her latest book

Queen of historical fiction Philippa Gregory shares the reads she pulls off her shelves when she needs to begin again

COUNTRY LIFE reviewers reveal the works that impressed and absorbed them in 2025