The Joy of Influence

Five writers, over five nights, will discuss the novels that most influenced them. Kicking off the series on September 22 is renowned broadcaster Andrew Marr, who'll be talking about Leo Tolstoy's 'War and Peace'. Following him on September 23 is music critic Paul Morley on Vladimir Nabokov’s 'Pale Fire'; then Channel 4 News' economics editor Paul Mason on 'Gravity’s Rainbow' by Thomas Pynchon (Sep 26); Gaby Wood, head of books at The Telegraph, on Italo Calvino’s 'The Castle of Crossed Destinies' (Sep 29); and finally author and journalist India Knight on 'The Pursuit of Love' by Nancy Mitford (Oct 3).