Quick Reads Day on March 3rd 2011

The sixth Quick Reads Day is on March 3rd this year, it's a great idea to get people reading. Last year i enjoyed reading the following:- 

Traitors of the Tower by Alison Weir

Power corrupts and never more so than during the middle ages when to fall out of favour at the highest levels could be the death of you. And it certainly was for seven of the most noble in the land, who between 1483 and 1601 were beheaded in the Tower of London after being found guilty of treason. Three had been queens of England, others had been loyal subjects and the evidence against some wasn’t too hot. It’s complex, but it all makes for fascinating reading and Alison Weir, who has previously been criticised for her populist style of trying to make history open to all, does a great job in capturing the truth behind these dramatic, gory events.

The book by Alison Weir, whose previous best-selling books include The Six Wives of Henry VIII was amongst 10 from UK authors published on March 4^th 2010 in the annual Quick Reads series that provides quick shots of entertainment for all tastes, from fiction and crime to real-life stories.

Described by ex-Prime Minister Gordon Brown as, ‘one of the great success stories of the English language’ Quick Reads are aimed at people looking for an introduction or return to reading as well as regular readers.  Hundreds of thousands of new readers are believed to have been amongst the one and a half million bought copies in the first five years. A survey conducted in 2009 amongst tutors working with 30,000 adult learners in workplaces found that 82% were likely to read another book. Heart warming news all round, and one in which the trade union movement through Unionlearn has played its part, from the very start, as a partner alongside leading authors, publishers, government bodies and the BBC.

Alison Weir was only fourteen when, marched into a library by her mother to ‘find a book to read’, she became passionately interested in history. It wasn’t however until she was in her fifties that she had her first book Britain’s Royal Families published. Dozens have followed since and she has a large loyal readership. Nevertheless she is aware of how difficult some people find it to read after her son was born with special needs.

“I care passionately about people becoming literate and any projects that can help people do so can expect my support. In this book I am attempting to bring history alive to those who might be interested in it from watching films or television dramas or documentaries or from visiting the Tower of London. People from all ages are fascinating and none more so than the seven who lost there live as traitors.

I really like the cover of the book, which shows a young girl, Lady Jane Grey, blindfolded and kneeling before the block on which she was executed after just nine days in the role of queen that she never wanted.

For details on this year's books go to quickreads.org.uk/

Statue outside British Library