“Faber Book of Reportage”

I like drawing pictures of my favourite books.

As a young journalist, I felt that I simply had to own a copy of The Faber Book of Reportage, edited by John Carey.

I asked for it as a birthday present, and was given it by my wife’s great-aunt Peggy, whom I would later mention in one of my books, Sew Your Own, as quite an inspiration (though not as a journalist).

The pictures on the cover include one of Wellington at Waterloo. Turns out there’s a ton of reportage about the Napoleonic war.

Until that point, most of the entries in the book are by eye-witnesses rather than working journalists – writing in their diaries, or writing letters.

The quote on the front of the book, by Stephen Spender in The Spectator, says “Fascinating, compulsive, horrifying reading”.

As you see, I have turned my drawing into a coaster for the putting down of cups, mugs and glasses etc etc.

If you are a literary type, a historian or just keen on a spot of journalistic reportage, you can acquire your own.

The coasters are printed on demand to reduce waste. Save on postage by ordering several designs together.