Duchess of Cornwall reveals top four personal picks for new online ‘reading room’

Ranging from a historic masterpiece to a ‘painfully beautiful’ murder mystery, the Duchess of Cornwall has revealed the top four personal picks for her new ‘reading room’ online.

Camilla, 73, who has already attracted more than 30,000 literary enthusiasts to her Instagram site, launched the initiative with The Mirror and The Light by Hilary Mantel; Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens; Agitated by William Boyd; and The Architect’s Apprentice by Elif Shafak.

In a special film created to welcome readers of the Instagram-based Literary Initiative, the royal opened up about her own love of reading.

“For me, reading is a great adventure. I’ve loved it since I was little and I would like everyone to appreciate it as much as I do, ”she said. “You can escape, you can travel, you can laugh and cry. There are all types of emotions that humans experience in a book.

Camilla (pictured), 73, revealed the top four personal picks for her new ‘reading room’ online

Dame Hilary Mantel’s Mirror and Light was chosen by the Duchess alongside William Boyd’s Restless, Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens and The Architect’s Apprentice by Elif Shafak (pictured)

Camilla follows in the footsteps of TV presenters Richard and Judy by starting her own book club.

The Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room will be a ‘celebration of literature’ and, she hopes, a crossroads for literary communities around the world.

Four of his recommended books will be released each season, with the first released today.

Hillary Mantel’s Mirror and Light is the conclusion of her Wolf Hall trilogy, based on the life of Thomas Cromwell, and spanned eight years.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens is set in the desolate marshes of the North Carolina coast and tells a coming-of-age story through the eyes of an abandoned child. The New York Times described it as a “painfully beautiful” debut novel.

In contrast, William Boyd’s spy story, Restless, explores the wartime adventures and peacetime intrigues of Russian emigrant Eva Delectorskaya, who was recruited for the British Secret Service in 1939.

A stunning portrait (pictured) of the Duchess of Cornwall was released ahead of the announcement of the Royal Reading Room Book Club’s first four titles

The Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room will be a ‘celebration of literature’ and, she hopes, a hub for literary communities around the world

Finally, The Architect’s Apprentice is described as a “dazzling and complex” tale by Elif Shafak, which takes place in the 16th century in Istanbul.

Camilla was inspired by setting up the free initiative because of the phenomenal response to two suggested playlists she posted during the first lockdown, as well as research that showed book sales to have soared. by 400%.

The Duchess and her team have decided to set up a more permanent platform to celebrate and explore literature from around the world – @duchessofcornwallsreadingroom.

Sources say she put her ‘heart and soul’ into the business, which is a royal first.

Each recommended book will come with exclusive content from the authors, as well as the Duchess herself, to spark conversation and debate.

Since joining the royal family, Camilla has made the issue of literacy – especially among children – one of the cornerstones of her work and is the patron of seven charities, including the National Literacy Trust.

Charlie Mackesy, author and illustrator of bestselling The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse, provided support for the project (pictured during a video call with the Duchess)