The Politician's Table - William Hague

William Hague is the Conservative Member of Parliament for Richmond (Yorks), Shadow Foreign Secretary and Senior Member of the Shadow Cabinet (unofficial deputy to party leader David Cameron). He previously served as leader of the Conservative Party between 1997 and 2001.

Modern classics, historical biography and political history are all prominent in William Hague's selection, which includes Sebastian Faulks' Birdsong, Simon Sebag Montefiore's widely acclaimedYoung Stalin, and Christopher Andrew's authorised history of MI5, The Defence of the Realm, which marks the centenary of its foundation.

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Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks - "My favourite novel. It captures brilliantly the ultimate horror of war waged underground, alongside a dramatic love story."

Black Diamonds by Catherine Bailey - "This is an unforgettable account of a tragic aristocratic family, and of the enduring impact of coal mining on the area I grew up in."

Finest Years by Max Hastings - "Max Hastings' writing is always very powerful. This is his account of Britain's greatest leader at his greatest moments - a history to put all other politicians and their deeds into true perspective."

Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin - "A rare study not only of four great Civil War figures in the same book, but of the extraordinary and productive way they managed to work together. "

Young Stalin by Simon Sebag Montefiore - "Simon Sebag Montefiore paints a vivid picture of Stalin's life to 1917 and the society that shaped the dictator's egotistical and ruthless character."

Lustrum by Robert Harris - "Robert Harris manages to reach across two thousand years to conjure up the atmosphere of ancient Rome and a truthful portrait of what politics is like on the inside in any age."

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini - "You can still see kites flying in Kabul. This great novel takes us back to when they were plentiful, and teaches us what was lost in Afghanistan."

The Places in Between by Rory Stewart - "A wonderful and highly perceptive account of crossing Afghanistan by someone who combines exceptional political insight with a truly adventurous spirit."

The Defence of the Realm by Christopher Andrew - "Twentieth Century British history seen through a different lens. This is a book to be savoured at length in showing how wars were won and peace maintained."

A View from the Foothills by Chris Mullin - "The best recent portrayal of life as a junior minister, mainly because of how honest it is."

Masters and Commanders by Andrew Roberts - "Andrew Roberts excels in bringing military history to life on the page. Here, he gives an authoritative account of British and American military leaders' efforts to win the Second World War."

The Age of Wonder by Richard Holmes - "A great account of the sheer painstaking brilliance of the scientists who discovered so much of what we now assume."