Good Books for Dark Times chosen by Eimear McBride

Samuel Pepys: the Unequalled Self by Claire Tomalin

Beautifully written and intricately researched, this is a book not only about the extraordinary life of Samuel Pepys, but a celebration of the idea that, for all its vanity and venality, one of humanity's greatest treasures is its insatiable curiosity.

A Distant Mirror by Barbara W. Tuchman 

Tuchman's book is not only a glorious exploration of the endless political, social, religious and medical catastrophes of the 14th century. It's a timely reminder that throughout history humanity has stood on the brink of extinction and yet found a way to survive.

Hope Against Hope by Nadezhda Mandelstam

In her account of the Soviet Union's persecution and murder of her husband, the great poet Osip Mandelstam, Nadezhda Mandelstam leaves bitterness at the door and instead offers love, art and personal integrity as the only true weapon against ignorance, ideology and the fury of the righteous mob.

If This Is A Man by Primo Levi

A profound lesson in a person's ability to retain their humanity in the face of one of the worst acts of dehumanisation the world has seen. This is not only a book about surviving the Holocaust; it is an invitation to each reader to remember, to understand and to ask more of themselves -- and their own humanity -- as a result.

The Good Soldier Svejk by Jaroslav Hasek

A joyful, absurd and charming novel about an innocent bumbling his way through WW1. A witty, light touch condemnation of the futility of war, it's always a pleasure to read on a down day.