Cultural Life: Magnus Mills, author

Books

I'm a very slow reader. I read every paragraph twice. I've just finished reading David Kynaston's 'Austerity Britain: 1945-1951'. It's a blockbuster history of Britain. I just read a couple of new books about the English Civil War by David Clark and Blair Worden.

Ballet

Most people's eyes glaze over when you mention ballet, but for anyone who has seen Tamara Rojo doing fouettés in 'Swan Lake', you've seen perfection.

Music

Duffy's 'Rockferry' is as good as any of the soul classics of the Sixties. I saw Roots Manuva playing at a street party in Kentish Town, only because I was in the garden and I could hear it. I like Foals, because they put music out on vinyl every few months. I bought Fleet Foxes' "Your Protector" and The Dead Weather's "Treat Me Like Your Mother", although this band is slightly overrated.

Television

I quite liked Channel 4's re-enactment of the Battle of Hastings.

Visual arts

I always enjoy the RA's Summer Exhibition, particularly the abstract work.

'The Maintenance of Headway' by Magnus Mills is published by Bloomsbury