More than just a singer of the Swinging Sixties, Marianne Faithfull was a voracious reader with a sharp eye for literature that mirrored the extremes of her own life.
As the daughter of an academic and a woman who moved through the cultural epicentres of London, Paris and New York, Faithfull read with the depth and intensity she brought to her music. From spiritual guidance to post-war social satire, her bookshelf told a story as rich and layered as her discography.
Shortly before her death, Faithfull shared her 10 favourite books with One Grand, offering an intimate glimpse into her literary mind. Her picks range from classics of dystopian fiction to dark comedies, philosophical novels and modern memoirs. Below is a closer look at each of them:
When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times – Pema Chödrön
Opening the list is this enduring spiritual manual by Tibetan Buddhist nun Pema Chödrön. First published in 1996, it blends Buddhist principles with grounded, real-world advice for handling pain, chaos, and uncertainty. The book became a guide for readers navigating grief, addiction, and emotional turmoil – an area Faithfull knew intimately.
Just Kids – Patti Smith
Faithfull, a lifelong admirer of Patti Smith, called Just Kids “simply brilliant.” The memoir won the 2010 National Book Award and recounts Smith’s early years in New York City with artist Robert Mapplethorpe. It captures the grit and beauty of bohemian life with striking honesty, weaving love, art, and identity into a narrative that resonated with readers around the world.
Memoirs of Hadrian – Marguerite Yourcenar
This historical novel, framed as a letter from the Roman Emperor Hadrian to his successor Marcus Aurelius, delves into power, mortality and legacy. First published in 1951 and praised for its intellectual depth and graceful style, the book established Yourcenar as a major voice in European literature.
Rabbit Series – John Updike
John Updike’s Rabbit tetralogy tracks the life of Harry “Rabbit” Angstrom, a former high school basketball star navigating suburban America across four decades. The series includes Rabbit, Run (1960), Rabbit Redux (1971), Rabbit Is Rich (1981), and Rabbit at Rest (1990). The latter two won Pulitzer Prizes. Updike’s portrayal of masculine angst and cultural decay has long been considered a masterclass in American realism.
The Death of Bunny Munro – Nick Cave
Faithfull had worked closely with Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, so it’s no surprise she admired Cave’s second novel. The Death of Bunny Munro (2009) follows a travelling salesman unraveling after his wife’s suicide, navigating grief, lust and guilt with his young son in tow. “Very dark, of course, rather like his songs,” Faithfull said, “but very good.” The novel combines grotesque humour with gothic bleakness. A TV adaptation starring Matt Smith is currently in production.
The Pursuit of Love – Nancy Mitford
This 1945 novel is a biting but affectionate portrayal of aristocratic British life between the wars, centred on the romantic misadventures of Linda Radlett. Mitford’s wit and emotional acuity make the book both entertaining and unexpectedly moving. The novel was most recently adapted into a miniseries in 2021, starring Lily James and Emily Beecham, with Emily Mortimer directing.
The Gambler – Fyodor Dostoevsky
Dostoevsky’s short novel, inspired by his own roulette addiction, plunges into obsession and desperation at a fictional German casino. It follows Alexei Ivanovich, a tutor whose descent into gambling mirrors the author’s own spiral. “Really frightening,” Faithfull remarked, “but it’s an incredible book.” The book has been adapted into various stage and film versions, most notably in European cinema.
Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare – Stephen Greenblatt
This 2004 biography by scholar Stephen Greenblatt reimagines Shakespeare’s life through the lens of Elizabethan politics, religion and performance. A finalist for both the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award, it was widely praised for making literary scholarship engaging and accessible.
Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights – Salman Rushdie
This modern fable by Salman Rushdie draws on Islamic mythology and magical realism to explore the tension between reason and chaos. Its title alludes to One Thousand and One Nights, and the novel unfolds as a dreamlike saga of jinn, philosophers and war.
Brave New World – Aldous Huxley
Finally, she lists Brave New World, Aldous Huxley’s prophetic 1932 novel about a technocratic future governed by pleasure, consumerism, and genetic control. Its vision of artificial happiness and manufactured identity struck a chilling chord in the 20th century – and still does today. The book has been adapted multiple times, most recently in a 2020 series.