Despite the increase in TV watching, reading still is an important leisure activity in Britain. More than 5,000 titles were nominated in a national survey conducted in 1996. The public was invited to suggest up to five books. It was later suggested that the votes either came from English literary students or from people who were showing off. What do you think? Can you point out a few important names that failed to make it into the top 100 list?
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8. Compile your own list "Favourite Books of the Century."
9. Alexander Herzen called public libraries "a feast of ideas to which all are invited". Read the text below and say how the modern libraries differ from those of the old days. Use the topical vocabulary.