Despite having the dubious distinction of winning the Literary Review Bad Sex in Fiction Award in 1998 for his novel Charlotte Gray, Sebastian Faulks remains one of Britain’s most popular writers, having built a reputation as a purveyor of serious, meticulously researched historical fiction. His genius stems partly from his ability to successfully straddle gender lines, appealing to men and women alike with visceral evocations of both war and romance, particularly in his bestselling 2003 novel Birdsong. Read more…