Sophie Roell

As the world went into lockdown early in 2020, many of us without frontline jobs and lucky enough not to fall sick with Covid-19 found more time to read than usual. The sudden change to a slower gear also left more room to reflect on the state of the world and our place as humans in it. Sophie Roell, editor of Five Books, takes us through her personal choice of the best nonfiction books of 2020.  

Five Books editor Sophie Roell selects the best children’s books of 2019, after intense discussions with her family about which books should make the list.

Journalist and Five Books editor Sophie Roell looks back on her favourite nonfiction books read this year.

It goes without saying that I have more than five favourite books and some important ones are missing from this page (even though I’ve cheated and included six). I suppose the nonfiction ones are books that opened doors for me in some way or enabled me to see the world more clearly, including professionally. The fiction ones are ones I was completely overexcited about when I read them.

For the anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, Five Books editor Sophie Roell takes a personal tour of books about World War II and the Holocaust, and tells the story of how these events affected members of her family living across the continent.