Terry Gilliam's greatest film is this wonderfully dark industrial satire, that owes a tiny debt to Orwell.

Charles Bukowski's semi-autobiographical account of his childhood growing up in Depression-era L.A. is a passionate and immensly sad novel, assuring his place as one of the finest writers of our time.

The best of's all you really need. Not miserable. Not goth. Not 'foppish' (if that's what you've heard) - just a storyteller doing what he does best with appropriate mood music.

Chet sings and plays trumpet. A gorgeous little package showcasing some of his best works. The definitive Chet Baker album.

Jonathan Swift's satire of human pride is the exceptional work of a remarkable intelligence. After 300 years its relevance is still felt stronger than ever.

Not depressing like people think, but thought-provoking and complex. Plath's prose flows like her poetry.

Arthur Miller is an often rivalled but never bettered writing talent. His plays buzz with urgency and burning issues. This, like his other works, stands as an eternally relevant piece of drama.

Greene legitimised crime fiction with this stunning account of gang war in 1930s...you get the idea. Chandler and Hammett come close, but no cigar.

Joseph Conrad's greatest work, the cornerstone of Modernist literature. Don't let false accusations of racism put you off one of the greatest anti-imperialist tracts ever written.

One of the most challenging books you will ever read and one of the most rewarding. Melville uses an impressive range of styles to express...well, you tell me what it all means!

A movie for movie lovers. One of Woody's absolute best works. Respect the man.

A labyrinthine mystery. Nicholson's greatest role. Polanski's triumph. Dark, demanding and with no trace of hope. A crime masterpiece.