David McCallum's six best books

To an older generation, David McCallum is perhaps best known for his portrayal of U.N.C.L.E. agent Ilya Kuryakin in the hit TV series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964). To a younger audience, he is best known for his character Dr. Donald "Duckie" Mallard on the hit CBS series, NCIS (2003).

One of McCallum's six best books, as shared with the Daily Express:

FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD by Thomas Hardy

This book is like a wonderful soap opera, the Dallas and Dynasty of its period.

It tells the story of young farmer Gabriel Oak and his pursuit of the elusive and wayward Bathsheba Everdene.

The background of the tale is Hardy's fictional Wessex countryside and the writing style makes it quite wonderful.

Read about the other entries on the list. 

Far from the Madding Crowd also appears on David Nobbs' list of five notable faked deaths in fiction, John Mullan's list of ten of the best fake deaths in fiction, and Marjorie Kehe's list of ten perfect books for Valentine's Day gifts.

--Marshal Zeringue