Penguin poll of holiday reads topped by Jeremy Clarkson

A poll carried out by Penguin has revealed that Jeremy Clarkson’s book, For Crying Out Loud, has topped a poll of Britons’ favourite beach reads of all time.

The outspoken ’Top Gear’ presenter’s book has been voted as the number one beach read of all time, beating off competition from blockbusters including Dan Brown’s ’Da Vinci Code’ and classics such as Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

More than 7000 Britons voted for their favourite beach read in an online poll compiled by Teletext Holidays and Penguin.

Chick-lit queen Marian Keyes came in at number two with her bestselling paperback This Charming Man, followed by modern classic The Beach by Alex Garland, which was turned into a movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

Victoria Sanders, managing director of Teletext Holidays, said: "Books and the beach go hand in hand so we wanted to find out what makes the perfect page turner for the sun-lounger. The list has thrown up a few surprises - we never though Jeremy Clarkson would come out on top. But his book had an overwhelming response and definitely got the male vote. Nearly all the nominations for Clarkson came from the chaps.

“Female readers opted for a varied mix of comedy, murder, classics and feel-good romance which proves that people have different ideas about what they pack in their suitcase.”

The top five beach reads of all time were voted as:
1. For Crying Out Loud - Jeremy Clarkson
2. This Charming Man - Marian Keyes
3. The Beach - Alex Garland
4. The Beach House - Jane Green
5. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

For the full list visit www.teletextholidays.co.uk

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Notes to Editors:
The survey was conducted in July 2009 via an online poll and more than 7000 people voted for their favourite beach read. People were able to vote for any book they liked by any publisher.

About Penguin
Penguin was established in 1935, is one of the world’s leading consumer publishing businesses and is part of Pearson plc, the international media company with market leading businesses in education, business information and consumer publishing. Penguin publishing comprises the Allen Lane, Fig Tree, Hamish Hamilton, Michael Joseph, Penguin, Penguin Classics, Puffin and Viking imprints.

Penguin has offices in 15 countries and runs more than 50 reader and community websites, including www.spinebreakers.co.uk, the only online community for teenage book lovers, by teenage book lovers.

Penguin’s Reading Groups website has been running since 2001 and supports tens of thousands of ’real life’ book groups as well as facilitating virtual reading groups and online book discussions.

About Teletext Holidays
Teletext’s holiday offers can be accessed online at www.teletextholidays.co.uk where visitors can search and compare from millions of holiday offers, including packages, flights, hotel and villa deals from more than 200 of the UK’s leading tour operators. Holiday offers can also be accessed via WAP enabled mobile phones at www.teletextholidays.mobi. Digital TV viewers can access Teletext Holidays via Sky Channel 672 and Freeview Channel 101.

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