Claire Tomalin: five most important books

At Newsweek, Claire Tomalin named her "five most important books."At the top of her list:"La Chartreuse de Parme" by Stendhal.Conjures the post-Napoleonic period, from the battlefield of Waterloo to the intrigues at an Italian court where politics conflict with love.Read about all five books on the list.Tomalin is best known for her award-winning biographies of subjects including Jane Austen,