Hearts, far from this valley, will ache with yours. Tears, from those who remember, and those who at the time were not yet born, will be shed with yours.

Oman is one of Britain's oldest allies and, after all these years, I pray, one of your closest friends.

While I find it impossible to point to a single title or author, or even to a single genre, that stands above others, reading for pleasure has helped entertain, comfort and...