My culture picks: Armando Iannucci

13 November 2017

Armando Iannucci is the acclaimed comedy brain behind The Thick of It and Veep, as well as coining the term 'omnishambles'. With his latest political comedy The Death of Stalin playing in UK cinemas, he shares his current favourite book, film and music.

Catherine Nixey's book tells the story of how the early Christians attacked and suppressed the teachings of the Classical world.

Iannucci says: "I’ve become obsessed with ancient history and I’ve just finished reading The Darkening Age, subtitled The Christian Destruction of the Classical World. It’s the story of how Ancient Rome became Christian under Emperor Constantine in the 4th century.

"At the time only ten per cent of the Roman Empire was Christian but the Christians took over and, according to this book, they were the most fanatical, appalling and obnoxious bunch of people you ever came across. They shut down all the schools of philosophy because if you were studying Plato or Aristotle you were full of demons and it’s estimated that we’ve lost ninety per cent of the literature of that time as a result.

"We only have what’s survived because Islam was into scholarship and learning and they preserved books in the universities of the Muslim caliphate. It shows that things go round in cycles so we can’t be complacent. We can’t say this is the best age ever and it will continue getting better."

The Grand Budapest Hotel was directed by Wes Anderson in 2014 with an all-star cast headed by Ralph Fiennes.

Iannucci says: "It's one of my favourite films and features a great performance from Ralph Fiennes. It’s just beautiful to look at and feels like a family film but it’s actually quite rude in places and Fiennes’ character swears a lot.

"I love the way it subverts and just has a laugh with the format of cinema. It’s about loyalty and friendship as well and the strange connection between Gustave and Zero which lasts over the years, one preserving the memory of the other, is very moving."

Iannucci says: "If in doubt, put on Bach. The opening of the Goldberg Variations is calming and measured. We talk about mindfulness, sitting and absorbing the present, and I think you do that when you listen to Bach.

"It’s not about anything. It’s not trying to be dramatic or mournful, it just is. It’s patterns and sounds and it’s beautiful. There’s a stillness about it that I really like. I like music on when I’m working, when I’m writing, and I always find Bach is a good way to start the day."

Image: Scottish Ensemble and Andersson Dance performing Goldberg Variations - Ternary Patterns for Insomnia. Photo: Hugh Carswell.