Night-table Reading

Judith Miller

(journalist): The Mantle of the Prophet: Religion and Politics in Iran, by Roy Mottahedeh (Pantheon). "The Mantle of the Prophet is the most interesting book on Irani politics and religion. It's the story of Iran as told through mullahs. "

Bill Blass

(fashion designer): The English Patient, by Michael Ondaatje (Knopf). "A book to savor a few pages at a time."

Richard E. Grant

(actor): Oscar Wilde, by Richard Ellmann (Vintage). "Profoundly funny and sad and humane. Read in preparation for doing The Importance of Being Earnest with Maggie Smith in London."