I think I should get this rec in, even though its not a typical book per say.

Love, Sex, Death and Words by John Sumterland and Stephen Fender

Its a book that goes through the history of literature by highlighting some of the landmark works ever written. Its in a stylised, letter-like format involving works from different authors and how they wrote their works and so on. I don't really know how to explain it well enough. But if you're a classical literature enthusiast, this is one of those books that makes you go, "huh...Never knew that was going through the bloke's head when he wrote that."

 

Legend, by David Gemmell

A book about the last battle of an old, tired warrior--the most famous and dreaded of Drenai's heroes. At sixty years old, he's been fighting across continents for forty two years and still has strength enough to stand atop the mightiest fortress ever built to repel the greatest horde ever assembled, a horde that is marching on his homeland. His name is enough to strike fear into the heart of any enemy. He is called the Axeman, the Silver Slayer, Deathwalker. He is Druss the Legend.



Written by an author who can claim multiple entries in any Top 100 Fantasy list across the world. Damn good book. Gemmell went back after this book and wrote a few more on how Druss became the Legend. Possibly the most epic hero I've ever read.

"Come and die you whoresons! I am Druss and this is death!"