Penguin's Great Ideas is a series of books that contain works that are considered to be world-changing; influential and inspirational.

This is another superbly designed set of covers from Penguin that I'm sure will attract readers who otherwise wouldn't have thought to give works by Nietzche, Freud or Camus a chance.

Okay, the Victorians were basically the kings (or should that be queens?) of extravagance, they liked to show off their opulence. That is not a criticism though, I think it was a good thing. One of the grandest high-Victorian extravaganzas anywhere, the Prince Consort National Memorial (to give it its full name) is an amazing example of this Victorian grandiosity.

Sited directly opposite the Royal Albert Hall, the monument was commissioned by Queen Victoria in memory of her beloved husband, Prince Albert, who died of typhoid in 1861. The Queen's grief was overwhelming, she wore black in mourning for him for the rest of her long life. (Her inability to find 'closure' may have something to do with rumours that Prince Albert invented the piercing that shares his name in order to tame the appearance of his large penis in tight trousers). Anyhow, designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, the monument opened in 1872.

It's an amazing thing. Despite its height and size, you can be quite close when all of a sudden it pops into view having been hidden by the surrounding trees. And when you get up close you can really appreciate what a spectacular piece of work it is.

Surrounding the cenotaph there are 187 carved figures that depict celebrated painters, poets, sculptors, musicians and architects of the time. A large golden replica of Albert is perched up on top, surveying the park around him. And, my favourite bit, the continents of the world are represented by various animals (Europe a bull, The Americas a buffalo, Asia an elephant and Africa a camel), on each corner (minus Australasia, because everyone knows that two countries and a load of tiny islands don't add up to a continent)!

It's great. Get down there and see it when it's next sunny and you've got a bit of time to kill.