A History of the Novel in Britain by Philip Hensher review – a masterpiece of criticism This joyous book takes readers on a literary adventure across 300 years of fiction, from Defoe to Zadie Smith The Guardian - UK · Aug 12
Mark Gerson obituary Photographer whose perceptive portraits of writers included well-known images of Evelyn Waugh, Doris Lessing and Faber poets of the 1960s The Guardian - UK · May 5
Allan Massie obituary Acclaimed novelist and literary critic who was a staunch opponent of Scottish devolution The Guardian - UK · Feb 4
Converts by Melanie McDonagh review – roads to Rome A thought-provoking examination of the literary stars who became Catholic – from Evelyn Waugh to Muriel Spark The Guardian - UK · Dec 24, 2025
Western journalists are failing to stand up for their colleagues in Gaza This hypocrisy of western media has been laid bare by Israel’s targeting of journalists since the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack The Guardian - US · Aug 16, 2025
Why Free Movement Is Essential to a Free Society Reason's 2025 travel issue takes seriously the idea that the right to roam is inseparable from the right to speak, to work, to love, and to associate freely. Reason · Jul 1, 2025
‘Odd things happened when she was around’: the unnerving vision of Muriel Spark From blackmail to burglary, the events of Spark’s life often uncannily echoed those of her novels – no wonder the author of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie believed she could predict the future The Guardian - UK · Jun 15, 2025
Best summer reads of 2025: Top selections for literary escapism Explore a curated list of the best summer reads this year to pack on holiday or take to the park Evening Standard · Apr 24, 2025
Empty Wigs by Jonathan Meades review – a black museum of savage stories Encompassing eugenics, euthanasia and terrorism, this dark, sprawling novel by a man of many talents is not for the easily offended The Guardian - UK · Feb 10, 2025
In Our Evenings, Alan Hollinghurst takes an elegiac look at class, sexuality and race in post-Brexit Britain Late in Alan Hollinghurst’s new novel Our Evenings, the narrator David Win, gracefully ageing doyen of the British stage, experiences one of those moments when the world is revealed to be other than he thought it was. The Conversation · Jan 13, 2025
London Standard’s AI imitation of Brian Sewell proves art critics cannot be easily replaced Nonsensical article lacks Sewell’s authentic voice and is hateful way for paper to remember one of its best writers The Guardian - UK · Sep 26, 2024
Hedi Slimane takes Celine to Norfolk for ‘Anglomania’ menswear collection: watch the film Inspired by Evelyn Waugh’s ‘Bright Young Things’, Hedi Slimane’s latest Celine menswear collection is captured by the designer in a romantic short film set at the Palladian Holkham Hall on England’s Norfolk coastline Wallpaper · Sep 6, 2024
Google’s wrong answer to the threat of AI – stop indexing content The search engine’s response to the rise of ChatGPT and its ilk is to take an extremely selective approach to what it considers worthy of attention The Guardian - UK · Jul 20, 2024
Irvine Welsh: ‘If reading gives you comfort, you’re not doing it right’ The Scottish author on having his mind changed by Orwell, how Trainspotting was influenced by Ulysses, and his wariness of novels created with AI The Guardian - UK · Jun 21, 2024
Evening Standard · Jun 13, 2024 OPINION - This is one political proposal the Tories should really steal There are no secrets between us, dear reader, so I shall not hide from you that last night I passed on the leaders’ appearances on Sky and instead read the letters of Evelyn Waugh and laughed like a drain throughout. I recommend them for this election campaign; they are rude,…
The Guardian - UK · Feb 11, 2024 All you need is love songs: 12 novelists pick their favourite romantic tracks Writers who know a thing or two about matters of the heart on the love songs they adore – from Sondheim’s bittersweet portrait of a romance sceptic to Roberta Flack’s timeless expression of hope
Evening Standard · Dec 17, 2023 Bad Sex Award in search of a new home Another publication might take up the mantle
The Guardian - UK · Oct 4, 2023 Saltburn review – hot Brideshead soup needs more seasoning London film festival: Emerald Fennell’s followup to Promising Young Woman boasts dazzling turns from Rosamund Pike and Carey Mulligan, but the script could have used another all-nighter in the library
The Guardian - UK · Oct 3, 2023 London film festival: privilege and poverty collide in big British cinema showcase Emerald Fennell’s starry Saltburn opens this year’s festival, with Daniel Kaluuya’s directorial debut The Kitchen closing – bookending a banner year for UK cinema
The Guardian - UK · Sep 2, 2023 When Elon Musk’s ‘flying sofas’ give Ukraine internet access, we can’t sit comfortably The Starlink system has been vital to Zelenskiy’s forces, but it can’t be good to have a volatile billionaire playing a crucial role in a major European war
Cinemablend · Aug 1, 2023 13 Great Hayley Atwell Movies And TV Shows And How To Watch Them Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One star Hayley Atwell has many other great movies and TV shows under her belt.
The Independent UK · Mar 27, 2023 ‘I’m an enormously talented man’: The life of born show-off Noel Coward As a major new biography about Noel Coward is published half a century on from his death, Martin Chilton looks back on the life of the trailblazing playwright with ‘a talent to amuse’
The Independent UK · Mar 26, 2023 ‘I’m an enormously talented man’: The life of born show-off Noel Coward, 50 years on As a major new biography about Noel Coward is published half a century on from his death, Martin Chilton looks back on the life of the trailblazing playwright with ‘a talent to amuse’
The Guardian - UK · Mar 12, 2023 ‘Eighty-nine perfect minutes’: 30 of the best short films and novels Is the trend for epic movies and hefty novels getting too much? Our critics redress the balance with a classic compilation of shorter works – plus 10 long ones that are worth your time
Evening Standard · Dec 15, 2022 Decline and Fall: Evelyn Waugh’s country mansion sells for £3.16m at auction – despite its tenants obstructing the sale The property’s current tenants have refused to leave the property or allow estate agents and prospective buyers in.