Philip Pullman’s storytelling system
Writing about a book of essays is hard because each essay is a complex entity unto itself; each one has a brilliant idea that I'd like to write about – but then I read the next one and I forget what I was so interested in a few pages back. Suffice to say that this...
Could Scotland provide the leadership needed to save the planet?
The National newspaper in Scotland just published my comment piece on the hypocrisy of Scotland's leadership when it comes to climate change...You can read it here (without having to subscribe)... The Scottish government is ignoring a once-in-a-century opportunity:...
My view on Scottish independence
Scottish independence is on the cards again and I've just published my view on the issue in The National. You may be wondering why this divisive issue has emerged so soon after the last referendum and this can be explained in one word: BREXIT; a major change to the...
I’m not sure about Tessa Dunlop’s book about Romania
I sometimes review* books on this blog -- either because they are totally brilliant or really bad. This one is a bit of both. This is my view of Tessa Dunlop's To Romania with LOVE, which was published in 2012 This is a book that should never have been published --...
Stephanie Wolfe Murray: elfin, beautiful, passionate, courageous
The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography just published Timothy Neat's lyrical description of Stephanie Wolfe Murray. This is a draft copy. The publisher as minstrel. Elfin, beautiful, passionate, courageous, driven by a wish to serve – the life of Stephanie Wolfe...
Travelling in the Time of the Coronavirus
My heart goes out to everyone who's stuck at home feeling bored and worried. I'm the only person on the train from Brighton to London. Usually you can't find a seat at this time of the morning (10:42 departure). The only people at the station were railway workers and...
9 Months in Tibet
