On misusing titles

 I've written about the usage and misuage of titles for The Spectator. Read it here.

 

 

The Party by Tessa Hadley: review

 Here's my review of Tessa Hadley's latest novella, The Party, for The Financial Times. I've reviewed many of her previous novels and short story collections:

Married Love for The Spectator

Late in the Day for The Independent

The Past for The Independent

The London Train for The Financial Times

 

 

 

 

 

Reading Lists

 

I've written a short piece about reading habits at universities for The Spectator. Read it here.

Shakespeare's Tragic Art by Rhodri Lewis: review

 I've reviewed a book about Shakespeare's Tragic Art by Rhodri Lewis, for Spectator World. Read it here.

Notes on... Invitations

 I've written a paean to invitations for The Spectator, in this week's edition. Read it here, and here I'm talking to Mary Killen (her off Gogglebox) about the decline.

Will Self's new novel, ELAINE: review

 I've reviewed Will Self's new novel, Elaine, for Spectator World. Read it here.

The Count of Monte Cristo: Rereading for The Times

 Sometimes a commission comes along for which I'll drop everything: and quite literally, I did for this one, a re-reading of The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, for The Times. I read it in four days flat - an entirely blissful experience which reminded me a bit of being at university and having the leisure to do nothing but read. Here's the piece. There's a small error in it: I've written that Edmond was illiterate; he wasn't, of course; I meant "uncultured" as a contrast to his cultured second self.