Vasily Grossman’s huge novel Life and Fate. It’s horribly topical, set in war-torn Ukraine and Russia – but in the...
I was fascinated by The Secret History of Writing, a three-part BBC Four series, now on i-Player, which shows how...
My book recommendation is: Braiding Sweetgrass . Robin Wall Kimmerer writes beautifully on the gift of reciprocity as an evolutionary...
The Mating Habits of Stags by Ray Robinson A wonderful evocation of the bleakness of nature and raw human emotion,...
Firstly, if you’re looking ahead to the new year (new you) season, and perhaps looking for something to spur on...
It was dawn on a dark November morning in the UK, and evening in New Zealand. But more than 30...
First, an opportunity spotted by John Simmons: Publisher Unbound have launched a new imprint for debut writers of colour, Unbound...
Left Design Festival celebrates the best of visual communications on the left. With speakers across three continents from a range...
People of the Black Mountains by Raymond Williams Episodes fleshing out the history of Wales over 24,000 years. Humane, insightful...
I’m about halfway through Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet (finally!) and it really is as good as everyone says it is!. Finally...
I’m watching Jimmy McGovern’s stark prison drama ‘Time’ on iPlayer. Not the lightest of TV, I’d say, but if you’re...
Firstly, a tip-off from John Simmons… The Creative Future Writers’ Awards is the UK’s only national competition for all underrepresented...
I recommend the film The trial of the Chicago 7 on Netflix which is based on the infamous 1969 trial...
As far as I’m concerned, deserving the title of ‘most-eagerly awaited release of 2021’ will be Laurent Binet’s Civilisations because...
In honour of poet Lisel Mueller’s birthday this month, Tim Rich recommends delving into her work. A few of my...
This month, in addition to other recommendations, I asked what books you return to again and again. It might be...
This month’s recommendations include a handy of list of ‘books of the year’ as championed by members at our Christmas...
It’s not on my reading pile yet but a friend of mine, David Bodanis, is launching his new book tomorrow....
If you or a young adult reader is looking for a spooky Halloween read, I recommend Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard...