Fiction
France’s philosopher king
There is a jarring disconnect between Michel Houellebecq’s critiques of sexual liberation and his dissolute lifestyle
The Pan Book of Horror Stories: top-drawer gore
Their lurid covers were catnip to bloodthirsty, impressionable teenagers
The death of dystopia
Fictional nightmares can provide childish escapism rather than harsh truths
A teenager, strangers and a pair of apes
Spend time inside the mind of your most eccentric, sometimes maddening friend
The true darkness of classic crime
It was more authentic than its “gritty” successors
Murders for the summer
A bounty of bloodshed
Eccentricities and obsessions
Novels that say a lot without making lots of noise
Holiday reads by the recently departed
1980s fiction might more profitably fill your beach-y or gîte-y afternoons
Words can never hurt?
A new satire skewers the publishing industry
Young, gifted — and readerless
Why have we never heard of most of the young writers on the latest “Best of …” list?
Britain is at breaking point
The UK is experiencing existential challenges, but neither elitists nor populists offer a solution
St. Vincent
The acclaim is excessive but the talent undeniable
Labour’s economic policies are incoherent
Labour risks collapsing under the weight of its own inner economic contradictions
Landfill indie remembered
A Golden Age? It was barely a Plastic Age
An actor’s story is a late career marvel
Cleverness is a virtue in itself but is never sterile or without purpose
Iranian women deserve more support
Self-styled internationalists are failing them
One small step for Jenrick…
…one giant disappointment for Mel Stride
Brutalist beauties
These monstrosities were imposed on the population, not desired
They call it Poppy love
Poppy is, simply, a dog who knows what she wants
What do Labour think a conversion therapy is?
There has to be a middle ground between complete denial and complete affirmation
It’s the economy, stupid
The US election was another reminder of people’s biggest political priority
