Literature
Murders for the summer holidays
Jeremy Black recommends a menagerie of disturbing animal-themed stories to entertain throughout the summer
In search of the right stuff
Why are there so few conservatively-minded novelists?
Quaffing the cup that cheers
Readers should savour this book, as you might one of the delectable bottles that compose the enticing strophe of the book’s narrative
The death of the English literature degree
Thanks to “critical theory”, the study of English literature has become overrun with boring academics who hardly inspire the next generation
Woolf: heart or brain?
Unfettered praise of Virginia Woolf as a “liberated writer” has paved the way for an inexplicably popular type of bad writing
Contemporary writing with a twist and a tug
In this month’s fiction selection, John Self discovers novels that successfully use their style to enhance rather than simply describe the story
Beast of Las Vegas
The first title in Yale University’s highly regarded “Jewish Lives” series to be devoted to a murderous scoundrel
Duchess of Grub St.
I’m delighted that Meghan Markle has decided to stop causing controversy and embark on the more sedate pursuit of a literary career
Enid Blyton and the mystery of the blue plaques
The Famous Five react to Auntie Enid’s cancellation
Sculptor, wrecker and seducer
A beautiful book, but a fairly orthodox biography of the Hon. Stephen “Tommy” Tomlin