Stories that matter
March 20, 2019
In her poem, “What They did Yesterday Afternoon”, often quoted after tragedy strikes, Warsan Shire asks the ‘whole world’ where it hurts – and it answers, ‘everywhere’.* The world is hurting. If we’re honest, it’s been hurting for a very long time, but last Friday that pain become much more difficult to ignore. It’s not […]
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February 19, 2019
Writers in Exile #1: Victor Hugo
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For the past 20 years, my overseas travel has had a distinct cycling flavour, on account of my husband’s Italian heritage, and his obsession with bikes. One day I’ll design a literary tour instead, and visit not only the homes of famous authors, but also the settings of my favourite stories. That trip will have […]
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November 13, 2018
The Cost of Speaking Up
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How much does your writing, art, or other creative practice mean to you? And what are you willing to risk in order to express yourself, to tell the stories you want to tell, to speak the words you wish to say? I’m asking these questions of myself, but if they resonate with you, too, please […]
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November 8, 2018
‘Strange as it may seem, the one desire a normal young man had in the year 1915 was to go out to France to get killed. Of course, he did not think of it in those terms, his consuming obsession was to reach the front in time not to miss all the fun.’ These are […]
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October 30, 2018
18 things that happened in 1918
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Earlier this year, I wrote about 18 things I planned to do in 2018. I’m not sure how successful I’ve been (I’m a bit scared to look!) but with the centenary of the First World War’s Armistice Day fast approaching, I’ve turned instead to the events, people, books and films of 1918. While the list […]
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September 11, 2018
“The only thing left my friends, is to forget. And you forget, not by reopening a court case, by throwing someone in jail. No, F O R G E T [he spelt out the letters]. That is the word, and to achieve that, both sides have to forget.” Augusto Pinochet 13 September 1995 Today marks […]
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