Jean Cocteau and the Saint
May 20, 2018
These brilliant sketches show that, even to the surprise of ‘the Saint’ author Leslie Charteris, Jean Cocteau was a fully paid-up fan of Simon Templar. … More Jean Cocteau and the Saint
A year ago today: an extract from ‘Nothing Has Changed’
May 17, 2018
One year on, this is my diary account of the most extraordinary day. … More A year ago today: an extract from ‘Nothing Has Changed’
Tate St Ives Virginia Woolf exhibition
May 7, 2018
Just a day before it closed, I was lucky enough to see the recent Tate St Ives show which used Virginia Woolf’s life, writing and ideas as a starting point for an exhibition of art, craft and activism by women over the last century or so. I’ll add some pictures below but for now … More Tate St Ives Virginia Woolf exhibition
A visit to Talland House
May 7, 2018
It’s those steps. How many times have I seen fading photos of those steps? With Henry James sitting on them or Julia Stephen or the young Virginia Woolf or Vanessa Bell? And to stand in front of them, on them, in the rooms into which they lead is just incredible. It’s amazing to have been … More A visit to Talland House
The Sky in a Room, Ragnar Kjartansson
March 10, 2018
It’s a sort of twilight in this room. People are sitting on folding chairs or the floor, leaning against a wall or holding their knees in the middle of the room, sitting alone or in small groups. Some of the children are restless, two of them are lying on their fronts, heads held in their … More The Sky in a Room, Ragnar Kjartansson
Seeing the Famous Women Dinner Service by Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant
March 4, 2018
It was an extraordinary experience seeing this up close. You can read what I made of it here in Wales Arts Review or here on this site.
Nothing Has Changed
February 24, 2018
My first book is an account of the extraordinary 2017 General Election as seen by me. It was an election like no other and I hope I’ve given some sense of the excitement, energy and sometimes downright bafflement involved in covering it. You can buy ‘Nothing Has Changed’ directly from the Parthian books website here. Here’s … More Nothing Has Changed
Songs of 2016
January 7, 2017
Three songs have haunted me in 2016 and will do so for a long time. Each one is among the most extraordinary that I’ve ever heard. In order, they are:
Top 10 Songs 2015
December 19, 2015
In no particular order, 10 of my favourites from 2015 plus a cheeky two that I missed in 2014. The Color Waves ‘Chirology’ Adult Mom ‘Survival’ The Joy Formidable ‘Y Garreg Ateb’ San Fermin ‘Jackrabbit’ Lanterns on the Lake ‘Faultlines’ Paper Aeroplanes ‘Sail’ Courtney Barnett ‘Nobody Really Cares if You Don’t Go to the Party’ … More Top 10 Songs 2015
Jack Clemo, ‘The Marriage of a Rebel’
November 29, 2015
Easily one of the strangest books I’ve ever read, this is the second volume of memoirs by the Cornish poet Jack Clemo. I’d read both his novels years ago and some of his verse, but this was new to me. So much is strange about it: the way he reviews his own poetry, his unique brand … More Jack Clemo, ‘The Marriage of a Rebel’
