Past Lives II
The novels of Mary Renault Life began on earth four billion years ago, perhaps even earlier than the earth: depends on how you define life. Since the first human was … Continue reading
Past Lives I
The novels of Joan Grant Life began on earth four billion years ago, perhaps even earlier than the earth: depends on how you define life. Since the first human was … Continue reading
Gothique
Alone, tortured, cursed by the devil, possessed by the devil, evil. Vlad Dracula in the 14th century might have been one of the first in Europe with the reputation but … Continue reading
Bombay Blues
Vikram Chandra, I read, was offered a million dollars by publishers for his 2008 book Sacred Games, his second novel. Every writer’s dream I suppose: now bring on the movie … Continue reading
False Pretensions
Poor Francis Scott Fitzgerald! He seems to have somehow sneaked into literary history by the back door, through living a profligate life. A lot of people who write about him … Continue reading
Crime fiction
I’m enjoying a guilty pleasure this week: reading a classic detective mystery, the kind Raymond Chandler tore strips off in his defining essay The Simple Art of Murder in 1944 … Continue reading
Edward FitzGerald, the republican lord
The night of 17th May 1798 was a busy one for the city Militia and for the Army in Dublin. Martial Law had been in force since 30 March. Each … Continue reading
