In Residence: Madonna del Prato

Perhaps the recession makes us eager to feel we’re getting more for our money. Perhaps James Cameron, Peter Jackson and the other masters of the …

Hamlet @ Young Vic

Ian Rickson‘s new Hamlet at the Young Vic contained a lot of firsts for me. It was the first time I’ve been …

Speakeasy season

The envelope was black, the address handwritten in silver calligraphy. Inside nestled a small, shining graphite key on a thin black cord. This was, the …

Demystifying writing

How does a novel happen?

In theory, it is a pretty simple process. First find something to say. Then – to paraphrase Coleridge – put …

‘WE FIRST’: CAN WE REMAKE CAPITALISM?

I know, it all sounds a bit heavy. But what with all the Occupy stuff, this is a very interesting proposition.

We First …

Wearable art

Investment pieces: we all know the theory. On a personal level, the interminable recession is forcing us to reassess our throwaway attitude to fashion. As …

The Reluctant Re-Reader

I have always found the desire to re-read novels bewildering. I do it, obviously. I can’t deny that it’s a pleasurable and fruitful exercise. But …

Gerhard Richter @ Tate Modern

It was a bit of a duty trip. I was suffering a Halloween party hangover and the afternoon was not unpleasantly sliding into a sloth-marathon …

Let’s build ourselves a book nest

It’s been a while coming, but the brand new mollyflatt.com is most definitely alive!

This is an interesting autumn for me. I have gone part-time …

Are you ready to be a member?

When it comes to London arts and culture, membership is a rather fraught concept. On one hand it seems inimical to the spirit of the …

Writing changes children’s lives

I’ve been pretty rubbish with literary festivals this year, thanks to a combination of a wedding, no money and erratic organisational skills. I didn’t squat …

Have you read any Tomas Tranströmer?

The 80 year old Swede is our new Nobel Laureate for Literature, the first poet to win the award since Wislawa Szymborska in 1996, …

The multiplex addict’s guide to slightly braver cinema

It’s that time of year when we start to feel the good film itch. Despite the odd much-hyped festival import summer has never been a great …

The Fashion Week Virgin

For a London Fashion Week virgin, the first time you pass between the columns that mark the entrance to Somerset House – swapping the everyday …

Novel depravity

Forget the liberation of Syria. London riots, begone. The news story that has really got book lovers up in arms over the past couple of …