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Essay

The Link

A book is fundamentally an act of chronological defiance, forging an unbreakable…

Blue Blood, Black Ink

October 16, 2026
Well before body art was embraced by counterculture and rock stars, it was coveted as a deeply private and exclusive souvenir among the highest echelons of the royal families. Contrary to popular belief, they do not possess a historical aversion to ink…

In Search of Europe’s Shaka

October 13, 2026
When asking whether Europe possesses a hero of such capability, the first step is to define which dimension of Shaka’s greatness is being measured. The book’s protagonist represents a specific archetype: the foundational conqueror who creates a nation out of raw discipline, invents a revolutionary way of war, rules with…

Father Polonius and the Green Girl

Most first-time readers and casual theatregoers naturally view the play through Hamlet’s perspective; consequently, they intuitively dislike Polonius, who registers as an annoying, self-important obstacle. However, this initial visceral reaction usually fractures into several distinct stages of understanding as we pay closer attention…

Literary Hackers

September 29, 2026
There is an important irony here. A writer can describe black-hat techniques without becoming a black-hat literary hacker. Orwell exposes linguistic manipulation precisely so that readers can recognise it. His novel is therefore closer to a security researcher revealing a vulnerability than to an attacker exploiting one for personal gain.…
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Former diplomat and globetrotter, Dan Costinas is a versatile contemporary writer, translator, and editor. A true polyglot, he has authored and contributed to several dozen books spanning mainly fiction, essays, aphorisms, reviews and criticism, journalism, and poetry.

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Books of Our Continent

From the quiet shelves of forty-four national archives and ancient university libraries to the cosy corners of independent bookstores and modest home…

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