The Emperor of Books
Fifty-two times a year, on Thursdays, the monarch opened his doors to any writer from around the globe seeking an audience and hoping to gain citizenship within the empire.…
Europe writes itself. Again. And we are thrilled to have you here to read it.
The Lady-upon-Avon
To keep the balance of her world, Anne built a quiet, impenetrable life of her own. She did not define herself by the poetry he sent home or the rumours that drifted down the road from the capital. She became the true master of New Place.…
The Prodigal Sun
Moira held her breath. Through the umbrella, there was only the faintest glimmer. It made her think of a light behind a closed door, still there but hidden. The Sun looked fragile then, almost shy, as though it had wandered away and was deciding whether to come home…
The UnDracula
On a scale from 1 to 10 for famous titles that single-handedly kept their novels above the water level, Dracula sits at a 9/10…
Stung by a Horrible Thought
The memory hit him with horrifying clarity. It was August. The weather had been dreadful. His wife, Brenda, had been shouting from the passenger seat of the Nissan Qashqai about the traffic on the A30. Benedict had rushed out to fetch the beach umbrellas from the shed, shoved the door…
When the Rain Smelt of Cinnamon
When the first heavy droplet struck Kahurānaki’s cheek, he reached to adjust the woven palm cloak across his shoulders, expecting the usual sharp sting of an oceanic downpour. Instead, a rich spice filled the damp air, as though someone had tipped a sack of freshly ground bark straight into the…
The Giraffe That Fell From the Moon
But as the hours stretched on, the chill of space began to bite at his hooves. There were no sweet acacia leaves to nibble, no warm breezes to ruffle his patterned coat and no friends to share in his triumph. The satellite was a barren wilderness of grey dust and…
Sealing the Past
In three days, he would board the train to Marseilles. Let Paris keep its grey twilight. He was going to paint the sun…
Feathered Justice
Corvinus spent his days observing Mr McBean with a critical, beady eye and delivering stern commentary on the human’s daily choices in a booming voice that sounded suspiciously like a High Court judge...…
The Strange Case of the Yorkies
To the uninitiated, the term ‘Yorkie’ conjures up a very specific set of images: a steaming mug of strong tea, a sturdy flat cap, a small and spirited lapdog or perhaps a resident of God’s Own County with firm opinions on bitter ale. It does not, however, typically call to…
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Muppets on the Muppet Show tonight
The tension is personified by Statler and Waldorf, the two elderly cynics perched permanently in the box seats. They are the ultimate…
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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