BY JAMIE FOSTER Beena Kamlani’s debut novel, The English Problem, is an ambitious work of historical fiction that explores questions of identity, desire and the legacy of empire. It has already attracted considerable attention, including starred reviews. The novel centres on Shiv Advani, an eighteen-year-old Indian man who, as a boy, was personally selected by Mahatma Gandhi. In 1931, he is sent to London with a … Continue reading The English Problem
BY THE EDITOR Parenting adolescents today is rather like trying to grow prize orchids in a tornado – requiring equal parts scientific understanding and the stoicism of a Victorian headmaster. Dr Sujata Kelkar Shetty’s Resilience Decoded, published by Penguin Random House and recently well-covered by both the BBC and CNN, delivers both with the precision of a biological scientist and the warm pragmatism of a mother … Continue reading A Masterclass in Resilience: Dr Sujata Kelkar Shetty’s Resilience Decoded
BY JAMIE FOSTER From British Ultimatum to Utopian Revolt, 1890-1975: Social Volatility, National Assertion, and Nervous Collapse In the pantheon of contemporary historical scholarship, few works possess the daring revisionist verve and profound erudition of Professor Tom Gallagher’s Portugal and the West: From British Ultimatum to Utopian Revolt, 1890-1975. This is not merely a book; it is a magisterial and sweeping geopolitical exegesis, the culmination of … Continue reading Portugal and the West
BY IAN MITCHELL Cecil Rhodes and the question of who stole Zimbabwe from whom Reading this new biography of the great imperialist, Cecil Rhodes, provokes reflection on landownership rights amongst people who have no general concept of ownership beyond cattle and wives. Rhodes is a controversial figure today, due to his alleged racism and belief in “white supremacy”. The problem is that Rhodes was no … Continue reading Rhodesia or Zimbabwe? Whose Land is it Anyway?
BY GARY McGHEE – THE RISE OF GENDER IDEOLOGY AND THE NEW HOMOPHOBIA – By Gareth Roberts Oh, what—another book about the excesses of Gender Ideology and the ridiculousness of the Trans Lobby, I initially thought? Lots of commentators, me included (with an article I wrote for Country Squire magazine called ‘The Queer Is Dead’), have been banging on about this. However, there are several things that are great about Gareth’s … Continue reading Gay Shame
BY JACK WATSON In Fahrenheit-182, Mark Hoppus (bass guitarist for Blink-182, a famous rock band from the 1990s) takes us back to when he grew up in a California desert. Presumably the title is an homage to Ray Bradbury’s 1953 dystopian novel Fahrenheit-451. The book provides an insight into a troubled childhood; how he first met Tom DeLonge and their creation of Blink-182. Then their … Continue reading Fahrenheit-182
BY JAMIE FOSTER ‘Oldenland’ by Roger Clough is a profound and reflective exploration of ageing, approached through the metaphor of a country that we all must learn to navigate. Drawing from over 25 years of experience, Clough combines his background in social care (of which he was Emeritus Professor at Lancaster University), his lifelong passion for hill walking, and personal insights to guide readers through … Continue reading Oldenland
BY THE EDITOR The bookshops sag with promises these days. Shelf after shelf of bright spines shouting cures, secrets, revolutions. Most are lies. Some are dangerous. A few might keep you alive a little longer. I met the good doctor on Zoom—her face calm on the screen, mine carefully framed to hide the humidor in the glass cabinet behind me. She had the look of … Continue reading 99 Not Out! by Dr Sujata Kelkar Shetty
BY JAMIE FOSTER A Hilariously Honest Look at the Animal Rights Debate John Nash’s ‘Animal Rights: Complete & Utter Bullsh*t’ isn’t your typical animal rights book. Forget the preachy tone and guilt-tripping; Nash delivers a refreshing, irreverent, and ultimately insightful exploration of this complex and often-polarised topic. He achieves this through a blend of sharp wit, historical context, and a healthy dose of common sense, … Continue reading A Review of ‘Animal Rights: Complete & Utter Bullsh*t’
BY JAMIE FOSTER In Living in Wonder, Rod Dreher offers an enthralling, deeply felt exploration of the hidden spiritual world that continues to beckon, even in an age where materialism seems to have won. Dreher’s work acts as both a guide and a gentle nudge, encouraging readers to seek the divine amid our culture’s pervasive disillusionment. He does not shy away from acknowledging the crises … Continue reading Living in Wonder by Rod Dreher
BY JAMIE FOSTER The One That Didn’t Get Away by Tom Quinn is a delightful treasure trove of angling triumphs, designed to transport readers through the rich history of fishing over the past two centuries. Following in the footsteps of his earlier work, Great Angling Disasters, Quinn presents an anthology of unforgettable fishing moments, weaving together tales from rivers, seas, and lakes. This collection of … Continue reading The One That Didn’t Get Away
BY JAMIE FOSTER Bryn Parry OBE (1956–2023) was a celebrated countryside cartoonist renowned for his humorous and insightful depictions of rural life in Britain. As a mischievous schoolboy, he often doodled in the margins of his textbooks, and his talent for drawing blossomed during his time in the army, where he began to envision turning his sketches into a profession. Parry’s work resonates deeply with … Continue reading Mad Dogs and Englishmen
BY JAMIE FOSTER Richard David Shepherd, a name synonymous with both breathtaking wildlife art and a steadfast commitment to conservation, is brought to life in J.C. Jeremy Hobson’s “The Artist and His Railways”. This beautifully illustrated book delves into a lesser-known, yet equally fascinating facet of Shepherd’s life: his lifelong fascination with railways. Shepherd, renowned for his captivating depictions of steam locomotives and African wildlife, … Continue reading A Masterful Journey: The Artist and His Railways
BY JAMIE FOSTER John Drewry’s “Reason in Madness” is a compelling collection of five short stories, each delving into the unpredictable and irrepressible nature of the human spirit. Through these tales, Drewry explores themes of sanity, madness, and the fine line that often separates the two. “The Day the Circus Came to Town” is a satirical tale reflecting on contemporary politics. In an act of … Continue reading Reason in Madness
BY PETER HARRIS In his book Arcadia, Dominic Wightman reintroduces us to the genre of utopian writing which has been eclipsed in the popular imagination by dystopias such as those of George Orwell’s Oceania and Suzanne Collins’ Panem. This genre has a long and established pedigree, going back to ancient times with Plato’s Republic and the early modern era with Thomas More’ s Utopia. It … Continue reading Arcadia by Dominic Wightman: A Review
BY PETER HARRIS Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, which is found in his magnum opus The Republic, is used to illustrate how humans are ignorant of ultimate reality. It was written as an imagined dialogue between Plato’s brother and his mentor Socrates. According to Socrates, humanity is like people who are chained in a cave in a position that forces them only to see a … Continue reading Bringing Knowledge Where There is Ignorance: Dear Townies, Reviewed
