Franz Kafka claimed that “first impressions are always unreliable”, but are they? Rhian Hutchings assesses the importance of books’ opening lines and why some are more impactful than others.
novels
The First Novel: Japan’s literary legacy
Cat Stone overviews the very first novel, The Tale of Genji, and it’s cultural impact.
John Le Carré’s Novels in Translation
Why do John Le Carré’s novels translate so well to TV and Film media? John Le Carré has been a pioneer of the literary espionage genre for more than 50 years, from his debut novel, Call for the Dead through to 2017s A Legacy of Spies. He found fame at the height of the Cold […]
Recent book infatuations: Review of Maurice
In E.M. Forster’s Maurice, set in the rigid Christian and bourgeoisie environment of early twentieth century England, the titular Maurice struggles with homosexuality and his English identity which warns of a stiff upper lip. Yet unable to recognize an alternative to heterosexuality and denying to himself his attraction to his schoolboy friend, Durham, Maurice continues […]