In a leader (July 7, 2023) The Guardian concluded that the future of ‘mobility’ must involve much more than private cars. It said that the climate crisis should be a chance ‘to question whether the motorcar itself has become too embedded in our everyday lives. We must prioritise mass transport over easy mobility of driving.’… Continue reading
How Tolkien’s Hobbit went there and back again
Was the language and invention of The Hobbit inspired by JRR Tolkien’s time at the University of Leeds? ” Bilbo found it… in Gollum’s cave.” So when did it all begin, The Hobbit? Formally on 21 September 1937, when the book was first published in hardback by George, Allen and Unwin. Informally, a little… Continue reading →
The Thames Path – silvery walk across southern England
The Thames Path – 180 mile of wonderful walk, billiard table-flat, easy underfoot, and so full of history. I walked it for my book ‘A Walk Along the Thames Path‘. This is an extract. —————————————————————— The Thames must be the shortest great river in the world. At 250 miles it doesn’t even make a list… Continue reading →
Writer on Observer list of ten best debut authors comes to BeaconLit book festival
Aidan Cottrell-Boyce, whose first novel, The End of Nightwork, was published earlier this year, is one of the speakers at the BeaconLit book festival, 2023. He is one of two authors at BeaconLit this year who were on the Observer’s annual list of the ten best debut authors for 2023 **** ‘Yes, I’ve always written, I… Continue reading →
Pop star takes the train. Will the fans follow?
There is a famous image, taken in 1966, of Bob Dylan waiting for the Aust Ferry on the Severn Estuary, in the shadow of the still unfinished Severn Bridge. Dylan was already a big star – it was just after he switched to the acoustic guitar. Barry Feinstein photographed him during his tour of the… Continue reading →
Will the Australians’ preposterous world record score ever be beaten?
Few records in cricket can be regarded as unbreakable – although six sixes in an over has to be one – but I find it hard to imagine, in a two innings per side game, any team surpassing the Australians’ monumental total on a sunny Saturday in May 75 years ago. We are used to… Continue reading →