And as the Good Dr Johnson says, “what is read twice is commonly better remembered than what is transcribed.” Double readings of The New Dark Ages, folks.
My hunch is that Lilly Allen x Reform is, as ever in Britain, a class thing. I think the slightly avant garde approach to her new material and touring weakens the link slightly, but my rough guess is that (if only in accent and early mannerisms) she's quite Kent/Essex-coded. I also think her early stuff in mid 00s was at that peak of 'chav' era, and it had a genuinely working class appeal. It was unpretentious, 'real' etc etc. So very loose theory would be those southern teenagers/twentysomethings that loved her then are now in their 40s and love Nigel Farage equally...?
Although having said all that, looking again it's the Dua Lipa numbers that I find harder to fathom. Maybe a lot of anti-Serb solidarity in the Reform ranks? Or is it about propensity of Reform voters to listen to commercial radio? Genuinely love this sort of stuff!
I just pre ordered a kindle version so just let me know which adverbs I shouldn't read and I'll organize that as soon as it plonks itself into my library.
What makes the cell phone theory of declining fertility compelling, I wonder? Seems to me it's another case of "mistak[ing] subsequence for consequence."
May I offer you some tips for your tour? The first being an erasable, refillable ballpen for signings, such as the Pilot Frixion (plus refills). Secondly, a mini bottle of wine (if you like wine) and some kind of travel beaker. Thirdly, a portable fan for train travel. Incredibly, not all regional services have aircon. Grim. Good luck!
Could it be that the right doesn't get information from. the press because they tend to view it as coopted by the left? I know for a fact that most conservatives have that impression. I don't know If its accurate or if its just their prejudices (great subject to explore).
The funny thing about being "educated" (outside of math and the hard sciences), in the formalized sense, beyond a certain point there is an inverse correlation with being wise or even just being smart.
Fascinating notion about musical tastes and political voting intentions. Just sad that those of us who prefer Bach, Handel, Bruckner, Mahler, Vaughan Williams and Finzi were completely ignored. Does that give me carte blanche to abstain from voting altogether?
I've been teaching the USA in GCSE History for the first time this year - and I've been really struck by the ways in which the roaring twenties sowed the seeds for so much contemporary culture: Hollywood; cinema; consumerism; the rise of celebrity; the obsession with the stock market etc. And you get to show Baz Luhrmann's 'Great Gatsby' at the end of the summer term.
Anyway, I always love your columns, so thank you, and I've ordered your book.
Anne Tyler said she knew when a book was finished when she couldn't look at it one more time. Yours might need a sequel. I note you omitted The Great Cham comment 'No man but a blockhead ever wrote, except for money." Agree about his house. Goosebumps . I wrote about his debut in Clerkenwell in my book on Islington. He was a rough sleeper with his adored Richard Savage.
And as the Good Dr Johnson says, “what is read twice is commonly better remembered than what is transcribed.” Double readings of The New Dark Ages, folks.
My hunch is that Lilly Allen x Reform is, as ever in Britain, a class thing. I think the slightly avant garde approach to her new material and touring weakens the link slightly, but my rough guess is that (if only in accent and early mannerisms) she's quite Kent/Essex-coded. I also think her early stuff in mid 00s was at that peak of 'chav' era, and it had a genuinely working class appeal. It was unpretentious, 'real' etc etc. So very loose theory would be those southern teenagers/twentysomethings that loved her then are now in their 40s and love Nigel Farage equally...?
i think you’re right!
Although having said all that, looking again it's the Dua Lipa numbers that I find harder to fathom. Maybe a lot of anti-Serb solidarity in the Reform ranks? Or is it about propensity of Reform voters to listen to commercial radio? Genuinely love this sort of stuff!
Perhaps there is a little glimmer of hope James. A small increase in the number of children who are reading for pleasure.
https://literacytrust.org.uk/research-services/research-reports/children-and-young-peoples-reading-in-2026/
I just pre ordered a kindle version so just let me know which adverbs I shouldn't read and I'll organize that as soon as it plonks itself into my library.
James, will you be coming to America on your book tour?
Why do you write so much in the first person,
where you are the subject, not us the reader ?
Count the number of times the word 'I' is used .
What makes the cell phone theory of declining fertility compelling, I wonder? Seems to me it's another case of "mistak[ing] subsequence for consequence."
May I offer you some tips for your tour? The first being an erasable, refillable ballpen for signings, such as the Pilot Frixion (plus refills). Secondly, a mini bottle of wine (if you like wine) and some kind of travel beaker. Thirdly, a portable fan for train travel. Incredibly, not all regional services have aircon. Grim. Good luck!
Could it be that the right doesn't get information from. the press because they tend to view it as coopted by the left? I know for a fact that most conservatives have that impression. I don't know If its accurate or if its just their prejudices (great subject to explore).
The funny thing about being "educated" (outside of math and the hard sciences), in the formalized sense, beyond a certain point there is an inverse correlation with being wise or even just being smart.
Fascinating notion about musical tastes and political voting intentions. Just sad that those of us who prefer Bach, Handel, Bruckner, Mahler, Vaughan Williams and Finzi were completely ignored. Does that give me carte blanche to abstain from voting altogether?
Thoroughly enjoyed listening to you spread your message of doom at Dr Johnson's House. Regretted not saying hello afterwards but was melting!
Don't worry James you can add lots of things to the second Edition!
I've been teaching the USA in GCSE History for the first time this year - and I've been really struck by the ways in which the roaring twenties sowed the seeds for so much contemporary culture: Hollywood; cinema; consumerism; the rise of celebrity; the obsession with the stock market etc. And you get to show Baz Luhrmann's 'Great Gatsby' at the end of the summer term.
Anyway, I always love your columns, so thank you, and I've ordered your book.
Anne Tyler said she knew when a book was finished when she couldn't look at it one more time. Yours might need a sequel. I note you omitted The Great Cham comment 'No man but a blockhead ever wrote, except for money." Agree about his house. Goosebumps . I wrote about his debut in Clerkenwell in my book on Islington. He was a rough sleeper with his adored Richard Savage.
Where can I find a list of scheduled appearances please?
From my spreadsheet! Not all confirmed
SEP
Sat 5th How to Academy Evening Conway Hall
Weds 9th Poss Toppings St Andrews event - TBC
Thurs 10th Times Events TBS National Gallery of Scotland
Fri 11th Poss Toppings St Andrews event - TBC
Tues 15th Backstory Books 7.30pm Backstory Books
OCT
Thurs 1st Poss Toppings York event -TBC
Sat 10th Durham Book Festival TBC
Thurs 15th Cheltenham Literature Festival TBC Cheltenham Lit Fest
Conway Hall. What an honour. Orwell, Huxley, Russell, Ayer, Shaw et al..have you been to Shaw's House? Second home for T.E. Lawrence...