A novel styled like a textbook is as punishing as homework
After having been left alive in an anti-intellectual world, the novelist cannot be blamed for presuming that they…
In Mani Rao’s new book of poetry, formal precision meets playfulness and depth
The poems of Mani Rao, one of today’s renowned poets, are known for their astute lines, closely observed…
Death and war in Eric Ambler’s supremely stylish spy thriller, ‘Journey into Fear’
“In case of danger… In case! But you couldn’t get away from danger! It was all about you,…
In 2025 Booker Prize-longlisted ‘Universality’, everyone’s politics is for sale
“Why did I drink so much? I couldn’t stand being drunk. Though total sobriety was arguably worse. It…