It is a truth universally acknowledged that any article about Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice must begin with a naff riff on the ‘universally acknowledged’ line. It is also much acknowledged (rightly so) that Pride and Prejudice is one of the best books ever written. The BBC’s 2003 Big Read poll named it the nation’s second-favourite […]
Picture this. It’s a rare sunny day in Edinburgh; the meadows are scattered with groups of people with cans in hand and portable BBQ grills creating billows of smoke funnelling into the cloudless sky. The cherry blossom trees scatter petals across the pavements, and dandelions line the grass. Life is good – it’s the perfect […]
The Women’s Prize for Fiction (formerly known as the Bailey’s Prize) has announced its shortlist for 2023. The prize celebrates literary fiction published by female authors in the UK between the 1st of April to the 31st of March in any given year (though authors themselves do not have to be from the UK, nor […]
Prerequisite: Gonzo would always be the narrator. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen This novel prompted this entire article. It just seems perfect. Miss Piggy is Elizabeth Bennet, of course. She’s got the sass, attitude, and charisma to play Jane Austen’s leading lady. We’d suggest Fozzie Bear as Mr Bingley and maybe Camilla the Chicken […]
As Agatha Christie becomes the latest in a line of authors whose works are being rewritten, censorship (even well-intentioned censorship) sees no sign of dissipating. I believe that rewriting classics not only unintentionally implies that we cannot cope with books of their time, but also produces airbrushed versions of texts that entirely miss the point […]
Following a stint at Biddy’s for St Patrick’s Day, my friends and I remained committed to attending the much-anticipated Madeline Miller lecture. The Classics, History and Feminist Societies collaborated to host Miller in conversation, a cult-favourite author, celebrated for ‘Song of Achilles’, ‘Circe’ and ‘Galatea.’ I remember my sister insistently recommending ‘Song of Achilles’ to […]
When I first opened Wuthering Heights, I was given two responses. The first was from my mum, thrilled to see me finally reading the book that she somewhat named me after (I was named Catherine after my gran, but have always been nicknamed Cathy after Brontë’s heroine). The second response was characterised by a single […]
I want to start with my top book recommendations for the summer. These books have a great summery vibe and leave you feeling warm inside. I highly recommend adding these to your TBR. Grown Ups by Marian Keyes I read this last summer and it was so fun and chilled. It’s all about a large […]