A Rather Over-the-Top Love Letter to Wilkie Collins’ The Woman in White

Let me start by saying this: if The Woman in White were a person, I’d be hopelessly smitten. Truly, I’d marry it on the spot - or, at the very least, I’d buy it a drink, slide closer, and hope for the kind of long, dramatic romance that novels like this are made of. From the very … Continue reading A Rather Over-the-Top Love Letter to Wilkie Collins’ The Woman in White

Utter Bull: A Pretentious Slop-Fest in Bovine Disguise

Another recommendation, and with it, a request for critique. I must admit, I found this one a real struggle. In my ongoing endeavour to step beyond my literary comfort zone and explore more contemporary works, I occasionally find myself questioning the wisdom of my choices - this being one of those unfortunate instances. Having endured … Continue reading Utter Bull: A Pretentious Slop-Fest in Bovine Disguise

The Painted Veil: A Saucy Dissection of W. Somerset Maugham’s Sublime Slap in the Face

W. Somerset Maugham’s The Painted Veil is a bit like finding a deceptively lovely flower in a poisoned Chinese river. Ostensibly a story of love, betrayal, and redemption, it teases the reader with a delicate veneer of romance, only to plunge us headfirst into a cynical, uncomfortably reflective look at the human soul. If you thought you … Continue reading The Painted Veil: A Saucy Dissection of W. Somerset Maugham’s Sublime Slap in the Face

Forget the Fawkes: Why We Owe the Gunpowder Plot to Robert Catesby

If you ask the average Briton who led the Gunpowder Plot, chances are they’ll mutter “Guy Fawkes” while half-heartedly stirring their tea. Fireworks, effigies, and a roaring bonfire dedicated to burning Mr Fawkes have immortalised him as the nation’s favourite terrorist (or anti-hero, depending on how rebellious you’re feeling). But the truth is, Guy Fawkes … Continue reading Forget the Fawkes: Why We Owe the Gunpowder Plot to Robert Catesby