An education from Alan Watkins, the master columnist of Fleet Street | Peter Oborne

The political writer’s A Short Walk Down Fleet Street vividly describes the characters and culture of a golden age in newspaper publishingWhen I was a schoolboy in the 1970s, I used to read Alan Watkins’s column in the New Statesman every week. Through him I felt I personally knew and understood the great figures of the age: Crosland, Jenkins, Castle, Healey, Foot, Whitelaw, Carr, Heath. There were hardly any political columnists back then, while there are dozens today. It remains the case that the only ones worth bothering with are those who can write. Watkins had some of the gifts of a novelist and he brought them into political journalism.His talent for dialogue was extraordinary. Only the greatly underrated Bruce Anderson and the Daily Mail sketchwriter Quentin Letts possess the ear to do this nowadays.Watkins’s editor at the Sunday Express was the monstrous John Junor, who told him that 'only poofs drink rose' Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2015-08-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #great figures #sunday express

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Jane Austen, Gritty Educational Reformer of the Working Class

From about 1890 to 1940, a half century of ultra-cheap editions of Jane Austen’s novels aimed explicitly at educating the working poor. Because these ill-printed and shabby versions of her stories never made it into the scholarly libraries that safeguard “important” editions, the hardscrabble... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-02-04 09:49:29 UTC ]
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An indictment of education reformers, and a call to fight back

Diane Ravitch offers disturbing and inspiring tales from the battle over public schools. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2020-01-31 04:41:30 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fight back #public schools


Writing a Dynamic Duo: Spotlight on Peter Riva

Peter Riva’s Mbuno & Pero series continues to deliver intrigue, action, and camaraderie on the African continent. (Sponsored) Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-01-13 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #african continent


J.D. Vance has launched a VC fund named after a Tolkien artifact and backed by Peter Thiel.

As Bloomberg reports, J. D. Vance, bestselling author of Hillbilly Elegy, Yale graduate, and venture capitalist has teamed up with Peter Thiel, Eric Schmidt, and Marc Andreessen of Silicon Valley to establish a venture capital firm in Ohio called Narya Capital. If “Narya” sounds familiar to you,... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-01-10 20:12:30 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #peter thiel #bloomberg reports #hillbilly elegy #venture capitalist #eric schmidt #marc andreessen #silicon valley #lit hub #bestselling author


Carty-Williams joins Guardian Review as columnist

Candice Carty-Williams has joined the Guardian as a columnist, writing a weekly piece for the paper’s Review supplement about "literature in its many forms" Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-01-06 19:55:03 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #candice carty-williams


Tayari Jones on the Necessary American History of Ann Petry’s The Street

The Street is a groundbreaking work of American literature that is as relevant today as when it was published in 1946. When it won Ann Petry the Houghton Mifflin Prize for Debut Writers, the literary world was put on notice. Everyone agreed that the novel was brilliant, but, as is the case with... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-01-06 09:47:44 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #tayari jones #american history #ann petry #groundbreaking work #relevant today #debut writers #literary world #american literature


Johnson to pledge to cut business rates in bid to revive high street

The government will announce cuts to business rates in the Queen’s Speech today (19th December) in a bid to revive the high street. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-12-19 04:26:38 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #business rates #high street


ITV to adapt novels from Peter James' Roy Grace series

Two novels from Peter James' Roy Grace series will be adapted for ITV by screenwriter and 'Endeavour' creator Russell Lewis.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-12-18 16:48:42 UTC ]
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School & Library Spotlight 2019: Education and Representation at AASL

Librarians share their takeaways from the American Association of School Librarians National Conference, which wrapped up November 16 in Louisville, Ky. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-12-13 05:00:00 UTC ]
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School & Library Spotlight 2019: OverDrive Education Celebrates Sora

Sora, OverDrive Education’s K–12 student reading app, is marking its first birthday with some impressive stats, as well as ed tech honors. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-12-13 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Kosovo declares Peter Handke “persona non grata” as Nobel controversy continues.

Peter Handke, the Austrian writer whose Nobel win has been causing upheaval in the literary world since it was announced in October, is now persona non grata in Kosovo, the country’s foreign minister Behgjet Pacolli announced Wednesday. Handke, who has defended or downplayed Serbian war... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-12-12 20:22:06 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #peter handke #nobel win #literary world


“I prefer toilet paper to your empty and ignorant questions.” The Peter Handke drama rolls on.

Today saw two new developments in the ongoing Peter Handke controversy, which has set the literary world ablaze since October 10 when the Swedish Academy announced the Austrian writer/Slobodan Miloševic eulogist as the joint winner (with Polish writer Olga Tokarczuk) of the 2019 Prize. The first... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-12-06 20:05:06 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literary world


Humphreys and Ward win Educational Writers' Award

Author Alistair Humphreys and illustrator Kevin Ward have won the 2019 Educational Writers’ Award for Great Adventurers (Big Picture Press). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-12-05 10:42:56 UTC ]
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B&N Education to Begin Strategic Review

Barnes & Noble Education's board has approved the hiring of a financial advisor to help the company review its strategic options as it continues look for ways to keep pace with a rapidly changing market for college materials. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-12-05 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bn education #financial advisor #strategic options


Watkins Media to offer paid internship scheme

Watkins Media is offering its first paid internship scheme starting in January 2020. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-27 12:12:16 UTC ]
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Educational Publishers File Suit to Block Sale of Pirated E-books

The country's largest educational publishers have filed a lawsuit seeking to stop pirate sites from illegally selling their e-books and have won a temporary restraining order. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-11-26 05:00:00 UTC ]
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A Master Class in Intention (and Misdirection) with Jon Klassen (shelftalker)

Exploring simplicity, failure, and dramatic effect at the Blanton Museum of Art. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-11-22 13:00:24 UTC ]
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How a Master Illustrator Turned an Old English Carol Into the Perfect Children’s Book for Thanksgiving

Peter Spier’s take on The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night is full of mischief and beauty. Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2019-11-21 12:30:01 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #children’s book


Hockney and Gayford make Educational Writers' Award 2019 shortlist

The Educational Writers' Award 2019 shortlist has been revealed, with titles from David Hockney, Martin Gayford and Alastair Humphreys in the running.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-17 19:17:20 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #david hockney #educational writers #martin gayford