Tag: Literature
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Romeo and Juliet: Fighting gang culture
Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet tells the story of two warring families who finally put aside their differences. Must it always take a tragedy to...
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Anita and Me: Finding British identity
Anita and Me is a novel about friendship and growing up — but its heroine also struggles with her English and Indian identities. Is it possible to define what it means to be ‘British’?
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Jane Eyre: Understanding mental health
Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre has defined ‘the madwoman in the attic’ for over 150 years. Our treatment of mental health problems has changed, but why are figures rising?
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Literary storm over lost Mockingbird companion
Go Set A Watchman was Harper Lee’s first attempt at a novel, written years before To Kill A Mockingbird made her a literary hero. Today it appears in print for the first time. But should it?
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New Harry Potter play to hit the West End
Next summer, a new Harry Potter story will be revealed to the world in a theatre in London. What is the appeal of this phenomenally successful series? Does it really need a new chapter?
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Ali Smith wins prized women’s fiction award
Since the 1990s, the UK’s prize for women’s fiction has aimed to celebrate female authors from around the world. Are women-only awards empowering or patronising?
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Lotsa lolz new words enter Scrabble lexicon
Collins has announced 6,500 new official Scrabble words, many of which draw on slang and new technology. Should we welcome changes in the English language — even if we don’t like them?
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‘True face of Shakespeare’ revealed at last?
A botanist has stumbled across ‘the literary discovery of the century’: a portrait of Shakespeare in his prime. Should the little we know of the bard’s life affect how we judge his plays?
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Lost Mockingbird sequel sets book world abuzz
After 55 years the reclusive author Harper Lee has announced that a sequel to her seminal work, To Kill a Mockingbird, will be published this summer. What can explain its enduring appeal?
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Twentieth century’s greatest poet celebrated
A century after his first important poem and 50 years after he died, poets are paying tribute to TS Eliot, one of giants of 20th century literature. Why does his work define our age?
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‘Ditch hard novels,’ says bestselling author
Nick Hornby offers a simple solution for readers struggling with difficult works: just put the book down and try something more fun. Is that sound advice or should literature challenge us?
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Authors’ incomes collapse to record new lows
A survey published this week reveals that the earnings of British authors have fallen to just £11,000 per year. Should we be alarmed that so few writers can make a living from their work?
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Calls for a revival of Scottish literary hero
The portrayal of Scotland in Sir Walter Scott’s writing became legendary. His historical romances took Europe by storm and influenced generations of artists. Is it now time for a revival?
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‘Vile’ teen book scoops prestigious prize
A disturbing teen novel by Kevin Brooks, about a boy who is held hostage, has just been awarded one of literature’s most important prizes. Is young adult fiction becoming too dark?
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Violent attack linked to scary Slender Man
Two 12-year-olds in the US who stabbed a classmate claim that a sinister online creature had inspired them. But can this violence really be blamed on a fictional figure?