When the interior ministry declares its militia to be above the law in terms that equate dissent with treason there really isn’t any question of whether or not we are looking at an authoritarian regime.

The Bure at Drabblegate in Aylsham, north Norfolk

Some of you have never had to contend with the fact that you, personally, would not exist had it not been for a massive genocide that eradicated your ancestors and ancestral way of life and it shows

Just as I was about to brave the ice and snow to attend a gym induction session, they called to say the instructor had been taken ill. I appear to have gone to the pub instead.

Right. Today is the day. For January, if you would care to join me, we are doing a 200 words a day creative writing reset, adventure, challenge - whatever you want to call it. Prose, nonfiction, poetry. I'll offer a simple daily prompt if you're stuck but feel free to ignore. discord.gg/WmZuTjtRq

In no particular order, my dozen favourite books I’ve read this year, old and new, fiction and nonfiction — as pictured, plus the novel Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson, which I seem to have mislaid. Happy New Year one and all!

In no particular order, my dozen favourite books I’ve read this year, old and new, fiction and nonfiction — as pictured, plus the novel Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson, which I seem to have mislaid. Happy New Year one and all!

I asked for this for Christmas after interviewing Dan Cruickshank in Spitalfields a few weeks ago for my East End book. It’s brilliant! An authoritative, accessible and characteristically enthusiastic celebration of the world’s best buildings.

An icy cold and clear Christmas night, with the stars sparkling over the old mill and the trees down our road.

The church of Maria am Gestade, Vienna. Very special for me to visit one of the buildings in my grandfather’s home city that inspired him to become an architect.

Glorious music writing.

In a couple of years, ‘Paris 1919’ will be equidistant in time between Paris 1919 and us.

My Christmas Poetry Quiz is now up! Which poet embroidered a scarf as a Christmas gift? Which poet asked Santa for a chameleon? Which poet loves holly, man? All these and more here:

Happisburgh, north-east Norfolk, a pretty village that is a little more tragic every time I visit.

Either I need to listen harder for the ragga influences in Nick Drake’s guitar-playing, or Apple Music used AI to write this description for its ‘Essentials’ playlist.

Extraordinary to visit Rodinsky’s Room today while interviewing Dan Cruickshank at 19 Princelet Street. It remains as haunting as when Rachel Lichtenstein and Iain Sinclair wrote about it in the late ‘90s. After two difficult years my East End book is really coming to life now, thank goodness.

Excellent analysis as usual by Yair Rosenberg of the shameless Netanyahu, whose determination to cling to power has wrought disaster in so many ways

#nowplaying Reminds me of seeing Jimmy Smith at the Jazz Café in Camden in the ‘90s. The place was full of after-work wine drinkers talking loudly through his set, until he lifted up his hands, growled: “Shut the fuck up, motherfuckers!” and then continued playing to a suitably hushed audience.

Every time I walk past this cafe on Bethnal Green Road I think it embodies all the ways modern London annoys me

If you like an author's work, the best thing you can do is buy it. The second best thing you can do is ask your local library to buy it. Or, do both!

Nothing at all sinister or Bond villain-esque about this statement from the Russian embassy, not in the slightest.

In case anyone hasn't seen this, the offer includes ALL the Pevsner 'Buildings of England' series. 50% off with the code 'FIFTY' at checkout. Pevsners: yalebooks.co.uk/pevsner-arch...

gasping for air here oh my god

Here's Gram Parsons with The Flying Burrito Brothers at Altamont in 69, with Mick and Keith watching from the wings. Stills from recently unearthed footage that you can watch here (the sound is from a different song in their set that day) youtu.be/bPVPhLPkC9E

The legendary R. Crumb is back. At age 81, he delivers his first comic in 23 years — Tales of Paranoia. 12 sharp, uncompromising shorts including the final Dirty Laundry story, drawn with Aline Kominsky-Crumb. Happy 50th birthday to @fantagraphics.bsky.social! 💚 okcomics.co.uk/products/pre...

I know many of you will already have done something to help the people of Jamaica, but if you felt like helping a specific family, this is the GoFundMe set up by my son’s girlfriend for her relatives, who find themselves in dire straits. Every bit helps, shares appreciated. gofund.me/9b5b74984

Watch until the end.

Mark’s passion and precision is spot on. And so very vital. The WAC is a *stunning* resource. It must be allowed — empowered — to thrive. SHARE. cstonline.net/defending-th...

Nipping down Pelican Stairs when the Thames is at low tide gives you a great chance to see the gibbet at Executioner’s Dock up close, if that’s your idea of a good time.

Kind of haunted by these memorials in All Hallows-on-the-Wall church in the City of London. Poor Yvon, poor Joan, and her poor children.

On the evening of Thursday October 23rd I’m hosting an event at Hampstead Waterstones where I’ll be interviewing Manya Wilkinson, the author of LUBLIN — one of the best novels I’ve read in a long time. Tickets available here: www.waterstones.com/events/an-ev...

Welp, Backlisted has just been moved to the biggest stage at the 92nd St Y due to “unprecedented demand”. Join the waiting list, New York! Two weeks today, we’ll be celebrating William Maxwell, a century of the New Yorker and, oh yeah, a decade of @backlisted.bsky.social. Tickets via 92NY.org.

On the evening of Thursday October 23rd I’m hosting an event at Hampstead Waterstones where I’ll be interviewing Manya Wilkinson, the author of LUBLIN — one of the best novels I’ve read in a long time. Tickets available here: www.waterstones.com/events/an-ev...

Really enjoyed reading this! My favourite from this list? A toss-up between Harold Monro’s “Overheard on a Saltmarsh” and “Wy is School a Fing” by Sonny, aged 8.

Good day on the new book today, writing about Berthold Lubetkin’s Cranbrook Estate in Bethnal Green, Marxism and Tikkun olam (Hebrew for repair of the world)… it all ties together, I think!

The fact of the matter is that an attack on a synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur is antisemitic, not antizionist. Give your Jewish friends and neighbours support and don't let the actions of one antisemite stoke even more division

On Yom Kippur many Jewish people in Britain have their phones off to mark the holy day. As it ends at 723pm, some will hear the tragic Manchester news for the first time. At that time, please join many of us to send a message of solidarity to British Jews.Thanks Together coalition for proposing.

tbt the time a drunk was trying to insult one of the bouncers on the high street and got the devastating response "oh look, someone who doesn't matter has said something that isn't true". I often think about this when not replying to tweets

RIP Stanley Meadows, who has died aged 94. May his memory be for a blessing. A fine character actor whom I’ll always remember for his understated menace as Rosebloom in PERFORMANCE (Donald Cammell/Nicolas Roeg, 1970). “Your old man was a barber, wasn’t he Rosey?” “No. No, he wasn’t.”

Currently trying to work through some fiercely contested ownership issues regarding our house.

My mum’s yahrzeit, three years since she died. Feels at least twice as long, the world that had her in it feels remote now, but sometimes it’s as if she was here yesterday. So disorientating how grief warps time.

Nigel Farage and Reform couldn’t have asked for better publicity than this pathetic piece of BBC ‘journalism’, written with almost childlike enthusiasm by Chris Mason. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Authors — you can check if the creators of OpenAI used your books at the Atlantic link below. If they did, do what I’ve done and register your name here: www.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com

On the 131st anniversary of Joseph Roth’s birth, it’s nice to be reminded of this excellent Guardian article about my Roth biography by @dorianlynskey.bsky.social

Little Egret at Burnham Overy Staithe this evening

Little Egret at Burnham Overy Staithe this evening

Cry me a river, Anthropic. Fellow authors, make sure your name is added to the class action suit! See link in comments. #physics #ITeachPhysics #WonenInSTEM

Truly there is nothing she cannot do.

Starting to think I should have properly researched the local customs before I brought my children to this part of France.

Hummingbird Hawk-Moth in the Pyrenees this afternoon — swipe for the full picture