I very much enjoyed Chris Laoutaris' account of the making of the First Folio.

I had a lovely message from someone who'd attended a talk which I gave at a school, in 2018. It's really true: school visits are so important. Authors, of all stripes: keep doing them! You never know what will hit home.

can't really begin to explain the extent to which I do Not want to be filmed without my knowledge by someone wearing smart glasses while out and about

The new Pullman has landed. THE ROSE FIELD, here we go...

My piece on happy prep school days: www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-...

A treat for subscribers over on my Substack: philipwomack.substack.com/p/on-english...

This week's Substack, on Richard Burbage open.substack.com/pub/philipwo...

My Notes on....Flatmates in this week's Spectator: www.spectator.co.uk/article/want...

95 per cent of AI pilots are failing. NINETY FIVE PERCENT. substack.com/home/post/p-...

there's a phrase in this piece — "murdered child influencer" — that hits like a cold wind blowing in from some blasted future bsky.app/profile/cwar...

I enjoyed this piece on Hamlet by Barbara Everett in the @lrb.co.uk www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

Very pleased to be mentioned here!

Cheers to @philipwomack.bsky.social for his @thespectator1828.bsky.social article imploring Writers and Editors to challenge young readers with more exciting language, like Joan Aiken! Babies love Beatrix Potter for odd words that they can remember and repeat... www.pressreader.com/uk/the-spect...

My piece on the real story behind Barry Lyndon www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-...

This is a great insight into the soberingly awful experience of publishing with Unbound/Boundless, specifically from someone who has published loads elsewhere through big traditional houses and big indies alike – thank you @philipwomack.bsky.social! philipwomack.substack.com/p/the-arrow-...

An interview with the Never Press: zine.theneverpress.com/interview-ph...

My review of Ferdinand Mount's new novel, THE PENTECOST PAPERS: www.the-tls.com/literature/f...

A short story exclusive to subscribers on my Substack: philipwomack.substack.com/p/tor-part-one

My Summer Children's Book Round Up for @litreview.bsky.social featuring new books by @cressidacowell.bsky.social Luke Palmer @andyshepherdwriter.bsky.social Bryony Pearce and Luke Marchant literaryreview.co.uk/here-there-b...

Great launch last night for @cressidacowell.bsky.social's new book, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON SCHOOL. Here we are with @pierstorday.bsky.social

Hamlet: Night, mother! [lugs guts] www.english.cam.ac.uk/research/slo... 2 final images of the closet scene: Ben Whishaw, so very young, with Imogen Stubbs, Old Vic, 2004; Laurence Olivier and Eileen Herlie in 1948, the film version which did so much to cement an 'oedipal' reading of the scene...

I do not want AI in Slack. I do not want AI in Google. I do not want AI on Facebook. I do not want AI in documents or spreadsheets. I do not want AI in Adobe Acrobat. I do not want AI in Zoom. I do not want AI on news sites. I do not want AI in the patient portal for my doctor's office. I do not wan

I wrote about Pseuds Corner: www.spectator.co.uk/article/im-p...

I enjoyed Park Honan's biography of Christopher Marlowe: an intriguing, unusual approach, using the evidence to create a bold and glittering picture of an intelligent, bold and glamorous playwright. There's lots of insight into the plays, too.

Hamlet: don't let your 'husband' seduce you with his old tricks! YUCK! www.english.cam.ac.uk/research/slo... The text has been corrected in Milton's copy of the 1623 folio (Free Library, Philadelphia); all editors accept 'bloat'. Also, David Tennant in the film of the 2008 RSC Hamlet, DRAINED.

Made it into @privateeyenews.bsky.social Pseuds Corner!

This is not inevitable: we can and must do something about it. www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j...

I just finished re-reading Michael Wood's excellent book on William Shakespeare, IN SEARCH OF SHAKESPEARE. It's a charming biography, managing to be both scholarly and novelistic in its prose style. As a spring-board into the life of our greatest playwright, it's a must.

A life needs structure and balance.

I’m not sure I’ve seen enough discussion about the fact that when cars are “self driving”, they are actually just owned by a company, and that company can turn them off whenever they like.

Hamlet: I'm not mad, I'm as sane as you, but you need to face facts and stop hoping this will go away if you cover it up... www.english.cam.ac.uk/research/slo... Benedict Cumberbatch as Hamlet & Anastasia Hille as Gertrude in the 2015 production, dir. Lyndsey Turner, des. Es Devlin, Katrina Lindsay.

'The dread that passes over its pages like a lengthening shadow is still profoundly disquieting.' J. S. Barnes on Salem’s Lot at 50

Very dispiriting reading all the stories about Unbound.

Hamlet, spitting with fury and prurient disgust🙄 www.english.cam.ac.uk/research/slo... Kenneth Branagh as Hamlet and Jane Lapotaire as Gertrude in the 1992 @the-rsc.bsky.social Hamlet, dir. Adrian Noble.