'Endling' by Maria Reva is about snails and brides and how to write about war. It's a great and a sobering read : peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/09/28/e...

The world of 1348 is not as far away as you might think: peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/09/16/t...

I've just read this moving account of Didier Eribon's mother in old age-her time in a nursing home, their relationship, his appreciation of what she did for him: peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/09/05/t...

Sorry-just one day late for August's #Womenintranslation25 month- Natalia Ginzburg's last novel: peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/09/01/t...

I enjoyed this translation from Welsh of Kate Roberts’ Feet in Chains read for #WITMonth2025 peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/08/28/f...

Katja Hoyer visits Guben in East Germany to see if differences still persist between East and West http//:www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002hkw3?partner=uk.co.bbc

I've just read this moving novel for #WITMonth in stunning translation by Sam Taylor: peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/08/24/t...

I visited Hay last week and just had to stock up on Welsh writing.

Still loving Natalia Ginzburg, read for #Womenintranslation Month2025 peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/08/13/v...

This was my first book read for #WomeninTranslation month 2025-an excellent, moving, family novel set in Iran and Germany, told in different voices: peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/08/08/t...

So great to hear @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social on @bbcradio4.bsky.social talk about Norman Lewis’ book Naples 44 as the book he would gift. Such a powerful shattering book about that great city at the end of the war.

Before I start on my #WomeninTranslation month books I had to read this- it’s a worthy winner of the #2025 Women’s Prize peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/08/01/t...

So this is my reading pile for #WomeninTranslation month 2025. Aiming high.

This account of meeting an unknown sister got right under my skin: peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/07/29/d...

Katja Hoyer's engaging history of East Germany filled in many gaps for me and has a place on the shelf of every historian, Germanist, or indeed general reader: peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/07/23/b...

“We are modernising our approach to international development” claims Govt. No, you’re eviscerating it, with your own impact assessment showing most vulnerable communities hit hardest, increasing suffering & driving global insecurity. Ministers should hang their heads in shame @oxfamgb.bsky.social

Excellent to hear BBC Radio 4'sToday programme focusing on the difficulties faced by care leavers and others in providing landlords with a guarantor. Thanks to Leeds MP Alex Sobel and the charity Become @becomecharity.org.uk‬ @katharinesj.bsky.social for highlighting this issue.

The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention calls on world leaders to step in immediately with measures that ensure food and water gets into Gaza right now. No more discussions, meetings, reports, sessions, summits. “GET FOOD AND WATER INTO GAZA NOW. IF YOU HAVE THE POWER, YOU MUST USE IT.”

🚨BREAKING: The last journalists working for AFP in Gaza have said they can no longer work for the news agency. They are out of energy and they are starving to death. I have never seen a statement from a news organisation like it. 🧵

I've just read Ralf Rothmann's latest short story collection- there's a range of voices here, from ageing labourers to six year old children. He's a master of characterisation and of the form: peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/07/17/m...

I'm really enjoying Katja Hoyer's Beyond the Wall, a compelling history of East Germany, and a sort of underlay for Brigitte Reiman's novel Siblings @lucy-jones-books.bsky.social which keeps coming to mind as I'm reading. peakreads.wordpress.com/2023/03/08/s...

In October 45 African nations met in Manchester, for the Fifth Pan- African Congress. Their hopes, ambitions and rivalries are explored with wit, feeling and panache in the fabulous new play Liberation by Ntombizodwa Nyoni at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre @rxtheatre.bsky.social. Do see it!

I'm thrilled that Victoria Amelina's book Looking at Women Looking at War has won the Orwell Prize for Political Writing, such a powerful account of women's courageous acts in the face of war: peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/04/10/l...

This is an indispensable book for those interested in history, politics and international law, many thanks @philippesands.bsky.social peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/06/22/3...

Such brilliant writing and translation- the precision of the description, yet conveying a hollowness at the centre of it all. @fitzcarraldoeds.bsky.social

First we had Still Born, now we have The Accidentals by Guadalupe Nettel tr Rosalind Harvey @fitzcarraldoeds.bsky.social teasing out the knotted strands of family relationships: peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/04/23/t...

I’m thrilled to hear There’s a Monster Behind the Door @bullaun.bsky.social has won the Republic of Consciousness Prize! Here’s my review peakreads.wordpress.com/2024/10/04/t...

Powerful and disturbing stories of things lurking beneath the surface from @mariana-enriqueze.bsky.social and Megan McDowell: peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/03/28/t...

I've just read Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq, translated from Kannada by Deepa Bhasthi @andotherstories.bsky.social long listed for #InternationalBooker peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/03/18/h...

#Internationalbookerprize2025 The Book of Disappearance by Ibtisam Azem, trans Sinan Antoon, @andotherstories.bsky.social a subtle and layered novel that must surely make the short list peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/03/07/i...

For lovers of the short story and readers of Spanish: peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/03/03/s...

Respect

So thrilled The Monster Behind the Door @bullaunpress.bsky.social is long listed for the International Booker 2025! peakreads.wordpress.com/2024/10/04/t...

🔴‘I’m a Labour Councillor and This Is Why My Party Should Ground Heathrow Plans and Rejoin the EU Instead’ Rachel Reeves is looking in the ‘wrong direction’ for stimulating growth in the UK, argues Labour Councillor Salman Shaheen bylinetimes.com/2025/02/14/h...

60 years on since Baldwin v Buckley at Cambridge www.channel4.com/news/60-year...

My reading recommendations for a trip to Chile-and you don't have to be a Spanish speaker! There's so much available now in English translation, thanks to @fitzcarraldoeds.bsky.social @andotherstories.bsky.social, Europa Editions and @grantabooks.bsky.social : peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/02/17/r...

UK being at the Weimar + meeting and signing this shows we can play a constructive role in Europe and that Europe is better when we do. A glimmer of hope for Ukraine? And for the EU-UK reset?

'Europe is looking now like the best guarantor of world order. It's not just about economics, it's also about humanity'. Thanks to Mike Galsworthy @mikegalsworthy.bsky.social for an inspirational talk.

Looking forward to Mike's talk on 12 Feb. Still some tickets left - buy them here. www.tickettailor.com/events/hopef...

Five years after #Brexit, its disastrous consequences are clearer than ever. We need to do far more to rebuild relations with the EU & begin a serious conversation about rejoining. That starts with facing down Farage & faragism @europeanmovement.co.uk @mikegalsworthy.bsky.social

No better way to start #ReadIndies month than this great novel on Ukraine from @bullaun.bsky.social peakreads.wordpress.com/2024/03/22/f...

On 12th Feb I'll be talking in Wirksworth near Matlock in Derbyshire on how Brexit has put the UK in an untenable place in dangerous world. And how we build back our place with the EU for the sake of our security, values, economy, and future. Come join! --> www.tickettailor.com/events/hopef...

So pleased to hear that Sara Mesa’s Un Amor pub Peirene Press is shortlisted for the Dublin Literary Award peakreads.wordpress.com/2024/05/02/un-amor-by-sara-mesa-translated-by-katie-whittemore/

Chileans love to read- A lending library in the Santiago metro!

Hope for Europe, in partnership with @scarthinbooks.bsky.social invites you to a talk by @mikegalsworthy in Wirksworth Derbyshire. Whether you voted Leave or Remain this is for you. Tickets at www.tickettailor.com/events/hopef...

I urge anyone interested in contemporary politics to read Patriot, the inspirational life story of Alexei Navalny: peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/01/10/p...

It's the indie presses that stand out in my top ten books of 2024, so special thanks to @andotherstories.bsky.social @fitzcarraldoeds.bsky.social @bullaun.bsky.social @lesfugitivespress.bsky.social for bringing us these great books, peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/01/01/m...

The brilliant Empusium by Olga Tokarczuk tr Antonia Lloyd-Jones @fitzcarraldoeds.bsky.social is in my top ten list for 2024. peakreads.wordpress.com/2024/12/29/t...

The Vortex @charco.bsky.social translated by Daniel Hahn and @furiousleeper.bsky.social - a compelling journey into Colombia's eastern lands. peakreads.wordpress.com/2024/12/17/t...

“Bakhmut is not buildings or bricks, Bakhmut is people. Even though the town ceased to exist in physical form, it lives on in the community, in our paper." Vpered (Ahead), saved from destruction by intrepid editor Svitlana Ovcharenko, still gives hope and voice to a community in Ukraine