Review: Colditz: Prisoners of the Castle, by Ben Macintyre
I often like to say that Ben Macintyre can take any bit of history and turn it into a fascinating story. It’s a gift. But in this case, I think he had a rather easier…
Hamas attack reveals a battle for the soul of social democracy
This blog was published on the Times of Israel website. The war unleashed by Hamas on Saturday morning has shone a spotlight on political movements across the world. In the movement I consider home —…
Ukraine’s labour movement defiant – and in need of our solidarity
As I walked around Kyiv last month on a beautiful, sunny morning, I began to notice the scaffolding in the city’s squares. I asked Tristan Masat what was going on. Tristan runs the Solidarity Center…
Review: The Secret Hours, by Mick Herron
I have loved all of Mick Herron’s ‘Slough House’ books and this so-called ‘standalone’ thriller is actually part of that series — indeed, it explains much of what happens in the previous books. It is…
Which side is DSA on?
Two days ago, Democratic Socialists of America’s online publication ran my article about my recent visit to Ukraine. It was entitled “Notes from Kyiv: Which side are we on?” DSA has now answered that question…
Review: Sell Us The Rope, by Stephen May
A new novel about the congress of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party of 1907? Starring Lenin, Trotsky, Stalin and Rosa Luxemburg? What’s not to like? And the book’s premise — that Stalin was a…
Israel: From protest to politics
I was recently invited by some Israeli leftists to participate in a discussion about what’s happening with the protest movement that is currently confronting the Netanyahu government. The title they gave to the discussion was…
Review: Pines, by Blake Crouch
I’ve been reading a lot of books by Blake Crouch, some I liked more than others. Pines is the first of the “Wayward Pines” trilogy, a series of books inspired by the television series “Twin…
Review: The Future of an Illusion, by Sigmund Freud
In 1927 Sigmund Freud was 71 years old and in failing health when he wrote this short book about religion. The title is a misnomer — there is hardly anything about the future here at…
Review: Patriots, by Peter Morgan
As I sometimes do, I saw this play recently and decided to read the text later. It was a very good play — and it is a superb text. This is the story of Russian…