Culture That’s the Way It Crumbles: Matthew Engel explores Americanisms The author is especially vexed by the barbarous locution “wake-up call”. By John Sutherland
Drugs and misdemeanours: Will Self’s memoir Will The metaphysics begin with the dust-jacket: a big black “Will”. Underneath, an almost invisibly white “Self”. They are divided… By John Sutherland
Karl Miller’s grand style: John Sutherland remembers the late, great editor and academic Karl Miller was less a literary editor and more a conductor. He wielded his baton with the authority of a… By John Sutherland
Blue, white and read all over: the return of Pelican Books John Sutherland recalls how Penguin’s imprint, launched in 1937, gave education to the masses and challenged the Oxbridge status… By John Sutherland
How M R James’s ghost stories became a Christmas institution M R James is, by general agreement, the most accomplished of British ghost story creators - the perfect antidote… By John Sutherland
Jonathan Coe and Justin Cartwright: Fictional prime time The British novel, at its best, is engaged, liberal, highly informed, secular, sceptical and above all humane. By John Sutherland
Alexandria by Peter Stothard: A wander through places where the thoughts of the dead live on The loose-knittedness of Alexandria encourages Jack Hornerism. For me, the richest plums in the pudding are the digressions on… By John Sutherland
Reviewed: British Writers and MI5 Surveillance, 1930-60 by James Smit Nosy parkers. By John Sutherland
And is the way we live now so much better? The New Statesman Christmas - The BBC's Trollope serialisation leads John Sutherlandto draw By John Sutherland