Charles Dickens

The Victorian Origins of Crime Writing – A talk given at HULF, 30 April 2022

This is an extended version of a talk given at the Crime, Thriller and Mystery Books event, Hawkesbury Upton Literary Festival, 30 April 2022 (a “long read”). “How are …

Pugs, Roos and Amazonians: Some Lesser Known Boxing Matches of the Eighteenth Century

In eighteenth and nineteenth century Britain, bare-knuckle boxing was a popular sport which drew followers from across the social spectrum, from the Prince of Wales and the aristocracy down. Charles …

Silver Sound with Mervyn Kemp, 16 December 2016: Favourite Christmas Books

I was on Silver Sound with fellow-presenter Mervyn yesterday in a show devoted to all things Christmas. I had selected three of my favourite Christmassy reads. These are the ones …