44 m. ago The Young Man by Annie Ernaux audiobook review – anatomy of an affair

The Nobel winner explores the dynamics of her relationship with a student 30 years her junior in an intimate, taboo-breaking memoirIn Annie Ernaux’s autobiographical story, translated by Alison L Strayer, the author recalls a past affair with a student who was 30 years her junior. “Often I have made love to force myself to write I hoped that orgasm, the most violent end to waiting that can be, would make me feel certain that there is no greater pleasure than writing a book.” In other words, she is keen to break her writer’s block. But, to both their surprise, the affair becomes “a relationship that we longed to take to the limit, without really knowing what that meant”.The Young Man is Ernaux’s shortest memoir yet, clocking just over half an hour in audio. But brevity doesn’t impede her ability to get to the heart of the intimate dynamics or external pressures of a situation that many others view as taboo. The couple get disapproving looks in restaurants, which, rather than leaving ...

Politics

1 hour ago Sally Rooney unable to collect award over Palestine Action arrest threat

The Normal People author can no longer safely enter the UK without potentially facing arrest, according to a statement read out by her publisher at the prize ceremonyIrish author Sally Rooney could not travel to collect a literary prize this week over concerns that she may be arrested if she enters the UK, given her support of banned group Palestine Action.Rooney won the Sky Arts award for literature for her fourth novel, Intermezzo. At a ceremony on Tuesday, audiences were told that Rooney “couldn’t be here”, before her editor, Faber publisher Alex Bowler, collected the award on her behalf. Continue reading...

Events

2 h. ago Sally Rooney: I cannot safely enter UK without facing arrest over Palestine

The Irish author is a supporter of Palestine Action, which was banned as a terror organisation in July.

Events

32 h. ago Sally Rooney and Annie Ernaux among authors urging Macron to reinstate Gaza writers programme

20 authors, including Viet Thanh Nguyen and Abdulrazak Gurnah, call on the French president to restart scheme to help creatives evacuateSally Rooney, Deborah Levy, Nobel laureate Annie Ernaux and Pulitzer winner Viet Thanh Nguyen are among 20 authors urging French president Emmanuel Macron to resume a “lifeline” programme for evacuating Palestinian writers, scholars and artists from Gaza.The Pause programme for writers and artists in emergency situations, as well as a student evacuation programme, were abruptly suspended by the French government at the beginning of August over a Palestinian student’s allegedly antisemitic online remarks, a decision that the letter-writing authors said amounted to a “collective punishment”. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago New Zealand police join Australia’s ‘largest ever’ manhunt for fugitive Dezi Freeman

Authorities have eased a travel warning that urged people to avoid Porepunkah, but ‘be vigilant and understand the environment’

Events

6 d. ago Charlie Kirk's assassin sniper's nest giving him a terrifying clear shot before he vanished into thin air

The sniper's nest used by the assassin who killed Charlie Kirk has been revealed by authorities as they continue an urgent manhunt for the gunman.

Events

7 d. ago Poland dismisses Russia’s claim drone incursion was unintentional as UK considers bolstering Nato air defences – live

Poland’s deputy PM said Russian drones ‘did not veer off course’ but deliberately targeted PolandFull report: Poland shoots down drones over its territory amid Russian attack on Ukraine, says militaryLubelskie region governor Krzysztof Komorski is leading an emergency meeting with the police this morning. In a post on X, he urged residents to follow the guidance from the relevant authorities.Prime minister Donald Tusk meanwhile said in his latest update that he is in “constant contact” with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte. Continue reading...

Society

7 d. ago Businesses demand Renfrewshire Council rethinks Paisley town centre parking charges amid serious economic impact

Local authority urged to hold talks with Paisley First to discuss a "compromise" that gives traders a "fighting chance".

Economics

8 d. ago Poland ‘closer to conflict than at any time since WW2’ as UK forces are asked to bolster Nato air defences – live

UK defence secretary says Russian drone incursion signals ‘new level of hostility against Europe’ Full report: Poland shoots down drones over its territory amid Russian attack on Ukraine, says militaryLubelskie region governor Krzysztof Komorski is leading an emergency meeting with the police this morning. In a post on X, he urged residents to follow the guidance from the relevant authorities.Prime minister Donald Tusk meanwhile said in his latest update that he is in “constant contact” with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte. Continue reading...

Society

8 d. ago Poland closer to conflict than any time since second world war, PM says, as Russia claims drone incursion was unintentional – live

Donald Tusk says there were 19 violations of Polish airspace overnight and most likely that four drones shot downFull report: Poland shoots down drones over its territory amid Russian attack on Ukraine, says militaryLubelskie region governor Krzysztof Komorski is leading an emergency meeting with the police this morning. In a post on X, he urged residents to follow the guidance from the relevant authorities.Prime minister Donald Tusk meanwhile said in his latest update that he is in “constant contact” with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago Poland’s PM warns prospect of military conflict ‘closer than at any time since second world war’ amid Russian drone incursion – live

Tusk says there were 19 violations of Polish airspace overnight and most likely that four drones shot downFull report: Poland shoots down drones over its territory amid Russian attack on Ukraine, says militaryLubelskie region governor Krzysztof Komorski is leading an emergency meeting with the police this morning. In a post on X, he urged residents to follow the guidance from the relevant authorities.Prime minister Donald Tusk meanwhile said in his latest update that he is in “constant contact” with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago Poland’s PM warns prospect of military conflict ‘closer than at any time since second world war’ amid Russian drone incursion – follow live

Tusk says there were 19 violations of Polish airspace overnight and most likely that four drones shot downFull report: Poland shoots down drones over its territory amid Russian attack on Ukraine, says militaryLubelskie region governor Krzysztof Komorski is leading an emergency meeting with the police this morning. In a post on X, he urged residents to follow the guidance from the relevant authorities.Prime minister Donald Tusk meanwhile said in his latest update that he is in “constant contact” with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago Tusk warns prospect of military conflict ‘closer than at any time since second world war’ amid Russian drone incursion – follow live

Tusk says the first signals from Nato members show the understanding of how serious the situation is Full report: Poland shoots down drones over its territory amid Russian attack on Ukraine, says militaryLubelskie region governor Krzysztof Komorski is leading an emergency meeting with the police this morning. In a post on X, he urged residents to follow the guidance from the relevant authorities.Prime minister Donald Tusk meanwhile said in his latest update that he is in “constant contact” with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago ‘Huge number of Russian drones’ violated our airspace, says Poland’s PM – follow live

Tusk says that those which posed a threat were shot down as Zelenskyy says incursion sets ‘extremely dangerous precedent for Europe’Full report: Poland shoots down drones over its territory amid Russian attack on Ukraine, says militaryLubelskie region governor Krzysztof Komorski is leading an emergency meeting with the police this morning. In a post on X, he urged residents to follow the guidance from the relevant authorities.Prime minister Donald Tusk meanwhile said in his latest update that he is in “constant contact” with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte. Continue reading...

Society

2 w. ago Rebecca F Kuang: ‘A Tale of Two Cities is deeply silly camp – I love it!’

The US writer on being switched on to romance by Sally Rooney, the magic of David Mitchell and the joy of Jean-Paul SartreMy favourite book growing up Brian Jacques’s Redwall (and all its sequels). All I wanted was to be a squirrel in the Mossflower Woods!The books that changed me as a teenager I read China Miéville’s Perdido Street Station and The City & the City when I was in college. I had been falling out of love with fantasy – I felt too old for Redwall, and I thought I’d outgrown the genre – but Miéville’s work opened the door to the enormous world of adult fantasy literature that grappled with the problems I was now interested in. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Little appetite for celebrities airing political views, polling suggests

Asked about which groups they would be interested in hearing more from on political issues, 8% said celebrities.

Politics

last month Do you have a high street full of gambling shops breeding poverty and addiction? I have a way to fight back | Dawn Butler

Communities feel powerless because the law gives betting firms the upper hand. But a simple change could transfer power to the people• Dawn Butler is MP for Brent EastWalking down their local high streets, people in Britain are increasingly unlikely to come across a local butcher, baker or grocery shop, and more likely to find betting shops, casinos, adult gaming centres (AGC) and so-called bingo venues, where traditional bingo is muscled out by money-sapping slot machines. These establishments are taking over our town centres at an alarming rate. From talking to my constituents in Brent, west London, and residents across the capital, I know that people have had enough.That’s why this summer I have launched a campaign for urgent reform of our gambling laws. Ministers must give local authorities and people greater power to tackle this issue and reclaim our high streets. Currently, billionaire-owned overseas corporations have too much power, and local people have none. That needs to c...

Politics