blog posts in languages:
My latest blog posts
English Romanticism: Emotion captured in verse
For the poets of the Romantic movement, emotion was everything…
The secret life of a novelist
What is it really like to devote yourself to writing novels?
Immortalised in stone: the writers of Poets’ Corner
From Shakespeare to Dickens, the Brontë sisters to CS Lewis, this famous memorial honours many of the great writers who have shaped British literature…
Pygmalion and Galatea: A myth of art, beauty and love
An ancient Greek story that continues to inspire…
How my love of French influences my writing
‘The French language is a woman. And this woman is so beautiful, so proud, so modest, so adventurous, touching, sensual, chaste, noble, crazy, wise… that we love her with all our heart and soul.’ – Anatole France
Let’s reread our favourite children’s books
Revisiting old book friends can provide solace and inspiration…
Sunrise: the promise of a new day
‘The morning steals upon the night / Melting the darkness…’ – Shakespeare, The Tempest
The lonely heroine
Some love stories aren’t simply about romance, but about finding your family…
7 things to know about the Great Pyramid of Giza
Majestic, mysterious, ancient – a true Wonder of the World…
‘Dancing with the daffodils’
Finally, after the long winter, spring is beginning to bloom…
The sun gods of ancient religions
‘If I had to choose a religion, the sun as the universal giver of life would be my god.’ – Napoleon Bonaparte
For the love of period properties
What better backdrop for romance than a beautiful and soulful home?
Egyptomania and its influence on Western architecture
How has Ancient Egypt inspired the buildings around us?
Everyday phrases we owe to Shakespeare
Did you know that many common English phrases originated in the Bard’s writings?
An interview with Aida, heroine of Song of the Nile
What lies beneath the surface of this fiercely independent young woman?
The rewards of mindful reading
Rather than striving to read more books, how about really reading the books we choose?
New Year: the promise of a new beginning
‘The beginning is the most important part of the work.’ – Plato
Victoria, Albert and their passion for Christmas
Tracing Christmas traditions back to this queen and her prince consort…
Can we read ourselves warmer this winter?
Does fiction offer a glimmer of hope in these cold, dark months?
What made Rameses the Great so great?
The famous ‘Ozymandias’ really made his mark in Ancient Egypt.
The fives names of an Ancient Egyptian pharaoh
Why have one name when you can have five?
My latest blog posts
English Romanticism: Emotion captured in verse
For the poets of the Romantic movement, emotion was everything…
The secret life of a novelist
What is it really like to devote yourself to writing novels?
Immortalised in stone: the writers of Poets’ Corner
From Shakespeare to Dickens, the Brontë sisters to CS Lewis, this famous memorial honours many of the great writers who have shaped British literature…
Pygmalion and Galatea: A myth of art, beauty and love
An ancient Greek story that continues to inspire…
How my love of French influences my writing
‘The French language is a woman. And this woman is so beautiful, so proud, so modest, so adventurous, touching, sensual, chaste, noble, crazy, wise… that we love her with all our heart and soul.’ – Anatole France
Let’s reread our favourite children’s books
Revisiting old book friends can provide solace and inspiration…
Sunrise: the promise of a new day
‘The morning steals upon the night / Melting the darkness…’ – Shakespeare, The Tempest
The lonely heroine
Some love stories aren’t simply about romance, but about finding your family…
7 things to know about the Great Pyramid of Giza
Majestic, mysterious, ancient – a true Wonder of the World…
‘Dancing with the daffodils’
Finally, after the long winter, spring is beginning to bloom…
My latest blog posts
English Romanticism: Emotion captured in verse
For the poets of the Romantic movement, emotion was everything…
The secret life of a novelist
What is it really like to devote yourself to writing novels?
Immortalised in stone: the writers of Poets’ Corner
From Shakespeare to Dickens, the Brontë sisters to CS Lewis, this famous memorial honours many of the great writers who have shaped British literature…
Pygmalion and Galatea: A myth of art, beauty and love
An ancient Greek story that continues to inspire…
How my love of French influences my writing
‘The French language is a woman. And this woman is so beautiful, so proud, so modest, so adventurous, touching, sensual, chaste, noble, crazy, wise… that we love her with all our heart and soul.’ – Anatole France