01 Jun 2026

Susannah Books, Newsletter, Reading 7 Comments Permalink

Books You’ve Never Read

Susannah 1 June 2026 7 Comments

In David Lodge’s novel Changing Places, a group of literature professors play a game called ‘Humiliation’. Read more

01 Jun 2026

Susannah Books, Newsletter, Reading 2 Comments Permalink

Letter from Provence: A Memoir

Susannah 1 June 2026 2 Comments

In 1991 author Peter Mayle’s book A Year in Provence was published and was a huge success. Read more

01 Jun 2026

Susannah Newsletter, Poets 2 Comments Permalink

John Keats’ Letters

Susannah 1 June 2026 2 Comments

Letters written by the Romantic poet John Keats to Fanny Brawne will be coming up for auction this month at Sotheby’s in New York. Read more

01 Jun 2026

Susannah Literary Trees, Newsletter No Comments Permalink

Literary Trees – Tolstoy’s Oak Tree

Susannah 1 June 2026 No Comments

In Tolstoy’s War and Peace, Prince Andrei is travelling through the Russian countryside. He is in a state of despair. Read more

01 Jun 2026

Susannah Newsletter, Poem of the Month, Poems, Poets 3 Comments Permalink

Thomas Moore & The Last Rose of Summer

Susannah 1 June 2026 3 Comments

Some poems are written to go with music, as songs. One of my favourites is Irish poet Thomas Moore’s The Last Rose of Summer. Read more

01 May 2026

Susannah Newsletter 4 Comments Permalink

The Names of Awards

Susannah 1 May 2026 4 Comments

This newsletter goes out to you while I am on a literary tour in Sicily. Read more

01 May 2026

Susannah Books, Newsletter 2 Comments Permalink

Sisters in Literature

Susannah 1 May 2026 2 Comments

I have been enjoying the early episodes of ‘The Other Bennet Sister’ (on Foxtel and Binge), based on a novel by Janice Hadlow. Read more

01 May 2026

Susannah Authors, Books 5 Comments Permalink

A Good Historical Murder Mystery

Susannah 1 May 2026 5 Comments

Those of you who love a good historical murder mystery might enjoy two books I recently read at top speed, not wanting to put them down. Read more

01 May 2026

Susannah Authors, Books, Literary Trees, Newsletter 3 Comments Permalink

Literary Trees – Pirandello’s Pine Tree

Susannah 1 May 2026 3 Comments

In Andrea Camilleri’s Inspector Montalbano novels, Salvo Montalbano loves to sit under a Saracen olive tree to mull over the tricky cases he is trying to solve. Read more

01 May 2026

Susannah Poem of the Month 4 Comments Permalink

Sylvia Plath & Mushrooms

Susannah 1 May 2026 4 Comments

I have never included a Sylvia Plath poem in my Poem of the Month selection, so here’s one from that fascinating American poet. Read more

01 Apr 2026

Susannah Authors, Newsletter, Talks 40 Comments Permalink

Jewels in Literature

Susannah 1 April 2026 40 Comments

It is generally considered that one of the greatest short stories ever written is The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant Read more

01 Apr 2026

Susannah Books, Newsletter 4 Comments Permalink

Persephone Books

Susannah 1 April 2026 4 Comments

Have you ever come across Persephone Books? Read more

01 Apr 2026

Susannah Authors, Books, Newsletter No Comments Permalink

Pets and their People

Susannah 1 April 2026 No Comments

Having just published a book about famous writers and their cats, how could I resist a book called Pets and Their People? Read more

01 Apr 2026

Susannah Authors, Literary Trees No Comments Permalink

Literary Trees – Coleridge’s Lime Tree

Susannah 1 April 2026 No Comments

In 1797, Samuel Taylor Coleridge was looking forward to what he liked best – the company of literary friends Read more

01 Apr 2026

Susannah Poem of the Month, Poems 2 Comments Permalink

Philip Larkin & The Mower

Susannah 1 April 2026 2 Comments

For this month’s poem I have chosen a work by Philip Larkin (1922 – 1985). Read more