New Posts
My 2026 writing course on Lesbos
I’m leading a writing course on the beautiful Greek island of Lesbos from 5-12 September 2026.
Who’s afraid of autocracy?
“Mr Nobody against Putin” and “The Wave” highlight the seductive danger of autocracy, and why we should never assume “it couldn’t happen here”.
Get Out the movie: a near classic.
Get Out the movie: what makes this low-budget horror comedy mystery suspense movie worth a look? Originality and playful politics. A young black man goes
The Third Man movie locations in Vienna
The Third Man movie locations include numerous iconic sites in the heart of Vienna. Here is the Palais Pallavicini, location of Harry Lime’s apartment, as it appears today.
Julian Barnes and Angela Hewitt
Julian Barnes and Angela Hewitt created an unforgettable combination of words and music when they performed together in Vienna. Julian Barnes and Angela Hewitt: The
Tatiana speaks: how to enjoy the best Hotel Stories in the world
‘If I am honest, I am astonished that so many readers are interested in reading about Ms N, my small but perfectly formed boss. In my opinion, Ms N may be “glamorous” and “petite”. But she is also a normal hotel manager like any other – except that she is a woman.
Vienna cafe reviews: which are best for you?
Vienna Cafe Reviews – a personal collection of my favourite Viennese cafes from the Hawelka to the Korb via the Sperl and the Eiles. Choose
Chuck Berry greatest songs
Chuck Berry greatest songs – always worth a listen. When the great man died, I put together my personal Top 7 – not all of
Civilisation goes backwards: welcome to “Eternal Life”
Civilisation goes backwards. Could it happen? My thriller “Eternal Life” explores a future we could face all too soon.
Enjoy the Swedish Woman: ‘Tatiana, show mercy!’
Enjoy the Swedish Woman: the third of the “Hotel Stories” looks at prejudices and stereotypes about men and women.
The Alan Clark Diaries: Ten burning questions.
The Alan Clark diaries are fascinating, addictive and horrifying. The world has changed. Yet Clark embodies the narcissism of all politicians
Mind control: how it actually works, with examples
Mind control scares people – with good reason. But how does it actually work, using big data and psychometrics? Here’s a concrete example of how a company used big data to influence voting patterns in a US election.
The Lives of Others
Review of The Lives of Others: not only one of the best movies about Communism, but also a moral challenge: what would you do if
The Simpsons Brick Like Me
The Simpsons “Brick Like Me”, combining Lego and Bart, is a reminder of why this animated sitcom is, possibly, the most sophisticated show on TV.
Ways to smartphone detox
Ways to smartphone detox: it’s not easy. But you can help yourself with some easy detoxing methods. Start with a couple and build up. Smartphones
“Tatort” German crime series
“Tatort” German crime series: this classic – featuring also Austria and Switzerland – is great for language, culture and psychology
Tuchman’s Law
What is Tuchman’s law and why does it matter? It is not only elegant, but can actually improve your quality of life. I recently examined
Social realism cinema: Captain Fantastic vs I, Daniel Blake
Social realism cinema survives and thrives. Two 2016 movies, “I, Daniel Blake” and “Captain Fantastic” offer US and British versions. An American man tries to
Brilliant movie trailers
Brilliant movie trailers persuade you, quite simply, to go and watch the movie. Unfortunately most are lying – including this one. Movie sequels are rubbish
The Swedish Woman – Hotel Story No.3
The Swedish Woman is a true whodunnit. In an hotel elevator awash with blood, a horrible man lies, murdered. But who is the killer?
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