Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations didn’t just shape economics—it transformed English. His vivid terms like invisible hand, laissez-faire, and division of labor embedded Enlightenment ideas into everyday speech. Today, his legacy lives on not just in markets, but in the very language we use to describe them.
Adam Smith (1723–1790) – Architect of Economic English
I’ve just translated a couple of Cavafy’s poems, both on historical themes. The first one is a fictional tomb inscription for a young Alexandrian youth called Iasis; Iasis’s tomb Here lie I, Iasis, a youth of this great cityfamed for his beauty.Wise men admired me and also thoughtless,ordinary people. I’m equally glad for both of […]
Two poems of Cavafy’s
Back in May, Faber and Faber reissued Alexander Baron’s brilliant novel The Lowlife, the entertaining, picaresque story of an amiable Jewish charmer trying to get by on his wits in seedy post-war London. The book is a welcome addition to the excellent Faber Editions series, which aims to spotlight rediscovered gems from the publisher’s archive […]
London Novels – ten favourites from my shelves
Born April 10, 1778, William Hazlitt transformed English literature through essays that fused intellect and emotion. His vivid style, critical insight, and personal voice helped define the Romantic era and shaped modern literary thought, influencing generations of writers and deepening the way we reflect on art, politics, and human nature.
Birth of William Hazlitt – Voice of the Romantic Essay
Maison et jardin vivent encore je le sais, mais qu’importe si la magie les a quittés, si le secret est perdu qui ouvrait, -lumière, odeurs, harmonie d’arbres et d’oiseaux, murmure de voix humaines qu’a déjà suspendu la mort, – un monde dont j’ai cessé d’être digne ?. Il arrivait qu’un livre, ouvert sur le dallage […]
Où sont les enfants?
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