Category Archives: writing

The Cusp of Something

Posted on October 28, 2007 by Charles Lambert

“Jai Clare’s stories are filled with the disaffected, those who kick against their everyday lives, who crave the mystic when seeking their spirituality, and who are desperate to be alone as much as they are desperate to be with someone. … Continue reading →

Posted in story, writing | 3 Comments

The benefits of a university education

Posted on October 18, 2007 by Charles Lambert

Shortly before New Writing 15 came out in June, I entered the title into Google to see what pre-publication attention, if any, it was getting. The faint, almost inaudible buzz I did find came from the blogs of a handful … Continue reading →

Posted in new writing 15, publishing, writing | 2 Comments

Two days in London

Posted on September 29, 2007 by Charles Lambert

Just back from two event-packed days in London. One’s sense of a city is necessarily skewed by what takes place in it, so right now the capital – after two book launches, a meeting with my editor at Picador and … Continue reading →

Posted in art, isobel dixon, writing | 1 Comment

NW15

Posted on September 4, 2007 by Charles Lambert

If you’d like to read Entertaining Friends, the story of mine that was included in the Granta/British Council anthology, New Writing 15, click here. You can also enjoy the glossary, which explains, among other things, details of Roman topography, past … Continue reading →

Posted in new writing 15, shameless self-promotion, writing | 1 Comment

A vagabond life

Posted on July 7, 2007 by Charles Lambert

This is an act of the purest philanthropy on my part. Read Wendell Ricketts’ blog Una Vita Vagabonda. The philanthropy isn’t directed at Wendell, who is smarter, funnier and a better photographer than I am, and therefore doesn’t need it, … Continue reading →

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De Groei

Posted on July 6, 2007 by Charles Lambert

You can find the contents page of Vrij Nederland, with a three-line extract from my story The Growing (or De Groei) here (at the top of page two). It’s all double single Dutch to me, but I like the sound … Continue reading →

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Chinese whispers

Posted on July 2, 2007 by Charles Lambert

As someone who’s made a (poor) living from academic translation in the past – I now make a poor living from editing my own dear language into UN-speak – I’m deeply impressed by good literary translators. I would never have … Continue reading →

Posted in language, pasolini, story, translation, writing | Leave a comment

Blair’s last whinge

Posted on June 13, 2007 by Charles Lambert

Am I the only one to have noticed just how appallingly written Blair’s whining attack on the press is? (Read it here, if you really must.) I’m not saying that grammatical manners maketh man, a la Lynne Truss, but should … Continue reading →

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The Possibility of an Island

Posted on June 9, 2007 by Charles Lambert

I‘ve just finished reading this novel by Michel Houellebecq and I’m disappointed. It has the same lazy, rather awkward style that’s characteristic of all his work and is intended, presumably, to show that he doesn’t have the time or energy … Continue reading →

Posted in ed dorn, houellebecq, review, writing | Leave a comment

New Writing 15

Posted on June 8, 2007 by Charles Lambert

Just got my complimentary copy of New Writing 15, published by Granta and the British Council. My story (Entertaining Friends), ironically, isn’t new at all. It was written many years ago, and describes the pleasures and perils of a world … Continue reading →

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