Interview with a Bookfox: Foxtrot with Rosy

In the latest of our interviews with the foxes themselves, Kirsty and Rosy have a bit of a rambly chat about the loneliness of writing, the profound connection that comes with blogging…and the best way of eating haggis.
Kirsty says: So, interview.
Rosy says: Ahem yes.
Kirsty says: Right.
Kirsty says: Uh.
Rosy says: I have no idea what to [...]

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Hitler and Mars Bars by Dianne Ascroft

One of the comparatively little-considered after effects of the Second World War was the huge number of malnourished, traumatized and – often – orphaned children left stranded in the rubble of  Europe.
In response to the problem, the Irish Red Cross set up ‘Operation Shamrock’ –  whereby children from Germany, Austria and other war-damaged countries were [...]

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Gunsmoke and Mirrors, by Henry McDonald

Article by Michael Carley
The film Hunger, the first directed by artist Steve McQueen, has  recently won praise for its portrayal of the death of Bobby Sands, who  died in May 1981, as a result of a hunger strike in pursuit of  political status, the final act of a protest that had started four  years previously [...]

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Bobby Fischer Goes to War, by David Edmonds and John Eidinow

Article by Ken Owen
2008 was not the first time that Reykjavik was the focus of worldwide headlines. More improbably, it was chess, not the imminent collapse of the international banking system, which generated such interest. The 1972 world championship final represented the first time that an American had played on such a grand stage. Bobby [...]

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A Minor Change of Plan: the 2009 Russian Series Quiz

The bad news is that, due to a Series of Unfortunate, Not Particularly Awful but Fundamentally Rather Irritating Events, the Russian Series is unable to bring you Alexandra Kollontai’s unique perspective on the question of prostitution and labour desertion today.
The good news is that you have a fun Russian and Soviet studies quiz to tide [...]

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The Astronomer, an Aesop’s Fable

Part of our regular series celebrating The International Year of Astronomy.
An astronomer used to walk out every night to gaze upon the stars. It happened one night that, with his whole thoughts rapt up in the skies, he fell into a well. One who heard his cries ran up to him and said, “While [...]

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Coming Up on Vulpes Libris

This week is full of personality. Well, perhaps the plural — personalities — would be better, as we’ve got Alexandra Kollontai, a couple of Bobbys and Rosy, who is our next Book Fox to be spotlighted.
Monday – Jackie looks at one of Aesop’s lesser known fables The Astronomer.
Tuesday – Kirsty addresses a difficult topic with [...]

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Give and Take by Stona Fitch + Freebie + Publishing Experiment

“Seven years ago, I found that the road of excess did not lead to the palace of wisdom, as Blake promised. It led to the overpriced loft, a $75,000 Bösendorfer grand I couldn’t play, a blue BMW 7-Series sedan and a temperature-controlled cellar across town full of wine I never drank. It led to a [...]

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In Another Light by Andrew Greig

We are delighted to welcome yet another new guest contributor, in the shape of Nikki Poulton, with her review of Andrew Greig’s powerful dual narrative.
This is the story of Eddie McKay, who suffers a near death experience from which he recovers with a stent connecting his brain to his stomach and a desire to [...]

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Thursday Soapbox: John McGill on ‘Received Opinion’… and Robert Burns

In a Pickle
I wish I was a bigwig at the BBC, then I would make a pronouncement-promise: that during the next 250 years, while the earth properly settles around his bones, Robert Burns will have no more TV documentaries inflicted upon him.
Hard on the heels of St Andrew’s Day another fuzzy monster, Grendel’s mother in [...]

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