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“Uncle Fred in the Springtime” by P G Wodehouse
A review of Uncle Fred in the Springtime, one of PG Wodehouse’s Blandings Castle comedies. Bonus: 21 springy quotations. The six Blandings Castle novels by PG Wodehouse in my Folio Society edition are: Summer Lightning Heavy Weather Uncle Fred in the Springtime Full Moon Pigs have Wings Service with a Smile I have so far reviewed those highlighted in the bold
Writing tips: how to start writing
Many people writing a book are looking for writing prompts or ideas for stories. A couple of simple writing tips may help, including: start writing!
Coronavirus: how to cope with uncertainty
The coronavirus crisis shows us a number of ways to deal with uncertainty. But dealing with uncertainty is easier with practice and a bit of
Barbara Kingsolver: Unsheltered: 9 reasons (not) to despair
A review of “Unsheltered” by Barbara Kingsolver, with quotations, reflecting on what it says about the mood of contemporary America. Barbara Kingsolver is a great
10 reasons to like Austria – and 30 pictures
As the coronavirus crisis continues, I’m writing upbeat posts to celebrate countries I’ve lived in. Here are ten reasons to like Austria, where I lived
Four extremes of passion, three nations
The Finnish ambassador turned to me. ‘It’s not true that Finns have no sense of humour,’ he said. ‘Or that we lack passion.’ ‘For example,’
Should you read W Somerset Maugham?
To say W Somerset Maugham is unfashionable is like saying that J K Rowling has sold a few books. Yet he remains popular. My post about
Robert Pimm videos
You can now see a selection of videos of Robert Pimm in action on my new YouTube channel. Who knows? Perhaps one or two of
Ten reasons to like Lesotho
Let’s celebrate. We’re going through a ghastly coronavirus crisis. But we should not forget that the world is wonderful. I thought I would write in
Robert Pimm readings in Berlin – and Vienna
In February, before Coronavirus, I did three readings. Two were in Berlin, from my Berlin thriller Blood Summit. The other was in Vienna, from my feminist
Sixty Seconds with Robert Pimm
Someone did an interview with me the other day using the “60 Seconds” format. I found the questions searching, and had to invest a little
Ten reasons to like Turkey
Let’s celebrate. We’re going through a ghastly coronavirus crisis. But we should not forget that the world is wonderful. I thought I would write in
Coronavirus Vienna (with 36 pictures you never saw before)
One person’s experience of Coronavirus Vienna: lockdown, closures – and a wonderful city, even in coronavirus times. Plus 36 pictures of Vienna in lockdown. When
Middlemarch is the book for Coronavirus: 25 epigrams
What are epigrams? They are eloquent phrases written by George Eliot in the novel “Middlemarch”. Other people write them, too. What to do, when you
“Vintage Season” – a story for a coronavirus outbreak
“Vintage Season” – what if the terrible time we are living in right now was judged by history to have been the best of all
How to be happy
In these coronavirus days, it’s worth recalling how to be happy. I’m going out to dinner tonight, so this might be my last chance. I’m
From Herr to Maternity
By Robert Pimm Financial Times, May 9, 2003 I’m picking up the kids from school here in Berlin when a teacher accosts me. “Started being a
Great Vienna bars: Aurora at Andaz Belvedere
Which rooftop bar in Vienna has: outstanding cocktails the best view in Vienna total coolness? Here’s a clue: Here are some reasons I like the
Are “The Hotel Stories” feminist?
At a recent reading from my blackly comic “Seven Hotel Stories” in Vienna, a man asked me: ‘These stories seem explicitly feminist. Is that intentional?’
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