This is a great book for dipping into at random, and can work in two ways. One would be for sheer pleasure. The other would be to check your knowledge of the allusions. And, of course, knowing them is likely to elicit even more pleasure.
Read Morehumour
Generated in AI
Epistolary: Letter to Rebecca #25-11
Did you know that Rebecca Holden and I write a letter on Substack to each other on Wednesdays? Well, we do, and this is the latest one from me to her. Read on for a jolly good chortle.
Read MoreGraphic by Terry Freedman
My North Thames Gas Saga
Quite by chance I’ve been reading about bureaucracy recently — such as in customer (dis)service — and it reminded me of North Thames Gas’s attempts to drive me mad. That was many years ago and North Thames Gas doesn’t even exist any more, but even now the mere mention of a gas company starts my nervous twitch going.
Read MoreTerry Freedman and Fred Terryman discuss the question: What makes a great and successful writer?
This is a transcript of a conversation between Fred Terryman and myself. It’s been lightly edited, with the pauses taken out for ease of reading.
Read MoreA load of chips — photo by Terry Freedman
A film and a meal
Lois has an arts degree from the University of Oxford, which means that she can tell you everything you need to know about the influence of post-modernism on Latin-American literature in the final quarter of the twentieth century, but she can’t add up.
Read MoreMansplaining Jane Austen
I was very pleased to be able to give a load of women the benefit of my wisdom and experience on a Jane Austen course a few months ago.
Read Morestation platform, by Terry Freedman
The train now standing on platform 10
Transport in London these days is, for the most part, sleek, efficient. The epitome of this newish Utopia is the Elizabeth Line, with its silent, gliding carriages, air-conditioning and wi-fi. The announcements are soothing...
Read MoreAn intriguing interlude on the Underground
Travelling back from my saxophone lesson on Saturday, a very attractive young woman kept looking at me. Did I finally have sax appeal I asked myself.
Read MoreWhat makes a great and successful writer?
This is a transcript of a conversation between Fred Terryman and myself. It’s been lightly edited, with the pauses taken out for ease of reading.
Read MoreSpotting the BS
“You’ve been speaking to that blasted Freedman, haven’t you?!”
Read MoreImage created by Dall-E for Terry Freedman
Crossed wires: creative nonfiction
“Terry has a great ability to grasp and capture the everyday, as well as an excellent feel for the quotidian conversations and dialogues that make up so much of our ordinary lives out in the real world. And from this he is able to mine real meaning and insight.” From Tom Bevan’s introduction to this essay.
Read MoreEveryone has a book in them, and with any luck that's where it will stay
This is how Tom Gauld sees it…
Read MoreProof of time travel by Terry Freedman
Photoprompt #18: Time travel is a reality!
I took a photo of this blue plaque in London today: note the year!
Read More