My latest work on the Middle East, in ‘History Today’
‘They are not a historic turning point in Arab-Israeli relations because they do not directly address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.’ In the context of the Abraham Accords, I wrote a new, short, piece on Israel-Palestine in the February issue of History Today. I was flattered to to appear in print alongside...
Assignment Moscow: ‘History Today’ podcast
I spoke recently to Paul Lay, Editor of History Today, for an episode of the magazine’s podcast. You can listen to the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts from the links below, and you can read History Today‘s review of Assignment Moscow here. You can buy the book direct...
Victory In Europe? The Champions League, The Christmas Market, War, And Brexit
Finding your way in a strange city has got easier with apps, but even they can let you down in urban areas where the closeness of buildings confuses the software. I was a little late. My flight had been on time; the car I had booked had turned up;...
Why Russians Are Good At Chess, And Why It Helps To Know That
This is a story first published on Forbes.com in September 2018. In recent weeks, it has once again attracted a lot of traffic there–I suspect because of the popularity of The Queen’s Gambit TV series, so I am reposting it here for any readers who may not have seen...
When War Came To West London: The Battle Of Turnham Green
CIVILIANS LIVING IN WAR ZONES quickly learn that certain places can be safe one week; deadly dangerous the next. Such lessons soon fade as generations pass, and those who come after–living in peacetime–are blessed not to have to remember how it was to live in fearing daily for their...
Assignment Moscow: Upcoming Events
I have two upcoming talks on my new book, Assignment Moscow: Reporting on Russia From Lenin to Putin. Both will be taking place on Zoom. Please book a place and join the discussion! The first is organized by Pushkin House on Tuesday 27th October at 1800 GMT. Details here....
Reporting on World War II From the Soviet Union
I have just had a post published on the BBC History Research web page. You can read the post, which includes pictures from the BBC archives, here. Full text follows below. JOURNALISM AND HISTORY: the former is frequently called the first draft of the latter, but often drawing on...
Assignment Moscow at the Chiswick Book Festival 2020
The Chiswick Book festival 2020 took place almost entirely online–although I was one of the lucky local west London authors who was able to record a promo for their work in the Chiswick Playhouse (it was great to be in a theatre, however briefly). You can watch the video...
Assignment Moscow: latest media coverage
This week I spoke to Andrew Mueller on Monocle 24 about the ideas in Assignment Moscow: Reporting on Russian from Lenin to Putin . You can listen to the interview here https://monocle.com/radio/shows/the-briefing/2302/reporting-russia/ and you can read a review of the book by Ellie Holbrook in the current issue of...
Assignment Moscow: Russia’s Story From Lenin To Putin
I outlined some of my ideas from Assignment Moscow: Reporting on Russia from Lenin to Putin in a recent piece for The Conversation. I am republishing it here. WHAT A CONTRAST IT WAS. In early May 2000, Vladimir Putin strode through the Kremlin’s gilded corridors, his progress relayed on...