The Essay Episodes Available now
A Norwegian Morality Tale—New Generation Thinkers
Lucy Weir learns dark lessons from newspaper coverage of Black Metal and satanic rituals.
Beyond the Betting Shop—New Generation Thinkers
Darragh McGee on the history of gambling, from 18th-century card games to phone apps.
Colonial Papers—New Generation Thinkers
Alexandra Reza's Essay considers the Gilets Noirs, Ousmane Sembène and Nathalie Quintane.
Battlefield Finds—New Generation Thinkers
Seren Griffiths tells the story of the soldier turned archaeologist Francis Buckley.
Hoarding or Collecting?—New Generation Thinkers
Diarmuid Hester sorts through stuff saved by Francis Bacon, Vivian Maier and his own dad.
The Inscrutable Writing of Sui Sin Far—New Generation Thinkers
Xine Yao suggests that a poker Chinese face can be a good way of fighting back
A Social History of Soup—New Generation Thinkers
Tom Scott-Smith uses four recipes to track social reforms and changes in what we value.
Jean Rhys's Dress—New Generation Thinkers
A pregnant Sophie Oliver found comfort in a floral outfit owned by the Caribbean author.
New Generation Thinkers Jean Rhys's Dress
Sophie Oliver on motherhood, a dress and rereading Wide Sargasso Sea
The Feurtado's Fire—New Generation Thinkers
Christienna Fryar looks at Caribbean earthquakes and fires and lessons for rebuilding now.
