ONE OF THE MOST GRIMLY FUNNY POEMS OF the past century is Philip Larkin’s “This Be the Verse,” with its opening salvo about how our parents invariably mess us up. Larkin used a saltier word for “mess,

The English House: A History in Eight Buildings ...

Underworlds Alexander Podrabinek Between Prison and Freedom Memoir ...

Pulse Cynan Jones (Granta, £14.99) Saints Tim MacGabhann ...

He’s not going to make it, George. If you don’t come and make your peace, you’ll regret it forever.” It was Brize who told me. He had driven over from his Field Hospital to find me. Timing was fortuna

December round-up Although he’s been writing and performing for many years, Donald WG Lindsay might come across as a bold new Scottish talent on Two Boats Under the Moon, his excellent two-disc debut