
So you want to be a writer? Here's some (polite) advice from the best
Now, under the stewardship of Whitman's daughter, also Sylvia – and certainly in this collection of interviews, edited by the novelist Adam Biles – the shop continues to attract plenty of famous authors and names, who are regularly hosted to do public talks. And talk they most certainly do.
The Shakespeare and Company Book of Interviews offers 20 conversations with writers who have appeared at the shop over the last decade or so. The names of the novelists, short story writers and non-fiction authors are mostly Anglophone and Anglo-American – George Saunders, Percival Everett, Rachel Cusk, Geoff Dyer are just some – with a few francophone and international presences (Annie Ernaux, Meena Kandasamy) thrown in to interrupt the inexorable drift towards the Anglosphere.
There's a brief introduction by Whitman and a foreword from Biles, the bookshop's literary director and all-round in-house interlocutor. Otherwise, what we're left with is a loose transcript of exchanges – by turns illuminating, meandering, sharp, glib and ruminative – about books, ideas and the writing life. As a document of the current literary moment, it's perhaps uneven, but also rather revealing.
The format is simple. Each chapter reproduces a recorded interview from one of the shop's live events – which is also typically released as a podcast – lightly edited and mercifully short. It's a winning approach. The unguarded setting – a small Parisian bookshop, a live audience, a fellow writer asking questions – often coaxes from the guests a nice, informal exchange of ideas. Writers who can often seem rather verbose and stage-managed – George Saunders, say, or Karl Ove Knausgaard – come across here as lucid and personable.
One of the things that the book demonstrates most clearly is that the idea of the 'writer' has become rather diffuse. Save the venue, no unifying theme or thread really binds the interviews together: we get theoretical physicist Carlo Rovelli, talking about his book The Order of Time, for example, alongside Reni Eddo-Lodge on Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race.
These days, novelists are also often simultaneously essayists, memoirists, activists and cultural critics. Olivia Laing, for example, reflecting on her book about the curses and blessings of urban life and solitude, The Lonely City, glides effortlessly from discussing art to sex to psychiatry in little more than 10 pages of transcript. Like many of the authors, Laing is intellectually supple, charismatic and finely attuned to the needs of the audience.
These reflections on writing are various, and often fascinating: Marlon James, for example, reveals that after a long day's work he tends to crash and burn 'and cry about my miserable life'; George Saunders talks about his life as an 'aspiring Buddhist', and Leïla Slimani reflects on the challenges of writing about the psychology of children.
At its best, the book presents writers trying to think aloud rather than simply performing thought. Percival Everett is a case in point: a writer who resists the very format of the interview itself. Wry, dry and reluctant to indulge in interpretation or self-revelation, he dispatches many of Biles's questions about his Booker-shortlisted novel James with an easy shrug. Asked about his hopes for his work, he replies, 'Most of the time I just hope that when I'm driving down the freeway the other driver stays on his side of the road.' This refusal is pointed. In a literary culture where authors are often expected to expound upon their work and sum it up into neat little paraphrases, Everett's resistance is a demonstration of integrity.
As such, the collection's tone varies throughout. Some writers approach the interview as a site of intellectual play – Cusk does so brilliantly – while others treat it as a promotional stop over. Colson Whitehead 's chat, for instance, is extraordinarily smooth, with him reciting the origin story of The Underground Railroad in the same press-friendly cadences one suspects he may have used elsewhere. The conversation with Claire-Louise Bennett – the author of Checkout 19 – by contrast, is a brisk, personal and lively exchange, offering more insight per page than most: she's at once frank, funny and revealing.
The idea of 'Paris' as an exclusive home-from-home for the literary elite hovers politely in the background throughout the book. It's rarely discussed, but you can sense the effect the city exerts on the writers, with its subtle invitation to cosmopolitanism and a certain café-theoretic fluency. And even more noticeably – for better or worse – Shakespeare and Company now presents itself not so much as a bohemian curiosity of that city but as a high-end cultural export: a kind of unofficial literary embassy for English-language publishing in France, complete with its own tote bags.
It's notable that few of the writers engage seriously with French literature or culture – save Nobel Prize-winner and memoirist Annie Ernaux, of course, whose conversation, translated by Alice Heathwood, is one of the strongest in the collection. Compared to the other writers, Ernaux is trenchant and unsentimental. She reminds us how rare it is to hear a writer speak directly, without stylised modesty or career-consciousness, about class, gender and politics.
But Ernaux is the exception. Most of the writers here speak in the rather careful language of contemporary publishing, which means that the interviews can tend towards the predictable: 'This was a book where I wanted more than anything else that the book that's in my head comes on the page'; 'I'm a big believer that when I write, I show up to work'; 'my process is very intuitive and very iterative'; 'The voice gives me absolutely everything.'
This is no fault of Biles, who is a genial host rather than a probing interlocutor: he draws writers out but seldom challenges them. The effect is that one finishes the book both entirely satisfied and yet curiously uninformed: this is what literary conversation sounds like when everyone is being terribly well-behaved.
Ultimately, this is both the book's great strength and its weakness. As a time-capsule of early 21st-century literary decorum, it's essential: all of the authors here are smart, likeable, articulate, politically aware, vaguely progressive and professionally successful. But it's also perhaps symptomatic of a literary climate that privileges affability over aesthetic risk. You won't find here the combative energy of, say, a 1960s or 1970s Paris Review interview with Robert Lowell, Marianne Moore or William Gaddis. That kind of personality – prickly, unreconciled, unreconstructed – is either unwelcome or extinct.
This is because literary culture has changed, just as the bookshop has changed: Shakespeare and Company today is no longer the domain of exiles or provocateurs but of visiting authors on European tours, filmed, streamed, and politely applauded. The authors are engaged in reiterating a kind of contract between writer and reader: trust me, I've thought about this; I'll try not to bore you; we're in this together; and, fundamentally, everything is fine. As a performance, this is both pleasing and reassuring. As an insight into the messy, irrational, perverse work of writing, it's incomplete.
If there's one thing missing here, then, it's dissent. Not rudeness or incivility as such – who wants any more of that, in a world of endless online hot-takes, take-downs and click-bait? – but a simple willingness to say what might be even slightly unpalatable or unresolved. This book, for all its charm and clarity, rarely risks that. Then again, perhaps its most eloquent testimony is unintended: that today, even in the heart of literary Paris, the truly novel idea is the one we don't yet quite know how to speak aloud.
★★★☆☆
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The Independent
17 minutes ago
- The Independent
Forget Disney: 24 real-life fairytale castles in the UK and Europe you can stay in
Disney theme park castles not quite enchanting enough for you? If you're craving a more intense storybook vibe, then check into one of these real-life fairytale European castles. They're steeped in history and some are former homes of kings, queens and knights. And you can spend the night in them all. There's one in France that inspired Disney's Sleeping Beauty, an English castle that King Henry VI stayed in and a 13th-century Tuscany tower that Dante called home. They're all unique, but with one thing in common — pinch-me-I'm-dreaming fantasyland looks. Château de Rouffillac, Sarlat-la-canéda, Dordogne Valley, France Even in the Dordogne, the "Valley of 1001 Castles", swoonworthy Château de Rouffillac is a standout structure. The 12th-century hilltop castle, remodeled in the 19th century, evokes storybook scenes with its fantasyland facade and majestic interiors. The pick of the rooms is a royal suite featuring its own turret, a sitting area "with magnificent views" and stained-glass windows. From $17,000 for up to 20 people. Visit Chateau de Menthon, Annecy, France Chateau de Menthon is said to have been the inspiration for Disney's Sleeping Beauty, and while you can't stay in the castle itself, you can spend the night in a cottage within the grounds. The 12th-century castle has belonged to the same family, the Menthons, for 23 known generations. What was once an austere fortress was transformed at the end of the 19th century by the great-grandfather of the current owners, René de Menthon. The cottage offers views of Lake Annecy and four suites. Rooms from $530. Visit This former 13th-century Knights Templar military fortress, nestled amid vineyards in a part of the Occitanie region of France known as "Little Tuscany", is now an exceptional place to stay, with guestrooms furnished in 17th-century style. Visit Occitanie remarks that a "meticulous restoration" of the property was carried out in the 1960s by the painter Bernard Bistes that "transformed the castle into a true work of art". This 13th-century chateau, located in the Malbec wine growing area between Bordeaux and Toulouse, is described by Visit Occitanie as a "sacred jewel". Hyperbole? The pictures suggest it would be the crowning glory of any European vacation with a fairytale angle. The château overlooks the river Lot from a vertiginous cliff, with Visit Occitanie adding: "It is the perfect destination for a timeless break in the heart of nature. 'A majestic site steeped in history, Château de Mercuès invites you on a unique journey to the heart of France's great Malbec wines." Château d'Ouchy, Lausanne, Switzerland Switzerland is famous for its chocolate, watches and mountains, but is also home to a few eye-catching historical chateaux, such as this one, which is about as striking as they come. Standing proud on the banks of Lake Geneva like a pop-up storybook castle, 49-room neo-Gothic Chateau d'Ouchy is festooned with luxurious touches and amenities, including a tree-shaded outdoor pool and sauna. And it's rich in history, beginning life as a single tower in 1177. It was built by Bishop Landri de Durnes, explains Small Luxury Hotels, and a century later, the structure was transformed and fortifications added to provide safe housing for the bishops of Lausanne. Today, it's safe housing for travelers who like the finer things in life. With an Alpine view. Rooms from $340. Visit Cap Rocat, Mallorca, Spain What was once a 19th-century fortress built to defend the Bay of Palma, is now a romantic small hotel. Though the building's past is very much interwoven with its present-day purpose as a luxurious bolthole. There's a drawbridge, suites in former shooting buttresses and while there's no dungeon, there is a spa that's been dug 40 feet underground in the fortress's protected rock. Castle Elvira, Trepuzzi, Italy No, you're not dreaming. This fantasy-like Italian castle is perfectly real. Small Luxury Hotels boasts that it's "both rustic and luxurious, magical but equipped with discreet modern technology". It's not cheap, but they say you get what you pay for, and here, it's seemingly a slice of heaven (with hand-carved Carrara marble bathtubs and a pool). The hotel, which dates to the late 1800s, is located just 10 minutes away from the picturesque city of Lecce, sometimes referred to as "the Florence of the south". Al Jafar, Paceco, Sicily, Italy This property would please any self-respecting royal. It comes with views of the sea, the Aegadian Islands and the village of Erice, has a swimming pool in an ancient walled garden and "furnishings and fittings of the highest standard", according to which offers stays here. The firm explains that Al Jafar has been in the family of the present owners since 1335, with a 1990 restoration project ensuring that "each stone, parapet and crenelation lives on to tell its story". In 2014, the Sicilian Regional Department of Cultural and Environmental Heritage listed Moorish Al Jafar as a "building of historical, artistic and architectural importance". Al Jafar villa sleeps eight, with stays from $8,000 a week. Visit Castello di Caprarica, Tricase, Puglia, Italy Castello di Caprarica, built in 1524, comes with dramatic 20-foot-high fortified walls, four storybook towers and lashings of luxury. There's a 14-meter pool, "richly appointed" reception rooms and an al fresco dining terrace. The Thinking Traveller says: "The castle's history is reflected in its enduring stone walls and historic interiors, preserved with care to maintain its authentic character while providing every modern amenity." Castello di Caprarica villa sleeps 22, stays from $10,700 a week. Visit Reschio Hotel, Umbria, Italy It's history with a wow factor. This social-media-igniting castle, nestled amid the rolling green hills of Umbria, has a tower dating back to the year 900 AD. And within, the jewel in the crown of Reschio's room offering —a two-bedroom $4,820-a-night suite spread over five floors with its own terrace. The rest of the hotel, with its vintage furniture, original stonework and inviting pool, is also impressive. Porciano Castle, Tuscany, Italy Follow in the footsteps of Dante with a stay in this incredible 12th-century Tuscan castle, a spellbinding feature of the Casentino Valley that oozes history. The Italian poet, writer, and philosopher is said to have stayed in the tower while in exile from his native Florence for failing to pay a fine in 1302. The story goes that guards at the castle saw soldiers coming up the road to arrest him and gave him warning. Dante left the castle and made his way down the road in disguise. He passed the soldiers en route and when asked by them whether Dante was at the castle, he cleverly replied, "He was there when I left!" Inside, guests will discover original fireplaces and exposed beams. Plus a few mod cons. For example, the tower has an elevator and Wi-Fi. Sleeps nine. Rooms from $1,877. Visit Morfae Castle, Fife, Dundee, Scotland Morfae Castle, a short drive from St. Andrews, has been the historic home of the Earls of Dundee since the 18th century. And what a home. Today, guests can enjoy 1,500 acres of private estate land featuring a private beach, a walled and a wild garden, an outdoor pool and a tennis court. And inside, says there are rooms "straight out of Cluedo", from a billiards room to a ballroom. Sleeps up to 36. Three-night breaks from $20,000. Visit Inverlochy Castle, Fort William, Scotland This Scottish castle hotel has it all — a magnificent setting (Ben Nevis is the backdrop and there's a loch out front), a notable restaurant run by Albert and Michel Roux Jr and more luxury than you can shake a jousting lance at. During a trip to Balmoral in 1873, Queen Victoria spent a week at Inverlochy sketching and painting, and she wrote in her diaries: "I never saw a lovelier or more romantic spot." Kilmartin Castle, Argyll, Scotland Kilmartin Castle was built in 1550 during the legendary reign of Mary Queen of Scots and in 2025 is one of Scotland's most sought-after castle stays. This is a truly authentic rental, with uneven stone floors and doors chunky enough to withstand a battering ram. But luxury abounds. There are rain showers, standalone copper tubs and sofas so comfy you'll struggle to get up from them (the author speaks from experience). Once you do and you head out, there are breathtaking surrounding landscapes to explore. This 12th-century coastal castle offers a luxurious stay for a prince or princess and their friends in six bedrooms. And there's plenty to explore outside of the cosy interior — 186 miles of National Park coast path, stunning beaches, the wildlife-rich islands of Ramsey, Skomer and Skokholm, and Britain's smallest city, St Davids, which is just seven miles away. Stays from $325. Visit Amberley Castle, West Sussex, England Amberley Castle is so authentic guests might be forgiven for thinking that they really have stepped back in time. The 900-year-old castle is completely enclosed by a 60-foot-high curtain wall, and on the inside are suits of armour, barrel-vaulted ceilings and roaring log fires. Famous guests? Just a few. Amberley Castle has been used exclusively by royalty, politicians and VIPs throughout its history — Henry VIII visited the site in 1526, whilst Queen Elizabeth II visited as a teenager in the 1940s. Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland, England Bamburgh Castle is one of England's best preserved historic sites, with a history dating back over 1,400 years. It was a Norman stronghold and home to a succession of kings from Henry VI to James I. Guests can immerse themselves in the history of the castle with a stay in Neville Tower or The Clock Tower, and enjoy privileged access to the castle grounds once visitors have left. Linking the castle's restored medieval curtain wall to a vast 13th-century tower and turret, The Clock Tower has been transformed into a unique apartment that sleeps five. Neville Tower, meanwhile, set into the cross wall between the East and West Wards, offers views through its mullioned windows of the castle grounds and the North Sea beyond. Peckforton Castle, Cheshire, England Built in 1851 by politician John Tollemache as a palatial fortified home, Peckforton Castle quickly caught the attention of English Heritage, which deemed it a building of exceptional interest and importance. The images show that the organization was spot on. This exquisite castle looks like it's been warped out of a Disney movie. To add to the fantasyland vibe, entrance is through a portcullis and guests can stay in four-poster bedrooms. Rooms from $170. Visit Falkensteiner Schlosshotel Velden, Austria Falkensteiner Schlosshotel Velden is a showstopper. The 16th-century castle hotel boasts beautiful gardens, 105 elegant rooms and suites and views of 10-mile-long Lake Wörth. Guests have access to a private beach club with a freshwater pool and private access to said lake. The hotel has its own marina and guided tours in a V8 motorboat with in-house captain Roberto are available. And after a hard day's, er, cruising, guests can relax in a 3,600-square-meter spa, which boasts a whirlpool, gemstone steam bath, Finnish sauna, panoramic garden sauna, infrared cabin and a dedicated spa cinema. Rooms from $444. Visit Schlosshotel Kronberg, near Frankfurt, Germany Imposing Schlosshotel Kronberg was built in 1893 and was home to Empress Victoria Friedrich. Today, says Small Luxury Hotels, which offers the property in its portfolio, "guests [are] surrounded by many of the empress's original antiques and paintings". Stroll the corridors and you'll discover paintings by Rubens, Titian and Gainsborough, along with gilded Venetian mirrors, antique bronzes and stained-glass windows. And you'll fall asleep beneath chandeliers and amid intricate wallpaper. This enchanting 13th-century chateau, once a home for the Knights of Otocec, is situated on an island in Slovenia's Krka River and blends Gothic Renaissance charm with elegant modern luxury. There are 16 rooms, including "Royal Suites" with river views, lush gardens and a restaurant featuring fresh ingredients from its organic garden. Burned down during the Second World War, it has risen from the ashes in style. From $100,000 a week for 32 people. Visit Kronovall Castle, Skane County, Sweden Kronovall Castle, an hour's drive from the city of Malmo, dates back to 1760, but was rebuilt in the French Baroque style in the 19th century. It's hard to disagree that the renovation was an eye-catching one. A stay here is luxurious, but authentic — much of the castle remains as it was in days gone by, so many of the rooms don't have adjacent bathrooms, although you can book other rooms elsewhere on the estate that do. Rooms from $195. Visit Xara Palace, Malta Step back in time and live the life of a 17th-century Mediterranean aristocrat with a stay at Xara Palace. Inside, you'll be in a world of vaulted ceilings, antique stonework and period furnishings. And outside, the fairytale life continues, as the property is the only hotel located in Mdina, Malta's ancient capital and one of Europe's best-preserved medieval cities. Rooms from $260. Visit Château d'Urspelt, Luxembourg This castle in the heart of the Eislek region, about an hour's drive north of Luxembourg city, dates back to the 18th century and was used as a command post and field hospital during the Second World War. It lay abandoned following the liberation of Luxembourg until 2005, when entrepreneur Freddy Lodomez set about restoring it to its former glory. Today, it's a distinguished 57-room hotel with a Nuxe Spa wellness area. Rooms from $200. Visit More about Disney chateau Castle Scotland Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments


The Independent
17 minutes ago
- The Independent
Sommeliers and wine experts reveal the best Whispering Angel rosé alternatives
Cited as boosting the worldwide rosé market, Whispering Angel has won itself a loyal legion of sippers, thanks to attractive marketing, subtle flavouring and A-lister approval. Produced deep in Provence, the coveted pale vino became the most talked-about tipple of 2021 after Adele told US Vogue that her supermarket runs during lockdown consisted of ketchup and the cult wine. 'Whispering Angel turned me into a barking dog. It did not make me whisper,' said the singer when referring to her favourite plonk. A blend of cinsaut, grenache and vermentino grapes, the wine is loved for being very pale and very dry, with subtle flavours of orange, red fruits and a little dried herbs and spice. But with a price tag of £25, it's one of the more upmarket rosés on store shelves. True to form, supermarkets like Aldi and Asda have been quick to develop alternatives that don't merely nod to the OG but appear carbon copy (the former boasts a similarly italicised label while the latter is wryly called Screaming Devil). Elsewhere, sommeliers namecheck Miravel and Leoube (both cost less than £18) while wine enthusiasts on TikTok love M&S's la balconne and Lidl's breath of paradise bottle. 'Whispering Angel is a great wine, as is its more refined offering,' says wine writer Katie Brook. 'But are we paying for quality or a name?' In a bid to help you keep costs down ahead of your next summertime soirée or wine-fueled dinner party, I went to the experts. I asked them to share their favourite affordable alternatives to Whispering Angel. What to look for in a Whispering Angel alternative "I always recommend looking to the regions in and around Whispering Angel's home, the southern French Mediterranean region of Provence – so look for labels that say Languedoc, Pays D'Oc, IGP Méditerranée or Corsica,' says The Independent 's weekly wine columnist, Rosamund Hall. By looking in these regions, 'you'll find wines made using similar grapes. They'll have a familiar appearance and taste: delicate pale dusty-pinks with aromas of fresh summer berried fruits, hints of orange zest, and of course a beautiful, uplifting acidity', she explains. Lucy Hitchcock, the wine enthusiast behind the @Partnerinwineuk social media account, explains: 'The peculiar thing is, a lot of the Whispering Angel 'dupes' that are popping up now, are actually Sainte Victoire Cotes du Provence rosés.' This region has recently become the first 'cru' of Côtes de Provence, noted for its distinctive terroir. 'Sainte Victoire is a very specific quality area of Côtes de Provence, with a specific microclimate producing beautifully balanced grapes,' Hitchcock adds. For those looking for a swap-out Provencial rosé, Emilee Tombs, wine writer and assistant travel editor at The Independent, suggests the Loire Valley. 'While it might not offer better value, rosé wines from this area of northwest France have a similar dry, crisp style with red fruit and citrus notes.' Meet the experts Lucy Hitchcock is the wine enthusiast behind the @Partnerinwineuk social media account. She has nearly 100k on Instagram and 65k on TikTok, with her reviews of Aldi or M&S bottles regularly going viral. Emilee Tombs is assistant travel editor at The Independent and holds a WSET Level 3 Award in Wines from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust. She has written for a number of wine publications, from Noble Rot to Ocado Life magazine. Katie Brook is a journalist with a specialism in wine and a decade of experience as a wine reviewer. She is the founder of Run To Wine, a London- and Surrey-based running club that ends its sessions with a wine tasting. Rosamund Hall is a writer, presenter and columnist specialising in wine and spirits. She is The Independent 's weekly wine columnist with 'The Wine Down' and writer of the best rosé wines. Tom Gilbey started winemaking at age 23, then became an importer, wine merchant, and advisor. He shares his recommendations on his website, as well as to his 666k followers on Instagram and 218k on TikTok, aiming to demystify the world of wine.


The Sun
17 minutes ago
- The Sun
Bullseye creator in clever business move that could make him a fortune after success of ITV reboot
THE creator of darts game show Bullseye is cashing in with a new range of merchandise. The 1980s telly classic has landed new fans thanks to an ITV reboot. 2 2 Andrew Wood has now applied to trademark the name across everything from aftershave and jewellery to clothing and chocolates. The original consolation prize merchandise given away on the show was a tankard for men or silver goblet for women, a bendy rubber doll of the show's brown bull mascot 'Bully' and chalk holders. Mr Wood's paperwork was lodged on July 9. It extends to mobile phone apps and computer games — an avenue that could generate huge income for his Bullseye Group Ltd. Quirkier options covered by the trademark include sandwich toasters, fairy lights, laundry bins, berets and cuticle clippers. Trademarks have not, however, been sought for the show's star prizes of speedboats or caravans. Bullseye originally ran for 13 series under host Jim Bowen from 1981-1996. ITV revived the much-loved show last year for a Christmas special, hosted by Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff and following a spike in interest in darts led by teen sensation Luke Littler. Following rave reviews for Freddie's efforts, ITV has commissioned a full run which will air this year. Freddie said: 'I love the darts. Bullseye was one of my favourite shows as a kid. You can't beat a bit of Bully!'