@questingvole

@spectator lit ed. My new book The Haunted Wood: A History of Childhood Reading is now out in paperback: https://xitter.cf/t.co/J4GM3ghUfi

Joined March 2009
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778Media
Woohoo! Beautiful small book, much cheapness, please buy.
Oneworld Publications
@OneworldNews23 Jul 2025
Paperback copies of The Haunted Wood by @questingvole have just arrived in the office!! Out on 4h September!
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Loved joining the Slightly Foxed podcast to talk about My Rosemary Sutcliff Shame. You can listen here: mailchi.mp/foxedquarterly/po…

Episode 59 | Rosemary Sutcliff & The Magic of Childhood Reading

Episode 59 | Rosemary Sutcliff and the Magic of Childhood Reading There is nothing more exciting than seeing children captivated by the magic of stories, and for many of us there’s no better childr...

mailchi.mp
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Howl, Howl, Howl etc samleith.substack.com/p/howl…
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Matthew Sweet@DrMatthewSweetOct 11
A very enjoyable Barbara chat with @questingvole spectator.com/podcast/matthe…

Matthew Sweet: The Great Dictator

In this week’s Book Club podcast, Sam Leith is joined by author Matthew Sweet to discuss his new biography, The Great Dictator, about the bestselling novelist Barbara Cartland. They explore the...

spectator.com
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On Awakening samleith.substack.com/p/on-a…
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Book Club Turns Ten samleith.substack.com/p/book…
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The Bookseller
@thebooksellerOct 1
Nicholas Boggs, Anand Gopal, Patrick Radden Keefe, Edmund Richardson, Matthew Sweet and Andrea Wulf have been shortlisted for the 2026 Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction. 👇 ebx.sh/VrH5aV

Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction reveals 2026 shortlist

Nicholas Boggs, Anand Gopal, Patrick Radden Keefe, Edmund Richardson, Matthew Sweet and Andrea Wulf have been shortlisted for the 2026 Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction.

ebx.sh
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Sam Leith 🐝 retweeted
leafarbuthnot@leafarbuthnotOct 1
What a fabulous shortlist
Sam Leith 🐝@questingvoleOct 1
We got us a shortlist. NGL some *really* good books on here. thebailliegiffordprize.co.uk…

2026 The Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction

The Baillie Gifford Prize rewards excellence in non-fiction writing, bringing the best in intelligent reflection on the world to new readers.

thebailliegiffordprize.co.uk
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Sam Leith 🐝 retweeted
Andrea Wulf@andrea_wulfOct 1
I’m speechless. And sooooo excited. “The Traveller” is shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize, the most important non-fiction prize in the UK. What an honour. Thank you @bgprize & thank you George Forster#TheTraveller
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We got us a shortlist. NGL some *really* good books on here. thebailliegiffordprize.co.uk…

2026 The Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction

The Baillie Gifford Prize rewards excellence in non-fiction writing, bringing the best in intelligent reflection on the world to new readers.

thebailliegiffordprize.co.uk
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Sam Leith 🐝 retweeted
Lara 💜🤍💚
@Lara1273Sep 30
Eight years on and patients with an unmet clinical need still cannot access their medication via the NHS. @questingvole ’s article, written 8 years ago is as relevant now as it was then.
Sam Leith 🐝@questingvole25 Jun 2018
Standard column on medical cannabis standard.co.uk/comment/comme…
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Music to Watch Girls By samleith.substack.com/p/musi…
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At last, a cool use for AI samleith.substack.com/p/at-l…
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Matthew Sweet@DrMatthewSweetSep 12
Many thanks to @spectator for printing my letter.
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The history of the world in one book title samleith.substack.com/p/the-…
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Pleasure to have you
S Sebag Montefiore
@simonmontefioreSep 4
It was a pleasure to talk to @questingvole Sam Leith on @spectator's The Book Club podcast, discussing some of the most fundamental groups who shaped the modern Middle East into the region we know today
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Harry Wallop@hwallopSep 3
Sam Leith's Substack is one of the highlights of my week. And this week is no exception. Notably, the apology to Alan Bennett and his colonoscopist...🧁💩
Sam Leith 🐝@questingvoleSep 3
A good ride samleith.substack.com/p/a-go…
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Again I am obviously biased - but the power of poetry to transform lives is unparalleled. If you know a school or care home that might benefit - get in touch! @questingvole @exitthelemming @mrianleslie @IanHallard @IanMcKellen
Gyles Brandreth@GylesB1Sep 2
Good morning in Westminster with @aphrabrandrethmp meeting MPs across the board & telling them about poetrytogether.com - the project that gets older people & younger people together enjoying poetry, tea & cake. Do you know a school or care home that might like to take part?
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Matthew Sweet@DrMatthewSweetSep 3
Absolutely thrilled to be on the list!
Waterstones@WaterstonesSep 3
Celebrating the finest non-fiction writing in all literary genres from philosophy to biography, the Baillie Gifford Prize 2026 longlist is here! From ancient warriors to modern resistance, from romance to conspiracy, discover them all: waterstones.com/category/hig… @BGPrize
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A good ride samleith.substack.com/p/a-go…
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🎉
Philip Hensher@PhilipHensherAug 12
And the first review is in. "Masterpiece". That will do. theguardian.com/books/2026/a…

A History of the Novel in Britain by Philip Hensher review – a masterpiece of criticism

This joyous book takes readers on a literary adventure across 300 years of fiction, from Defoe to Zadie Smith

theguardian.com
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