The EssayNew Generation ThinkersEpisodes Episode guide

Back up to: The Essay

1. In Praise of Flatness

   Noreen Masud finds inspiration in fenlands, polished tables and Kazuo Ishiguro's novels.
2. A Norwegian Morality Tale

   Lucy Weir learns dark lessons from newspaper coverage of Black Metal and satanic rituals.
3. Beyond the Betting Shop

   Darragh McGee on the history of gambling, from 18th-century card games to phone apps.
4. Colonial Papers

   Alexandra Reza's Essay considers the Gilets Noirs, Ousmane Sembène and Nathalie Quintane.
5. Battlefield Finds

   Seren Griffiths tells the story of the soldier turned archaeologist Francis Buckley.
6. Hoarding or Collecting?

   Diarmuid Hester sorts through stuff saved by Francis Bacon, Vivian Maier and his own dad.
7. The Inscrutable Writing of Sui Sin Far

   Xine Yao suggests that a poker Chinese face can be a good way of fighting back
8. A Social History of Soup

   Tom Scott-Smith uses four recipes to track social reforms and changes in what we value.
9. Jean Rhys's Dress

   A pregnant Sophie Oliver found comfort in a floral outfit owned by the Caribbean author.
10. The Feurtado's Fire

    Christienna Fryar looks at Caribbean earthquakes and fires and lessons for rebuilding now.