Philip Hensher

London

Professor of Creative Writing and Contributor at The Spectator

Author of novels, including To Battersea Park. Prof of Creative Writing at Bath Spa University. Comes with Schnauzer. Views personal.

Articles

Studying Dickens at university was once considered demeaning. Now it’s too demanding

1 month ago | spectator.co.uk | Philip Hensher

Any consideration of Stefan Collini’s subject has surely to address a major recent issue. The academic study of English, both at school and university, has fallen away significantly, with the numbers opting for it greatly diminishing.
Studying Dickens at university was once considered demeaning. Now it’s too demanding

1 month ago | spectator.com.au | Philip Hensher

Literature and Learning: A History of English Studies in Britain OUP, pp.656, 35 Any consideration of Stefan Collini’s subject has surely to address a major recent issue. The academic study of English, both at school and university, has fallen away significantly, with the numbers opting for it greatly diminishing.
Why Princess Diana is never forgotten

1 month ago | thespectator.com | Philip Hensher

What happened to the condolence books? They swiftly multiplied, that mad week in September 1997. The original four at St. James’s Palace had to be increased to more than 40. People queued for hours and often spent many minutes composing their contributions. That’s not even to mention the thousands of similar books organized by councils, embassies and private businesses. The official set were “offered” to the Spencer family. Perhaps they are at Althorp.
Whether adored or despised, Princess Diana is never forgotten

1 month ago | spectator.com.au | Philip Hensher

Dianaworld: An Obsession Allen Lane, pp.384, 25 What happened to the condolence books? They swiftly multiplied, that mad week in September 1997. The original four at St James’s Palace had to be increased to more than 40. People queued for hours and often spent many minutes composing their contributions. That’s not even to mention the thousands of similar books organised by councils, embassies and private businesses.
Whether adored or despised, Princess Diana is never forgotten

1 month ago | spectator.co.uk | Philip Hensher

What happened to the condolence books? They swiftly multiplied, that mad week in September 1997. The original four at St James’s Palace had to be increased to more than 40. People queued for hours and often spent many minutes composing their contributions. That’s not even to mention the thousands of similar books organised by councils, embassies and private businesses. The official set were ‘offered’ to the Spencer family. Perhaps they are at Althorp.
Why the Japanese flock to Battersea Park

1 month ago | spectator.com.au | Philip Hensher

They weren’t familiar park visitors, but a couple with a specific purpose, laden down with camera equipment. They unpacked carefully, without the swift expertise of a professional photographer and his model, working on the clock. Years ago, we went to Japan on our honeymoon, and the girl’s outfit was something I’d seen before in Tokyo – a pink and white frilly knee-length crinoline, flailing with ribbons.
Why the Japanese flock to Battersea Park

1 month ago | spectator.co.uk | Philip Hensher

Text size Small Medium Large Line Spacing Compact Normal Spacious Comments They weren’t familiar park visitors, but a couple with a specific purpose, laden down with camera equipment. They unpacked carefully, without the swift expertise of a professional photographer and his model, working on the clock. Years ago, we went to Japan on our honeymoon, and the girl’s outfit was something I’d seen before in Tokyo – a pink and white frilly knee-length crinoline, flailing with ribbons. In Harajuku,...
Paul Hawken meditates on the beauty of carbon

2 months ago | thespectator.com | Dylan Neri |Arabella Byrne |Lisa Hilton |Philip Hensher

There’s a scene in Evelyn Waugh’s The Loved One in which a magazine’s advice columnist “the Guru Brahmin” (in fact “two gloomy men and a bright young secretary”) receives yet another letter from a compulsive nail-biter: “What did we advise her last time?” Mr. Slump, the chain-smoking drunk, asks.
Robert Ferguson tells the story of the Norwegian resistance

2 months ago | thespectator.com | Christian House |Philip Hensher |Alice Jolly |Matthew Dennison

Reading Robert Ferguson’s fascinating history of the experiences of the Norwegians during the five years of German occupation between 1940 and 1945 – a collage of resistance, collaboration and the gray areas in between – I was reminded of the remarks of two Norwegian nonagenarians. In 2011, I interviewed Gunnar Sonsteby, a hero of Norway’s resistance movement, for The Spectator.
A novel in disguise: Theory & Practice, by Michelle de Kretser, reviewed

2 months ago | spectator.co.uk | Philip Hensher

Michelle de Kretser, of a Sri Lankan family living in Australia, is an exceptional novelist – perhaps among the ten best at work in English today. She has been recognised with literary prizes, but it’s surprising that she hasn’t made quite the impact on the public she deserves. She is one of those writers who one presses upon intelligent acquaintances and whose books reward rereading.