The Bee
@beelitmag.bsky.social
A home for working-class readers and writers
https://thebeemagazine.com
https://thebeemagazine.com
Just discovering Thomas Burke, a prolific early 20th c working class writer who joined London Bohemia, and then pointed out that most of the convention-challenging it was so proud of had been/was already being done by working-class Victorians decades earlier. Looking forward to reading more in 2026
December 19, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Just discovering Thomas Burke, a prolific early 20th c working class writer who joined London Bohemia, and then pointed out that most of the convention-challenging it was so proud of had been/was already being done by working-class Victorians decades earlier. Looking forward to reading more in 2026
Why IS Angela’s Ashes called Angela’s Ashes?
Kevin Barry has a theory.
Kevin Barry has a theory.
December 17, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Why IS Angela’s Ashes called Angela’s Ashes?
Kevin Barry has a theory.
Kevin Barry has a theory.
We recorded an episode of the Working Class Library podcast about Angela's Ashes at Hexham Book Festival with Kevin Barry.
Kevin's a native of Limerick and his dad knew the McCourts. It was a great conversation & confirmed my belief that AA is an overlooked working-classic. Podcast coming Thursday
Kevin's a native of Limerick and his dad knew the McCourts. It was a great conversation & confirmed my belief that AA is an overlooked working-classic. Podcast coming Thursday
December 16, 2025 at 10:06 PM
We recorded an episode of the Working Class Library podcast about Angela's Ashes at Hexham Book Festival with Kevin Barry.
Kevin's a native of Limerick and his dad knew the McCourts. It was a great conversation & confirmed my belief that AA is an overlooked working-classic. Podcast coming Thursday
Kevin's a native of Limerick and his dad knew the McCourts. It was a great conversation & confirmed my belief that AA is an overlooked working-classic. Podcast coming Thursday
Gary Stevenson, author of Trading Game, was responding to Rory Stewart's claim that he was "not an economist", just "a City trader".
Gary has a Master of Philosophy degree in Economics from Oxford University.
Gary has a Master of Philosophy degree in Economics from Oxford University.
December 8, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Gary Stevenson, author of Trading Game, was responding to Rory Stewart's claim that he was "not an economist", just "a City trader".
Gary has a Master of Philosophy degree in Economics from Oxford University.
Gary has a Master of Philosophy degree in Economics from Oxford University.
A little taster of the full episode, which we'll be posting on on Monday.
November 14, 2025 at 6:12 PM
A little taster of the full episode, which we'll be posting on on Monday.
Congratulations to @newlands.bsky.social for this deserved recognition.
Tom was on our Writing Chance programme for working-class writers in 2024, and we are very proud for him.
Tom was on our Writing Chance programme for working-class writers in 2024, and we are very proud for him.
November 13, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Congratulations to @newlands.bsky.social for this deserved recognition.
Tom was on our Writing Chance programme for working-class writers in 2024, and we are very proud for him.
Tom was on our Writing Chance programme for working-class writers in 2024, and we are very proud for him.
One of our favourites
Watch out for our Working Class Library podcast episode about her and The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, featuring guest David Nicholls, coming soon.
For an introduction, see thebeemagazine.com/a-guide-to-the-secret-diary-of-adrian-mole-aged-13-3-4-by-sue-townsend/
Watch out for our Working Class Library podcast episode about her and The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, featuring guest David Nicholls, coming soon.
For an introduction, see thebeemagazine.com/a-guide-to-the-secret-diary-of-adrian-mole-aged-13-3-4-by-sue-townsend/
November 12, 2025 at 6:06 PM
One of our favourites
Watch out for our Working Class Library podcast episode about her and The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, featuring guest David Nicholls, coming soon.
For an introduction, see thebeemagazine.com/a-guide-to-the-secret-diary-of-adrian-mole-aged-13-3-4-by-sue-townsend/
Watch out for our Working Class Library podcast episode about her and The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, featuring guest David Nicholls, coming soon.
For an introduction, see thebeemagazine.com/a-guide-to-the-secret-diary-of-adrian-mole-aged-13-3-4-by-sue-townsend/
Our designer David has a game called fantasy classics, where he chooses books he thinks should be published as classics. With him all this way on this one.
Look out for an episode of our Working Class Library podcast about it, featuring the great novelist and Mole fan David Nicholls, coming soon.
Look out for an episode of our Working Class Library podcast about it, featuring the great novelist and Mole fan David Nicholls, coming soon.
November 10, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Our designer David has a game called fantasy classics, where he chooses books he thinks should be published as classics. With him all this way on this one.
Look out for an episode of our Working Class Library podcast about it, featuring the great novelist and Mole fan David Nicholls, coming soon.
Look out for an episode of our Working Class Library podcast about it, featuring the great novelist and Mole fan David Nicholls, coming soon.
From the 1990s things get more plural, with for example the novel's female vampires getting their moment.
Hard to say what it all really means of course, but an insight into what frightens us.
Hard to say what it all really means of course, but an insight into what frightens us.
October 31, 2025 at 8:15 PM
From the 1990s things get more plural, with for example the novel's female vampires getting their moment.
Hard to say what it all really means of course, but an insight into what frightens us.
Hard to say what it all really means of course, but an insight into what frightens us.
Then in the 1970s there's a noticeable return to the expensively-dressed vampire, this time in a more suave, Bryan Ferry-ish, seductive mode.
October 31, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Then in the 1970s there's a noticeable return to the expensively-dressed vampire, this time in a more suave, Bryan Ferry-ish, seductive mode.
In the 60s, the monsters seem to resurface…
October 31, 2025 at 8:15 PM
In the 60s, the monsters seem to resurface…
and then in the late 20s/1930s, he acquires the dinner jacket and cape. Influenced by the play and Bela Lugosi film it's true, but still curious that at a time of economic depression, the great bloodsucker is presented as wealthy aristo.
October 31, 2025 at 8:15 PM
and then in the late 20s/1930s, he acquires the dinner jacket and cape. Influenced by the play and Bela Lugosi film it's true, but still curious that at a time of economic depression, the great bloodsucker is presented as wealthy aristo.
But looking at book jackets since its publication in 1897, it's noticeable that publishers begin with him as a threatening monster...
October 31, 2025 at 8:15 PM
But looking at book jackets since its publication in 1897, it's noticeable that publishers begin with him as a threatening monster...
We started off looking at social class in Dracula as a bit of fun really, but it's more interesting than you might think.
It's fairly well known that vampires were often used to refer to the parasitical rich in the 18th and 19th centuries - in this picture by Walter `Crane.
It's fairly well known that vampires were often used to refer to the parasitical rich in the 18th and 19th centuries - in this picture by Walter `Crane.
October 31, 2025 at 8:15 PM
We started off looking at social class in Dracula as a bit of fun really, but it's more interesting than you might think.
It's fairly well known that vampires were often used to refer to the parasitical rich in the 18th and 19th centuries - in this picture by Walter `Crane.
It's fairly well known that vampires were often used to refer to the parasitical rich in the 18th and 19th centuries - in this picture by Walter `Crane.
We'll be recording our episode on class in Dracula at Whitby Lit Fest in November.
Join us if you dare 🧛🏻♀️
whitbylitfest.org.uk/event/the-wo...
Join us if you dare 🧛🏻♀️
whitbylitfest.org.uk/event/the-wo...
October 27, 2025 at 6:54 PM
We'll be recording our episode on class in Dracula at Whitby Lit Fest in November.
Join us if you dare 🧛🏻♀️
whitbylitfest.org.uk/event/the-wo...
Join us if you dare 🧛🏻♀️
whitbylitfest.org.uk/event/the-wo...
We'll be celebrating the 40th anniversary of this modern working-class classic on Wednesday, with @helenmort.bsky.social . If you're in the area, join us if you can 🍊
October 20, 2025 at 9:06 PM
We'll be celebrating the 40th anniversary of this modern working-class classic on Wednesday, with @helenmort.bsky.social . If you're in the area, join us if you can 🍊
RIP Tony Harrison.
One of the great 20th-century British poets and indescribably inspiring to working-class writers
"Next millennium you'll have to search quite hard
to find my slab behind the family dead,
butcher, publican, and baker, now me, bard
adding poetry to their beef, beer and bread."
One of the great 20th-century British poets and indescribably inspiring to working-class writers
"Next millennium you'll have to search quite hard
to find my slab behind the family dead,
butcher, publican, and baker, now me, bard
adding poetry to their beef, beer and bread."
September 27, 2025 at 11:20 AM
RIP Tony Harrison.
One of the great 20th-century British poets and indescribably inspiring to working-class writers
"Next millennium you'll have to search quite hard
to find my slab behind the family dead,
butcher, publican, and baker, now me, bard
adding poetry to their beef, beer and bread."
One of the great 20th-century British poets and indescribably inspiring to working-class writers
"Next millennium you'll have to search quite hard
to find my slab behind the family dead,
butcher, publican, and baker, now me, bard
adding poetry to their beef, beer and bread."
Really enjoyed this from @damianbarr.bsky.social
Such a good understanding of how social class doesn’t just influence lives, but also silences voices. Damian unions how that works, and how it feels.
Such a good understanding of how social class doesn’t just influence lives, but also silences voices. Damian unions how that works, and how it feels.
September 14, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Really enjoyed this from @damianbarr.bsky.social
Such a good understanding of how social class doesn’t just influence lives, but also silences voices. Damian unions how that works, and how it feels.
Such a good understanding of how social class doesn’t just influence lives, but also silences voices. Damian unions how that works, and how it feels.
In order to want to save the planet, a person must feel they belong in it. Yet Black people are often told they do not belong in certain places.
August 31, 2025 at 10:36 AM
In order to want to save the planet, a person must feel they belong in it. Yet Black people are often told they do not belong in certain places.
Crime fiction is the fiction of social history. Societies get the crimes they deserve - Denise Mina
The best crime novels use the processes & impact of crime & justice to get under the skin of society, and Mina is one of the best.
Her The Good Liar skewers modern London like few others this year:
The best crime novels use the processes & impact of crime & justice to get under the skin of society, and Mina is one of the best.
Her The Good Liar skewers modern London like few others this year:
August 15, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Crime fiction is the fiction of social history. Societies get the crimes they deserve - Denise Mina
The best crime novels use the processes & impact of crime & justice to get under the skin of society, and Mina is one of the best.
Her The Good Liar skewers modern London like few others this year:
The best crime novels use the processes & impact of crime & justice to get under the skin of society, and Mina is one of the best.
Her The Good Liar skewers modern London like few others this year: