W. J. Davies
@wjdavies.bsky.social
Writer and critic. Essays, fiction and reviews in the Times Literary Supplement, Literary Review, Exacting Clam, Review 31, Poetry Birmingham. Author of Beckett and the Second World War (Bloomsbury)
https://linktr.ee/wjdavies
https://linktr.ee/wjdavies
Sound advice from the cleric Sydney Smith, courtesy of Stephen Bayley in this quarter’s Slightly Foxed @slightlyfoxed.bsky.social.
August 30, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Sound advice from the cleric Sydney Smith, courtesy of Stephen Bayley in this quarter’s Slightly Foxed @slightlyfoxed.bsky.social.
You might like this note from the Collected about those wartime volumes, and about ‘For Johnny.’
June 30, 2025 at 8:57 PM
You might like this note from the Collected about those wartime volumes, and about ‘For Johnny.’
A great reminder to pull these off the shelf. Thanks, David. ‘A sense of history in the narrow lane’.
June 30, 2025 at 8:52 PM
A great reminder to pull these off the shelf. Thanks, David. ‘A sense of history in the narrow lane’.
Immensely pleased to have my interview with Peter Robinson on his friendship with Roy Fisher in the latest Poetry Birmingham @poetrybrum.bsky.social.
May 7, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Immensely pleased to have my interview with Peter Robinson on his friendship with Roy Fisher in the latest Poetry Birmingham @poetrybrum.bsky.social.
The fabulous Rebecca Erratt @eeahahayteatea.bsky.social is exhibiting pieces at this year’s App Art Exhibition at Prior’s Field. 5-20th April, free admission 10-4 www.appartonline.co.uk
April 3, 2025 at 6:37 AM
The fabulous Rebecca Erratt @eeahahayteatea.bsky.social is exhibiting pieces at this year’s App Art Exhibition at Prior’s Field. 5-20th April, free admission 10-4 www.appartonline.co.uk
Put up a new bird feeder yesterday. No foolin’.
April 2, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Put up a new bird feeder yesterday. No foolin’.
Restart the presses. It’s excellent.
March 15, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Restart the presses. It’s excellent.
‘simplify and add lightness’ - Stephen Bayley offers excellent writing advice via Laurence Pomeroy’s The Racing Car Explained (1963) in the latest Slightly Foxed @slightlyfoxed.bsky.social
March 11, 2025 at 9:31 AM
‘simplify and add lightness’ - Stephen Bayley offers excellent writing advice via Laurence Pomeroy’s The Racing Car Explained (1963) in the latest Slightly Foxed @slightlyfoxed.bsky.social
Finally, some realistic product photos. Weird how so many companies just ignore the fact that dinosaurs might also use an outdoor dining area.
March 5, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Finally, some realistic product photos. Weird how so many companies just ignore the fact that dinosaurs might also use an outdoor dining area.
Today in ‘Suddenly Literary,’ the cocktails community on Reddit considers drinks in The Pickwick Papers and has robust views on Great Expectations.
February 13, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Today in ‘Suddenly Literary,’ the cocktails community on Reddit considers drinks in The Pickwick Papers and has robust views on Great Expectations.
Built compost bay and cleared old slabs. Now, Some Like It Hot. Later, anchovy and broccoli pasta, some review proofs and a board game.
February 9, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Built compost bay and cleared old slabs. Now, Some Like It Hot. Later, anchovy and broccoli pasta, some review proofs and a board game.
Dropkick Murphys supported by Gogol Bordello and The Scratch, Alexandra Palace, London, 08.2.25. The perfect evening to wash away the week on a one-day weekend.
February 9, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Dropkick Murphys supported by Gogol Bordello and The Scratch, Alexandra Palace, London, 08.2.25. The perfect evening to wash away the week on a one-day weekend.
I have seen this bottle of moisturiser stuff on my wife’s bedside table everyday for a few weeks now. Today I actually looked at it. Questions ensued.
deep
sleep
body
whip
Is this the best poem of the year so far?
Are ‘sleep’ and ‘whip’ nouns or verbs here?
Why is ‘sleep’ trademarked?
deep
sleep
body
whip
Is this the best poem of the year so far?
Are ‘sleep’ and ‘whip’ nouns or verbs here?
Why is ‘sleep’ trademarked?
January 30, 2025 at 9:40 AM
I have seen this bottle of moisturiser stuff on my wife’s bedside table everyday for a few weeks now. Today I actually looked at it. Questions ensued.
deep
sleep
body
whip
Is this the best poem of the year so far?
Are ‘sleep’ and ‘whip’ nouns or verbs here?
Why is ‘sleep’ trademarked?
deep
sleep
body
whip
Is this the best poem of the year so far?
Are ‘sleep’ and ‘whip’ nouns or verbs here?
Why is ‘sleep’ trademarked?
A glorious break in Madeira which this time included cliff hiking, a mysterious cat plant, actually going to Funchal, and finishing off the week’s Dungeons & Dragons adventure the morning of our flight.
January 12, 2025 at 8:28 AM
A glorious break in Madeira which this time included cliff hiking, a mysterious cat plant, actually going to Funchal, and finishing off the week’s Dungeons & Dragons adventure the morning of our flight.
My favorite page so far, partly for introducing me to the phrase “carrying coals to Newcastle.”
December 25, 2024 at 3:09 PM
My favorite page so far, partly for introducing me to the phrase “carrying coals to Newcastle.”
Happy Christmas, all. Time for some historical research.
December 25, 2024 at 2:47 PM
Happy Christmas, all. Time for some historical research.
The Christmas read has arrived. @galleybeggars.bsky.social
December 21, 2024 at 7:26 PM
The Christmas read has arrived. @galleybeggars.bsky.social
And the superb All My Precious Madness by @markabowles.bsky.social, published by @galleybeggars.bsky.social
One of those novels where small details still live with me rent free.
‘Just before he died, my father stopped having Weetabix for breakfast and developed a taste for grapefruit.’
One of those novels where small details still live with me rent free.
‘Just before he died, my father stopped having Weetabix for breakfast and developed a taste for grapefruit.’
December 15, 2024 at 11:58 PM
And the superb All My Precious Madness by @markabowles.bsky.social, published by @galleybeggars.bsky.social
One of those novels where small details still live with me rent free.
‘Just before he died, my father stopped having Weetabix for breakfast and developed a taste for grapefruit.’
One of those novels where small details still live with me rent free.
‘Just before he died, my father stopped having Weetabix for breakfast and developed a taste for grapefruit.’
Christ on a Bike by Orla Owen @orlaowenwriting.bsky.social published by Bluemoose Books
@ofmooseandmen.bsky.social
Creepy, funny, rich with place. ‘Not many people want to visit a remote Welsh beach in the rain […]. Winter still owned the air, the soil, the sea. But that didn't matter to Cerys.’
@ofmooseandmen.bsky.social
Creepy, funny, rich with place. ‘Not many people want to visit a remote Welsh beach in the rain […]. Winter still owned the air, the soil, the sea. But that didn't matter to Cerys.’
December 15, 2024 at 11:58 PM
Christ on a Bike by Orla Owen @orlaowenwriting.bsky.social published by Bluemoose Books
@ofmooseandmen.bsky.social
Creepy, funny, rich with place. ‘Not many people want to visit a remote Welsh beach in the rain […]. Winter still owned the air, the soil, the sea. But that didn't matter to Cerys.’
@ofmooseandmen.bsky.social
Creepy, funny, rich with place. ‘Not many people want to visit a remote Welsh beach in the rain […]. Winter still owned the air, the soil, the sea. But that didn't matter to Cerys.’
Other books I’ve absolutely loved this year:
let me go on
And
let me tell you
By Paul Griffiths @disgwylfa.bsky.social published by Henningham Family Press
‘my tongue is not my own.’ Ophelia tells her story in her words: the 481 Shakespeare gave her. Hypnotic and lyrical, like late Beckett.
let me go on
And
let me tell you
By Paul Griffiths @disgwylfa.bsky.social published by Henningham Family Press
‘my tongue is not my own.’ Ophelia tells her story in her words: the 481 Shakespeare gave her. Hypnotic and lyrical, like late Beckett.
December 15, 2024 at 11:58 PM
Other books I’ve absolutely loved this year:
let me go on
And
let me tell you
By Paul Griffiths @disgwylfa.bsky.social published by Henningham Family Press
‘my tongue is not my own.’ Ophelia tells her story in her words: the 481 Shakespeare gave her. Hypnotic and lyrical, like late Beckett.
let me go on
And
let me tell you
By Paul Griffiths @disgwylfa.bsky.social published by Henningham Family Press
‘my tongue is not my own.’ Ophelia tells her story in her words: the 481 Shakespeare gave her. Hypnotic and lyrical, like late Beckett.
Sometimes the BBC really get their photo-headline pairings right. He looks like the shifty dog in Homer’s remake of Mel Gibson’s remake of Mr Smith Goes to Washington.
December 13, 2024 at 8:04 AM
Sometimes the BBC really get their photo-headline pairings right. He looks like the shifty dog in Homer’s remake of Mel Gibson’s remake of Mr Smith Goes to Washington.
Sculptor and top wife @eeahahayteatea.bsky.social has joined BlueSky. Follow and bask in her majesty.
December 11, 2024 at 7:48 PM
Sculptor and top wife @eeahahayteatea.bsky.social has joined BlueSky. Follow and bask in her majesty.