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Explore Essays and memoir

Africa Writes

Caitlin Pearson

The Royal African Society takes a look back at the history of the Africa Writes festival, their annual celebration of contemporary literature from Africa and the diaspora.

The Man Who Lived

Snigdha Poonam

Snigdha Poonam on how WhatsApp is being used to encourage mob violence in India.

Introduction

Sigrid Rausing

Sigrid Rausing introduces Granta 143: After the Fact.

Mother’s Death

Stephen Sharp

‘Last year father attacked me as a “wet radish”. This caused me to give up writing diary entries.’

The Editor’s Chair: On Svetlana Alexievich

Jacques Testard

‘It is clear when reading Svetlana Alexievich that she has a deep empathy for the characters whose stories she tells.’

In the Valley of Coachella

Susan Straight

Novelist Susan Straight and photographer Douglas McCulloh on the presidential streets of the ‘real’ Coachella

Pay for Your Words

Peter Pomerantsev

Peter Pomerantsev downloads his Facebook data. ‘We seem to be caught in a trap: the more we use a word, the more we will be charged for it.’

Poppy

Caroline Criado Perez

'I never worried about my flat catching fire before Poppy came along.' Caroline Criado Perez on her pet Poppy.

20/20

Tatyana Tolstaya

'I didn't start out a writer, and had no plans of becoming one.' Tatyana Tolstaya, translated from the Russian by Anya Migdal

The Advent of the AI Co-Author

Stuart Turton

Stuart Turton on the advent of AI co-authors

Exquisite Corpse

Frances Stonor Saunders

‘Europe awoke to a freezing post-war dawn. The winter of 1947 was the worst ever recorded.’

Introduction

Sigrid Rausing

Sigrid Rausing introduces Granta 142: Animalia.

Rocky Raccoon

DBC Pierre

‘The mask said everything. This was a thief. A schemer and a thief.’

A Prize

Christine Schutt

‘He picked our little sister’s laces loose and made her cry.’