I read 'Crime and Punishment' years ago and don't recall the details of it, but I do retain a strong sense of the creeping paranoia and panic. Arthur Smith agocreepcrime Change image and share on social
The Romantic poets were the prototype ramblers, and I've often found myself following in their footsteps - although perhaps not all of their footsteps since a typical walk for Samuel T. Coleridge might last two days and cover 145km. Arthur Smith 145kmcoleridgecover share on social
Global warming, the ongoing destruction of the planet, Third World debt, the uselessness of the railways, the takeover by the corporations, the scary George Bush person: all these things are important and should be animating me into outrage. Yet somehow they do not. Arthur Smith animatebushcorporation share on social
It's the time of year when the literati give advice on what we should be reading on our summer holidays. These terrifying lists often leave me appalled at my own ignorance, but also suspicious about the pretension of their advocates. Arthur Smith adviceadvocateappall share on social
An uninspiring canvas becomes a glamorous masterpiece when it is reattributed to a better-known artist. Arthur Smith artistcanvasglamorous Change image and share on social
Comedy ages quicker than tragedy, to the extent that we can't know if the 10 commandments may originally have been 10 hilarious one-liners. Arthur Smith agecomedycommandment Change image and share on social
Don Quixote's 'Delusions' is an excellent read - far better than my own forthcoming travel book, 'Walking Backwards Across Tuscany.' Arthur Smith backwardsbookdelusion Change image and share on social
Travel books are, by and large, boring. They lodge uncomfortably between fact, fiction and autobiography. Arthur Smith autobiographybookbore Change image and share on social
I see my large nose, like half an avocado. I broke it falling downstairs when I was six, and it now resembles a large blob of play-dough. Arthur Smith avocadoblobbreak Change image and share on social
