Nicola Barker is both prodigiously talented and admirably fearless. I have loved her books. But for some time, I had little or no idea what the point of the story of Sri Ramakrishna was. In fact, he was one of the outstanding men of 19th-century India. Justin Cartwright 19thadmirablybarker share on social
Historians and journalists always have agendas, but if I want to find out what's going on in South Africa, I read Nadine Gordimer or John Coetzee because they offer novelistic truth. Justin Cartwright africaagendacoetzee Change image and share on social
Advertising, the product of capitalism, can only justify itself on the premise that the market is a force for good. Justin Cartwright advertisecapitalismforce Change image and share on social
When Doris Lessing won the Nobel Prize for Literature at the age of 88, she was the oldest person ever to receive the prize and one of only 11 female winners in its history. Her award was the end of a very long journey from a remote farm in Rhodesia to a banquet at Stockholm's Stadshus, the grand city hall in Stockholm. Justin Cartwright ageawardbanquet share on social
I love Franschhoek, and straight off the plane, I went to the incomparable Quartier Francais, on the main street, for breakfast. This small hotel and restaurant is regularly near the top of every poll for best hotel and restaurant in Africa. Justin Cartwright africabreakfastfrancais share on social
I thought that, post-apartheid, there would be absolutely no interest in South Africa. That has been both true and untrue. The major writers like Gordimer and Coetzee have produced major books. But some of the more minor writers have drifted away. Justin Cartwright absolutelyafricaapartheid share on social
Germany led the world in photography and film: 'The Cabinet of Dr Caligari' and 'Metropolis' are works that, to this day, film buffs revere. Justin Cartwright buffcabinetcaligari Change image and share on social
Consciousness - that, to me, is the theme of the modern novel. Justin Cartwright consciousnessmoderntheme Change image and share on social
'The Cauliflower' is not strictly a novel, as Barker says in her indispensable afterword. Justin Cartwright afterwordbarkercauliflower Change image and share on social
Coffee must be treated gently and smoothed out. I hadn't realised it was so temperamental. Justin Cartwright coffeegentlyrealise Change image and share on social