W. J. Davies
Writer and critic. Essays, fiction and reviews in the Times Literary Supplement, Slightly Foxed, Exacting Clam, Review 31, Poetry Birmingham, minor literature[s]. Author of Beckett and the Second World War (Bloomsbury)
linktr.ee/wjdavies
- Reposted by W. J. DaviesMonthly Dispatch #31 — ft. Daniel Gianfranceschi, Sharon Zhang, Steinar Løding @zissenberg.bsky.social @wjdavies.bsky.social David Vichnar @nameofauthor.bsky.social @gpayares.bsky.social Antonio Moresco, Jennifer K. Dick & more... OUT NOW minorlits.substack.com/p/monthly-di...
- Reposted by W. J. Davieslast week @ minor lits... — @wjdavies.bsky.social on masculinity minorliteratures.com/2026/01/20/f... — an extract from @nameofauthor.bsky.social @incastellated.bsky.social minorliteratures.com/2026/01/21/a... — Daniel Gianfranceschi relinquishing control minorliteratures.com/2026/01/22/r...
- I spent some time with last year's Nightjar Press chapbooks and ended up writing about creepy birds and the contemporary gothic. Review 31 kindly took it on. Free to read here: review31.co.uk/essay/view/1... @review31.bsky.social @nightjarpress.bsky.social
- Fake Men Having Fake Fights, my article on wrestling, manliness and storytelling, is out now with @minorliteratures.bsky.social
- "In 1998, I watched Mark Calaway hurl Mick Foley from the roof of a 16-foot-high cage ..." Fake Men Having Fake Fights: On Wrestle-Lit and Masculinity — @wjdavies.bsky.social minorliteratures.com/2026/01/20/f...
- Reposted by W. J. DaviesIf you see this please share (i.e. repost, not just like)! The Barbellion Prize is a unique award for writers with disabilities. We need to raise £20k to secure its future, so please make a donation, no matter how large, no matter how small, here: barbellionprize.org/donate/ Thank you!
- Reposted by W. J. Davies1/2 The Guardian's list of forthcoming 2026 fictions (www.theguardian.com/books/2025/d...) overlooks these indie highlights (alphabetically, by title): Anti-social Behaviour by Aea Varfis-van Warmelo As If by Isabel Waidner The Coast of Everything by Guillermo Stitch
- My pick for @review31.bsky.social's Books of the Year 2025 is Alex Pheby's Waterblack, the third volume in the Cities of the Weft trilogy. Superb, strange fantasy that has reinvigorated the genre. @alexpheby.bsky.social @galleybeggars.bsky.social review31.co.uk/essay/view/1...
- Reposted by W. J. Davies" . . . there’s always been Dada—in every generation." W. J. Davies talks to Catherine Schelbert, translator of Hugo Ball’s Flametti, on the occasion of a new radio play edition of the novel. exactingclam.com/issues/no-19-winter…
- Reposted by W. J. Davies'Dali and the Lobster' Fiction by the inimitable David Rose in our DADA issue. Subscribe for full access. exactingclam.com/issues/no-19-winter…
- Reposted by W. J. DaviesBluemoose 2025. Two books listed for major prizes. Christ on a Bike by @orlaowenwriting.bsky.social Dublin Lit Award The Accidental Immigrants by @jomcmillan.bsky.social OrwellPrize 6 part BBC Two TV Series: Leonard and Hungry Paul by @ronanhession.bsky.social From Hebden Bridge with love.
- Congratulations to @cdrose.bsky.social. We Live Here Now is one of the funniest and most inventive novels I've read in a long time. Well deserved!
- Just in time for Christmas, Exacting Clam comes along with its Dada special issue. I've an interview with translator Catherine Schelbert, @br0phy.bsky.social reviews a new Ashbery bio, and C J Patrick has some exquisite poems on show, plus more besides. www.exactingclam.com/issues/no-19...
- Thanks to @slightlyfoxed.bsky.social for including my piece on Peter Ross's Steeple Chasing in the upcoming winter Foxed Quarterly. foxedquarterly.com/shop/slightl...
- My interview with Peter Robinson about his new Selected Poems, Return to Sendai, is available to read for free with The High Window: thehighwindowpress.com/2025/09/26/p...
- Sound advice from the cleric Sydney Smith, courtesy of Stephen Bayley in this quarter’s Slightly Foxed @slightlyfoxed.bsky.social.
- Stuff these, Dirk Bogarde’s spoken word album Lyrics for Lovers is on Spotify.
- New records out today by CMAT, Blood Orange and The Beaches. Glorious.
- Reposted by W. J. DaviesIt's true! Julia Roberts will be narrating Leonard and Hungry Paul. She read the book when it came out and her agent got in touch to say she really liked it. But I never thought things would go this far. Delighted. www.bbc.com/mediacentre/...
- Reposted by W. J. DaviesMy thoughts on the remarkable fiction of Paul Griffiths in the latest issue of Exacting Clam www.exactingclam.com/issues/no-18...
- My review of C.D. Rose’s superb new novel, We Live Here Now, is in the latest TLS @thetls.bsky.social.
The dark side of the Durrells; Oscar Wilde’s conversion; making and describing great wine; Europe’s last pagans; good teachers; second mentions – and much more. The new issue of the TLS is out now: www.the-tls.com/issues/curr...
- My interview with writer, librettist and music critic Paul Griffiths is out now in the latest issue of Exacting Clam. It's also free to read on the website: www.exactingclam.com/issues/no-18... @disgwylfa.bsky.social @exactingclam.bsky.social am.bsky.social
- Reposted by W. J. DaviesMy free monthly newsletter THE GLUE FACTORY goes out this Friday to 2000+ subscribers. If you're not already signed up you can DM me for inclusion on the mailing list. Featuring indie press news, links to broadcasts, podcasts and substacks; forthcoming fiction, non-fiction and poetry; all that.
- Reposted by W. J. DaviesNo council, or councillor, has the right to "ban" any books. The library service are the only body that makes decisions on stock selection. A councillor, as a member of the public, can *request* books are removed on a title-by-title basis, but the reply should come that under @cilip.bsky.social
- This is hateful and dystopian. I was just on holiday in Kent. Nice to know how welcome queer people (esp children) are there eh? Please, Kent locals, write to your councillors and resist this grossness. #KidLitUK www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
- Wonderful to hear @alicefwrites.bsky.social talk about her short story collection, The Truth Has Arms and Legs, at Camberley Library this evening. @flyonthewallpress.bsky.social
- It's no secret I love #libraries - so I'm delighted to be giving author talks at Frimley Green Library and Camberley Library this summer. Join us for two Q&A events, on June 3 & July 1, talking all things #shortstories. Booking links in bio. #Frimley #camberley #surrey @flyonthewallpress.bsky.social
- My review of Kevin Davey’s Toothpull of St Dunstan, a wild ride through 700 years of dentistry at the gates of Canterbury, is in this week’s TLS @thetls.bsky.social. www.the-tls.com/regular-feat...
- Reposted by W. J. Davies[This post could not be retrieved]
- Sadly, @eeahahayteatea.bsky.social has fractured her ankle and is off work. It’s clinically proven that buying her artwork will aid in recovery.* www.studioerratt.com *probably.
- Yesterday evening, I finished @alexpheby.bsky.social’s Waterblack, the third in the Cities of the Weft trilogy. Incredible. Whether you read fantasy or not, these books are significant. @galleybeggars.bsky.social
- Reposted by W. J. DaviesIt's Thursday afternoon and officially NEARLY the weekend, and A Personal Anthology! This week's guest editor, picking and introducing a dozen favourite short stories, is @robertloyko-greer.bsky.social Sign up here if you don't already subscribe. RT if you do! apersonalanthology.substack.com/about
- Interesting discussion on Radio 4 this morning about the difference between reading books and listening to audiobooks that seemed to entirely forget the existence and history of…radio.
- Reposted by W. J. DaviesGood morning. It is Independent Bookshop Week. If you are able please do support your local bookshop. They pay their taxes and support the community! @bookcornerhx.bsky.social @sevenoaksbookshop.bsky.social @forumbooks.bsky.social @drakebookshop.bsky.social @grovebookshop.bsky.social
- Reposted by W. J. DaviesAn engrossing search for understanding and meaning in a single, brilliant poem. A Crumpled Swan is a thoughtful and irrefutable demonstration of the power of art. DC is such a knowledgeable and companionable writer. Published by @saggingmeniscus.bsky.social
- My new short story, The Man in the U-Bend, is in the summer issue of Exacting Clam @exactingclam.bsky.social. Looking forward to reading what looks like another splendid gathering of pieces. Clam on exactingclam.com/issues/no-17...
- A brief but revitalising dip back into academic life this weekend at the Samuel Beckett Society conference in Edinburgh. Lovely to see @annamcmullan.bsky.social, @davidpattie.bsky.social and other friends.
- Reposted by W. J. DaviesExacting Clam No.17 is here. Gina DeMartino's A Clam at the Bellagio adorns the cover. Stunning fiction, poetry, criticism and essay adorns the rest of it. Subscribe today exactingclam.com/subscribe/
- Reposted by W. J. DaviesPublished today.
- Reality is getting there before the satirists again.
- New fiction coming soon in the @exactingclam.bsky.social summer issue.
- Reposted by W. J. DaviesTV NEWS! Delighted to share details of the forthcoming TV adaptation of Leonard and Hungry Paul for BBC and RTE. Have visited the set – a wonderful cast and crew. Thanks to Subotica, BBC @rte.ie and everyone involved. @thebookseller.com deadline.com/2025/05/leon...
- The interview with Peter Robinson is available as a free sample for issue 11 of Poetry Birmingham, which is now on sale: poetrybirmingham.com/current-issu...
- Immensely pleased to have my interview with Peter Robinson on his friendship with Roy Fisher in the latest Poetry Birmingham @poetrybrum.bsky.social.
- Reposted by W. J. DaviesWhy we love libraries. From New York Libraries. Ghost Mountain by Rónán Hession - Book of the day. Thank you. @librariesconnected.bsky.social @dublincitylibs.bsky.social @gutterbookshop.bsky.social @chaptersbookstore.bsky.social @thebookseller.com
- 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’.
- Reposted by W. J. DaviesReally proud to have been making Stanchion Magazine for 5 years now. Also really proud of Issue 18 feat. writing & visual art by 25 contributors from around the world. Please consider pre-ordering a copy today. You'll have it in hand in late April. 🖤🤍 www.stanchionzine.com/product-page...
- Reposted by W. J. Davies'North by Northwest isn’t about what happens to Cary Grant, it’s about what happens to his suit. The suit has the adventures, a gorgeous New York suit threading its way through America.' (Cary Grant's Suit by Todd McEwen) With no offence to Cary Grant, who was born #OTD in 1904.
- As we have to endure each company tediously shoehorning AI into their products and services, I’m hoping some go in the other direction. My campaign for the reintroduction of messenger pigeon by Royal Mail starts here.
- Reposted by W. J. DaviesHE IS RETURNING… Look out for amazing new promo pics and videos landing from tomorrow. 2 weeks to go. And for Scott Jericho, nothing will ever be the same again… BURYING JERICHO PREORDER LINKS: geni.us/burying-jeri...
- Reposted by W. J. DaviesA brilliant piece on Adrian Bell! The Countryman's Quartet is available to purchase from the Slightly Foxed website or via the link below: foxedquarterly.com/shop/a-count...
- I wrote about one of my favourite writers of rural life, Adrian Bell, and how he brought poetry to the local newspaper someflowerssoon.substack.com/p/pinks-29-s...
- Reposted by W. J. DaviesI wrote about one of my favourite writers of rural life, Adrian Bell, and how he brought poetry to the local newspaper someflowerssoon.substack.com/p/pinks-29-s...
