Let me see if I have this straight, because it honestly feels like I’m hallucinating.
One of the most wily political operators of the last twenty years, a man who has changed the landscape and discourse around subjects like immigration and our place on the world stage, has decided to forestall ongoing investigations into his financial engagements by resigning the role of MP (a goal it took him eight goes to finally achieve) then recontesting the seat, despite that having no effect on the work of the commission. It simply pauses, starting again should the good people of Clapton vote him back into office.
That’s not even the good bit. The other parties with seats in Parliament have decided not to bother standing candidates. Leaving said wily political operators facing a contest in which his opponents at the time of writing are a nepo baby, a child Hitler and the breakout star of the 2026 political circus, an intergalactic space warrior with a bin for a head whose satirical swipes actually make more sense than most of the main parties’ manifestos put together.
I mean, I’ve got that right, haven’t I? I’m not just suffering from heatstroke?
Wherever you are, whenever you are, however you are, welcome to The Swipe.
Rob is reading…
Sharpe’s Storm by Bernard Cornwell. The machine of historical fiction keeps cranking them out. Since Lee Child handed over the reins of the Reacher franchise to his nephew, those books have lost some of their bounce and sparkle. If I need a literary reset and a peek at how a master story-teller does it, I’m back with the Sharpe novels, which always do the job. Sharpe’s Storm sees our battle-scarred major in France, nursemaiding a war-crazy Admiral and engaging in a plot involving a very big portable bridge. All the blood, guts and derring-do a boy could wish for.
Rob is watching…
Honestly, I haven’t had the patience for a lot of focussed screen time this week. I am, however, kinda obsessed with the BFG of the World Cup, Erling Haaland. Defenders bounce off him! He barely moves, then scores a goal! He eats beef hearts for breakfast! Honestly, his friendship with Dortmund team-mate Jude Bellingham is one of the purest and most delightful things I’ve seen all year, and it’s going to be heartbreaking to watch the two pals face off against each other tonight.
Rob is listening…
To roots reggae of the late seventies and early 80s. Seems to suit the times. Crank up the bass, sip something cool and remember to bust up Babylon.
Rob is eating…
Well, I’m not but I really want this. Adam Byatt has the knack of explaining complex recipes simply and approachably. Doesn’t this look delicious?
Rob’s Low-Key Obsession Of The Week…
You brave, magnificent fools.
As a worldwide audience has descended on America, one question has dominated proceedings—what’s the deal with tipping? Would we be at all surprised to learn it evolved as a way to keep the Black folk down after slavery was abolished?
Here’s writer Cailey Rizzo on Anthony Bourdain, and how her life and mental health problems informed a deeper understanding of the man and his demons. This is deeply moving. I wish Tonywas still with us.
Brendon Sanderson, with an extremely long (natch) definition and general boundary-setting on fantasy. It’s not as dry as I’m making it sound but boy, the guy can talk.
Keeping it writery and fantastical, here’s Susanna Clarke, author of Jonathon Strange and Mr Norell, on her own struggles with ill health and how it helped her work thereafter. Her sense of humour shines through a piece which has the potential to be a bit on the bleak side.
Critic Leo Robson on the art and craft of the review. I always view them as a viewpoint and an opinion rather than a set-in-stone judgement on a piece of art. However, an informed bit of criticism can save you time, effort and money. And the best of it is great writing in and of itself.
A great short film on S&P Lunch, one of the few remaining proper old-school diner joints in New York. I have the big craves for one of their tuna melts. The vibe and atmosphere of the place oozes off the screen here. I defy you not to feel hungry by the time you’re finished watching.
A training programme to buff up those reading muscles. It’s way too hot to exercise, so this seems like a positive use of your time.
Alicia Kennedy on ‘cooking as care’. Or, why spend so much time and effort on making something for your darling when it’s going to get scarfed down in five minutes flat? Well, the work is the point. It’s an expression of love, and needs to be undertaken with an open heart and the purest of intentions.
There’s no love in a tofu katsu of obligation
Ted Gioia on how The Odyssey became curated and gate-keepered (gate-kept?) into a heavy wedge of, yannow, culture. The history of its original nature as a song performed for everyone who cared to listen has been forgotten. Christopher Nolan’s take on the tale as a blockbuster entertainment will, at least, get folk engaged in the story again, I hope. Perhaps there’s room for a concept album or two as well?
Tell the old story for our modern times
I loved this gorgeous bit of Afro-futurism by Somto Ihezue, and I believe you will too. First, look after the fireflies.
Finally, a lovely reminiscence from Nicholas Meyer on directing Ricardo Montalban on Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan. It’s still, to my mind, the best Trek film, getting the ripe language, Shakespearean riffs and sheer huge stakes of the story perfectly in balance. A lot of that is the interplay between Montalban and Shatner, who chew the scenery delightfully. Time for a rewatch, perhaps.
I’ll chase him round the moons of Nibia and perdition’s flames before I give him up!
Let’s Outro with a glorious bit of hot buttered soul from Isaac Hayes in 1973. The Theme From Shaft, performed live at Midem. The fashion choices will blow your mind, baby.
See you in seven, fellow travellers.
EXCUSES AND HALF TRUTHS 
Gotta love the way everyone and their dog have such solid insider knowledge of how classicists approach Homer… I heard Christopher Nolan talking about how he’s doing something no classicist would ever do by using a rapper to stand in for Homer – mate, every Homer 101 class now begins with the parallels between bardic performance and rap. Ditto the idea that no-one knows who Parry and Lord are: considerably more revered by classics undergrads (even A-level students) than Derrida.
I’m not a fan of the Odyssey as adventure story – all monsters and battles and witches and spectacle. I AM a fan of understanding what the Odyssey is FOR – a way of communicating and engaging pre-literate audiences with ideas about how to be a leader, the dangers of knowledge, guest friendship as social glue, actions and consequences, the potential agency of women etc. Once you read it with that in the back of your mind, you can see how and why it’s so adaptable to different media for different audiences at different times.
The Coens did a good job with it: let’s see how far Nolan can succeed in making more than just an IMAX adventure story. Thank you for coming to my TED talk
Kim, I can always rely on you for the smart opinion. Concur with all of the above, with the proviso that I like monsters.