Terence Blacker

The journalist and critic Terence Blacker writes a twice-weekly topical column. He is the author of four novels and his children’s books have been published in 18 languages. Blacker’s most recent book was the highly praised biography You Cannot Live as I Have Lived and Not End Up Like This: The Thoroughly Disgraceful Life and Times of Willie Donaldson.

The Argentine Gisela Dulko celebrates her 6- 2, 3-6, 6-4 victory over the
unfit and under-prepared former champion Maria Sharapova

But what about her second serve?

Terence Blacker: Tennis has been comprehensively hijacked by the marketing of sex

Recently by Terence Blacker

Terence Blacker: Ageism – our most popular prejudice

Friday, 26 June 2009

Two authoritative reports published this week have confirmed, in forensic detail, how one section of the British public is routinely and systematically discriminated against. As a result, thousands are dying prematurely. Those who live are likely to work less, drink more, be more depressed and be considerably more stupid than their counterparts in America.

Terence Blacker: So how do I ditch my old computer?

Tuesday, 23 June 2009

If recycling is to be effective, it needs to be made practical and easy

Terence Blacker: At least we've oopsification to cheer us up

Friday, 19 June 2009

For a few happy weeks, it was possible to forget how broke and scared most of us were feeling. The endlessly cheering spectacle of politicians having to discuss bath-plug expenditure, of them actually trying for the first time to avoid appearing on Newsnight, was such a diverting tragic-comedy that for a while the great recession became a minor item on the finance pages.

Terence Blacker: When it comes to health, men are second-class citizens

Tuesday, 16 June 2009

Campaigns for breast cancer draw headlines. Male cancers do not

Terence Blacker: The problem with society is everyone else

Friday, 12 June 2009

That great and virtuous institution, The Joseph Rowntree Foundation, has for the past two years been studying why British society is in such a terrible mess. It has consulted with commentators and thinkers, and has conducted a survey of 3,500 people. Now and then, tantalising insights into its progress have been released to the press. A little over a year ago, we learnt that 10 social evils of our time, including selfishness and the decline of community values, had been discovered.

Terence Blacker: You can't kill off libraries and call it 'creative'

Tuesday, 9 June 2009

Prisoners have a statutory right to a library, but schoolchildren do not

Terence Blacker: Angry voters who back their censured MP

Friday, 5 June 2009

Here is an unusual angle on a grimly familiar story. The constituents of an MP who has been caught up in the expenses row are, in the phrase of the month, very, very angry. Their faith in politics and politicians has been shaken to the core. Yet the focus of the rage is not their MP, but the way he has been treated by his party and by the media.