Independent London publisher of modern classics and contemporary voices
The Guardian review of Life of M traces how Rachel Cusk’s novel intercuts a star’s ascent with the narrator’s reflections, comparing M to Natalie Portman’s career and examining fame’s impact on authenticity, family, and art. The prose is praised for its precise, sparing style that exposes the performative nature of celebrity.
Sally Rooney has agreed with publisher Faber that her books will no longer be supplied in the UK because current UK terrorism legislation has made it impossible for the publisher to pass UK earnings to her after she pledged to fund Palestine Action. E‑books have been removed; some physical stock remains. The Supreme Court will hear an appeal next month.
The UK government’s proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation has been upheld, leading Faber to halt supply of Sally Rooney’s novels in Britain. Authors and publishers are weighing free-speech concerns against security measures, while stores adjust stock amid confusion over law. Britain is pursuing a balance between protest rights and security.
Sarah Helm’s X post praising Palestine Action is being assessed by the Metropolitan Police after publishers faced backlash over Sally Rooney’s UK sales. Officials say the post did not meet the criminal threshold and no action is planned. Palestine Action remains proscribed under UK law.
Children’s laureates Chris Haughton and Nicola Davies have said they will donate forthcoming UK royalties to Sally Rooney after her UK publisher stopped supplying her books. Rooney has said she will give proceeds to Palestine Action, a group proscribed under UK terrorism law; Faber and Rooney agreed to halt UK sales because the publisher cannot pass on UK earnings.
Protests against the UK government’s 2025 proscription of Palestine Action have escalated, with hundreds detained outside the US Embassy as Supreme Court hearings begin. Police say arrests exceed 4,000, while campaigners condemn the move as a suppression of free speech amid legal challenges.