Erwin James served 20 years in British prisons. It proved to be a good apprenticeship for a writer. As part of a recent literary festival, James visited an Irish prison where he talked with inmates about his life inside, and outside, as a writer.

The debate over computer games as a cause of violence can make us forget they are also creative. A game’s rules determine how a player interacts with the computer, and express a particular view of (...)

What has possessed the Bush administration to pursue its grievances against Iran when it can’t cope with the wars it is failing to wage, let alone win, in neighbouring Iraq and Afghanistan?