First published 2008
This literary collection brings together original work from acclaimed writers across fiction, memoir, and reportage. Robert Macfarlane reports from Beijing as the city prepares for the Olympics amid urban transformation. Narrative dispatches arrive from Angola, Kenya, and the restless suburbs of Paris. The anthology opens with contributions from Hilary Mantel and Douglas Coupland, followed by fiction pieces from Annie Proulx and Joshua Ferris. Photo essays complement the written work, while Tim Lott delivers an investigation into the brutal killing of a prominent London media personality. The collection represents the magazine's reinvention under new editorial direction, maintaining its commitment to showcasing exceptional contemporary writing while expanding its digital presence.
Genres: literary-fiction, anthologies, contemporary, 21st-century
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family
Setting: Beijing, Angola, Kenya, Paris, London
Period: Olympics
286 pages · Paperback · Granta Books