My latest book review looks at George Clare's autobiographical account his time with the British military de-nazifying Berlin in 1946-1947. A disappointing book.

Last night we watched "The Night of the Hunter" (1955) a superbly creepy film, with Robert Mitchum as a serial killer preying on widows and children. A box office failure at time of release, its reached classic status in the years since.

Tonight I finished watching The Big Country (1958). Long on my watchlist, it's a little over long, but Gregory Peck does a good job as the man trying to stop a feud turning to all out war. Julie Simmons and him have great chemistry and the landscape is breathtaking - and big. Heston is great too.

I've been caring for my mum. To escape worldly troubles last night we watched Paul Newman and Diane Cilento in Hombre (1967); a superb western thats all about the Civil Rights struggle. Including who can drink at bars and ride inside stagecoaches with white people.

This is a very interesting book for those interested in radical peasant movements.

Local government workers deserve more than a 3.3% pay rise. After years of pay being eroded in real terms; I am proud to vote YES to industrial action in Unison's strike ballot. Make sure you vote Yes too.

"To insist that fascism is already here, or to deny the very possibility of its coming to power – amounts politically to one and the same thing. By ignoring the specific nature of fascism, the will to fight against it becomes inevitably paralysed." Trotsky, 1932.

Our house is ravaged by sickness, so we have been watching films. Saw Priscilla Queen of the Desert for the first time in decades. Still an amazing film. It profoundly affected me in the 90s and still does today.

Have now finished all three volumes of Bryan D. Palmer's new radical history of Canada, arriving serious engagement with colonialism, capitalism and resistance from 1500 to 2025. Probably the best books for anyone wanting to understand the Canadian settler state today.

Recent new arrivals on my bookshelves. Needed a new copy of Capital II as I seem to have lost my old one.

Fantastic panel with socialists from three continents launching the new edition of John Molyneux's book The Real Marxist Tradition at Marxism Festival 2026.

"Don't you think he looks tired"

Paul Foot's talk on the 1381 Peasants' Revolt was called "This Bright Day of Summer". I edited and wrote an introduction to it for a short pamphlet from Redwords. It's just come out at Marxism 2026 and you can get it from Bookmarks books

John Molyneux's book "What is the Real Marxist Tradition?" was a highly influential text for generations of revolutionaries. I was v pleased to be asked alongside Gyekye Tanoh to write introductions to a new edition. It will be launched at @marxismfestival.bsky.social this weekend in London

Looking forward to @MarxismFestival in London next weekend. In one of the sessions I will be discussing @alybatt.bsky.social's book "Free Gifts: Capitalism and the Politics of Nature" with her. It's an excellent book, & I'm looking forward to the chat. More info > marxismfestival.org.uk

As climate change worsens, millions are suffering extreme heat, wildfires & floods. This will only get worse if we don't curb fossil fuel capitalism. This needs to be done in a way that ordinary people benefit. See the @campaigncc.bsky.social's Climate Jobs campaign www.campaigncc.org/climatejobs

Here's my picture from 2024 from the top of "Last Stand Hill" in the direction where in 1876 the combined forces of the Lakota, Dakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho camped.

Today the battlefield is again a site of struggle, as the Trump administration tries to eradicate memorials to Native American history & victory. This is not surprising. When I went in 2024 it was clear the US has spent a great deal of time trying to reinvent the defeat (3/5)

The deaths of George Armstrong Custer & around 250 of his men punctured the self-confidence of the US which was celebrating its centennial. (2/5)

150 years ago today in 1876, the US suffered its biggest defeat in its ongoing war with Native Americans at the Battle of the Greasy Grass, commonly known as the Little Bighorn. (1/5)

My friend and comrade Ian Angus launching his new book Metabolic Rift in Toronto today.

The collapse of normality in British politics throws up some hilarious moments.

At the Canadian Museum of History

Mooching around Yarmouth harbour this morning, as you do I was struck by this safety poster - a result of a fishing corporation being fined for killing a worker. Fishing is one of the most dangerous industries and safety on board has always had to be fought for by workers.

I also got this second hand. I saw it recommended somewhere.

Im learning a lot about contemporary struggles for Indigenous rights and power in Canada today from this book that places them in context of historic and recent treaties.

Visiting Eastern Passage in Nova Scotia; but cannot go past a picket line without stopping to offer solidarity. Solidarity to the CUPE strikers.

It's not Compass Rose. But I present HMCS Sackville to @dreadships.bsky.social the last surviving WW2 convoy escort corvette. Now in Halifax, Canada. A dream fulfilled today.

This is very good #books

My latest book review. Hossam El-Hamalawy's "Counter-Revolution in Egypt: Sisi's new republic". A study of the Egyptian state before, during & after the Revolution. How the Egyptian ruling class responds to revolution & dissent. resolutereader.blogspot.com/2026/05/hoss... @barracks.substack.com