Emily Rhodes

writer

I write, mostly about books. Sometimes books are a means of writing about something else – a way of getting closer to the truth of a situation.

My features and reviews have appeared in publications including the Financial Times, Spectator, Guardian, 1843, the TLS and Country Life.

These pieces are the most important to me:

Christmas past: behind the scenes at Dennis Severs House (FT Weekend House & Home, 6 December, 2019)

A treat to talk to David Milne, curator of this special Spitalfields house, about creating an unusual, unforgettable Christmas. Featuring some beautiful, atmospheric pics by Tori Ferenc.
Read

How do authors earn a living? It's a Catch-22 situation (FT Weekend Life & Arts, 7 June 2019)
Read

Books on the Street – The Rise of Micro-libraries (FT Weekend Magazine, 3 August, 2018)

While we bemoan the tragic dwindling in our public libraries, informal book-swaps - "micro-libraries" - are on the rise. I look at how, where and why.
Read

Surfacing by Kathleen Jamie (The Spectator, 2 November 2019)

An amazing collection of essays, which prompted, I think, probably one of the best bits of critical writing I've done.
Read

Inside Stories from a Prison Book Club (Guardian, 2016)
Read

You can read more of and about my work here:

I began Emily’s Walking Book Club in 2012, and it's still going strong. We meet monthly, in all weathers, to walk and talk books on Hampstead Heath. Find out more and sign up to the monthly newsletter

Author Events and Broadcasting

I enjoy participating in live events - talking about books, interviewing authors and chairing panel discussions; I’m also confident in broadcast journalism. More on that here.

I hope you enjoy the site. Drop me a line and say hello!

Instagram

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Prep for Emily’s walking book club Christmas special tomorrow.
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I thought these spiced ginger biscuits might echo Fred Fairly’s cup of tea and two biscuits that he has after receiving rather a shock in court.
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It is always such a treat to read Penelope Fitzgerald - to my mind one of the best authors not just of the 20th century, but of all time. She is so clever here, writing about Cambridge, 1912, and Rutherford’s theory of the nuclear atom, in the way she echoes it in her structure, with St Angelicus as the nucleus and her characters whizzing around like electrons - no wonder Fred and Daisy collide, on their bikes, and form a bond.
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I had four small eager hands helping with the biscuits - a Christmas treat for everyone.
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Looking forward to walking, talking, scoffing on Hampstead Heath tomorrow. See you at @dauntbooks Hampstead at 1130.
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#emilyswalkingbookclub #bookclub #walkingbookclub #bookclubpick #penelopefitzgerald #hampsteadheath #christmasbiscuits #christmasbaking #parentingwin #cambridge #sciencebooks #historicalfiction #whattoreadnext #booksbooksbooks #bookaddiction #bookstagramfeatures #bookcommunity #booksarelife #booksofig #ukbookstagram #bookworm #igreads #readmorebooks #womenwhoread #womenwhowrite #bookaddict #readersofinsta

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There’s nothing better than seeing your words brought to life by an amazingly talented photographer.
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Loved working with @toriferenc for this story on the intensely atmospheric @dennissevershouse for @ft_houseandhome.
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Out today!
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#christmas #dennissevers #ftweekend #freelancinglife #spitalfields #spitalfieldsmarket #london #beautifulphotos #candlelight #londonattractions #architecturelovers #interiorstyling #londonhistory

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A hat trick in @ft_houseandhome over the past couple of weeks!
I wrote about sheds (the super-smart rather than ramshackle type), some stunning modern remodellings of Georgian homes, and Bishop Auckland’s newly restored castle, featuring some unforgettable paintings by Spanish artist Francisco de Zurbaran.
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I loved meeting all the talented architects who took the time to talk me through and show me around their projects with such enthusiasm, never minding all my questions. Researching and writing these pieces certainly felt much more like fun than work! And what a treat to spend some time thinking about spaces and materials, rather than being bogged down (as I usually am) in puzzling out words and sentences. Always helpful to remember that one does have different bits of brain ready to be utilised!
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As a freelancer, publication always feels like something of a lottery - you have no idea if a piece (especially if it isn’t pegged to a specific event) is going to come out days or months after you’ve filed it. So I always celebrate a glut like this, and try to remember these happy times of plenty when next going through a barren patch.
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#ftweekend #sheds #shedsofinstagram #architecture #architectsofinstagram #freelancing #modernarchitecture #architecturelovers #architecturedesign #architecturedaily #design #house #home #residence #garden #bishopauckland #castle #aucklandcastle #zurbaran #georgians #freelancers #freelancelife #freelancewriter #freelancelifestyle #cabins #backyardshed #cabinlove #londonarchitect

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Emily Rhodes

Features

Reviews

Books

Emily's Walking Book Club

Author Events and Broadcasting

Instagram