Four free reads on the Net: The First One

I spend many hours a week reading, and quite a lot of the things I read I find for free on the internet. So I thought I’d set myself a little weekly task to share three or four of the best stories or poems that I have read for free on the net.

Hopefully I haven’t given myself too much of a challenge, and, with luck, you’ll find something you like.

Short Story

This story has caused more than a little controversy with some politicians demanding Hilary’s head on a platter.  Judge for yourself:

The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher by Hilary Mantel (NY Times)

Poem

Clive James who is suffering from an untreatable form of cancer wrote an exquisite poem about facing death, published in the New Yorker.

Japanese Maple

Novella

Who knew that Louisa M Alcott, she of those jolly little women could also produce such a delicious little slice of Victorian melodrama full of suspense and sexual intrigue? Recommended for these chilly autumn nights.

Download a free copy of Behind the Mask

Essay

Finally, thinking about Black History Month, why not (re)read James Baldwin’s classic and beautiful essay Notes of a Native Son  [pdf] ?

Bonus link - in case you missed it, here’s Michael Donaghy’s delightful poem The Natural and Social Sciences

Photo from archiveatthebbc on Flickr (click to view)

Find any good reads on the net? Share in the comments!