Issue 1422

Grime fiction
Runcorn rap artist Lee Scott’s debut novel, Swan Songs, portrays the alienation – or alien nation – of the working classes. He tells Chris Moss what the green men of the book say about creativity and originality in writing and hip-hop.

Wish you weren’t here
The fire bombing in the 1980s of second homes in Wales highlighted the housing crisis in Wales. Less violently, it was underlined again when English people fleeing Covid pushed up house prices on the Welsh coast. Richard King, author of a new book about the country’s history, argues that the Welsh government should use its new-found self-confidence to finally tackle the crisis

‘The system is crumbling’
They look after your elderly relatives and one day may look after you, but they are underpaid, disrespected and overworked. People working on the frontlines of social care tell Susan Griffin about the soul-destroying state of their industry.

Plus
News, arts and entertainment, columnist Saskia Murphy on Ukraine and freedom, Clive Myrie’s letter to his younger self and much more.