10,000 Substack followers

Writing from London forges ahead!

Hello there,

Just to let you know that more than 10,000 readers from every country in the world apart from Mongolia, Uzbekistan and Chad are now following me on Substack. (Clearly, I need to do more on central Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.)

As I only set-up Writing from London a little over a year ago, I am incredibly pleased to reach this milestone. I want to thank you for all your support.

I have taken to this format because it gives me the freedom to write without editors restricting my choice of subject. With Europe and the US caught between liberalism and authoritarianism, now more than ever seems to be the time to write without restriction.

Substack operates a two-tier system.  I give free subscribers some articles. Meanwhile, paying subscribers have access to all articles and everything in the archives, and they can join the debates in the comment sections too.

There’s no Murdoch-style proprietor standing over my shoulder. No advertising or clickbait.

Just you and me.

If you are interested in a paid subscription, here in reverse order are the 10 most-read pieces since I launched last winter. Fear not, there is a free trial for those of you who need time to make up your minds.

Best wishes,

Nick

10/ Escape your worthless life! Join Putin's army for sex, money and status!

(What Russia’s recruitment ads tell us about a failing state)

9/ A Russian victory will shatter the West

(What happens in Ukraine won’t stay in Ukraine)

8/ How reputable Conservatives paved the way for Trump and Brexit

(Anne Applebaum, Radek Sikorski and the smash-up on the right)

7/ The liberal despair of Rafael Behr

(Personal breakdown and political collapse)

6/ Gaza has pushed the post-colonial left into QAnon-style conspiracy theories

(Why the madness on the streets matters)

5/ Arthur Miller, JK Rowling and the death of witch hunts

(The radicalism has drained from the woke movement leaving only "the slime of a new bureaucracy")

4/ Slobbery and Sycophancy: the case of Matt Goodwin

(Heads Goodwins, tails you lose)

3/ Whatever happens, the Jews get the blame

2/ 2023: This time the UK’s decline is real

(We’re becoming the new Italy)

1/ Elon Musk and the west’s fascist fifth column