I’m a journalist based in London. I’m currently a commissioning editor at UnHerd, where I work on everything from essays and reportage to investigations. In practice, that covers everything from English neo-Nazis to where circus elephants spend Christmas.
Before starting at UnHerd, I spent many years as a writer, and was published in a range of publications, including New Scientist, The Guardian and the BBC, among many others.
Much of my work has focused on language and how it interacts with identity. I’ve written about the Egyptian dialect of Arabic and YouTube mafiosi; 18th-century Milanese poets and contemporary Puglian singers. That’s shadowed by travel writing: considering my Triestine family roots and investigating Jewish settlements in the West Bank are two highlights.
Feature writing is another interest. I’ve examined how the Dutch use medieval guilds to beat flooding; interviewed retired North Korean film stars; explored the wealthy and mysterious City of London Corporation; and analysed Russian cyber attacks on Ukraine. I’ve also written book reviews, on everything from Prague to partisans, many of which have appeared in the Economist.
I’ve also written for trade magazines, where I covered a wide range of topics: hospitality, cruise ships, architecture, and medical devices, to name but a few. I’ve edited trade magazines too, guiding titles through the publication process. Along the way, I interviewed everyone from Nato generals to the CEO of Mercedes-Benz.
Beyond straight journalism, I’ve appeared on American, Australian and Canadian radio to discuss my stories. My knowledge of Arabic has also seen me edit several works on Islamic law.