Leighan M Renaud

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December 1, 2025

Twenty experts on the book that got them through their 20s – part one

Mathelinda Nabugodi, UCL; Andrew Dix, Loughborough University; Ankhi Mukherjee, University of Oxford; Dominic Davies, City St George's, University of London; Harsh Trivedi, University of Sheffield; Leighan M Renaud, University of Bristol; Sarah Olive, Aston University; Sarah Trott, York St John University; Torbjörn Forslid, Lund University, and Viktoriia Grivina, University of St Andrews

Many of us turn to literature to guide us through the highs and the lows of this formative time

December 20, 2023

The seven best books of 2023 reviewed by our experts

Leighan M Renaud, University of Bristol; Andrew Dix, Loughborough University; Dominic Broomfield-McHugh, University of Sheffield; Florian Stadtler, University of Bristol; Jane O’Connor, Birmingham City University; Madeleine S. Killacky, Bangor University, and Simon Potter, University of Bristol

These books had our academics gripped until their final pages.

Courtesy of the Booker prize

November 22, 2023

Booker prize 2023: the six shortlisted books reviewed by our experts

Ananya Jahanara Kabir, King's College London; Alison Donnell, University of East Anglia; Bethany Layne, De Montfort University; Leighan M Renaud, University of Bristol; Liam Harte, University of Manchester, and Muireann O'Cinneide, University of Galway

From a longlist of 12, six novels have been shortlisted for the 2023 Booker prize.

Zadie Smith has dipped her toe into the world of historical fiction with The Fraud. DPA Picture Alliance/Alamy/Penguine

September 4, 2023

The Fraud by Zadie Smith review: a dazzling depiction of Victorian colonial England

Leighan M Renaud, University of Bristol

This well-researched book brings to life the odd case of Sir Roger Tichborne and those around him.

The shortlisted books. Courtesy of the International Booker Prize

May 19, 2023

International Booker Prize 2023: our experts review the six shortlisted books

Leighan M Renaud, University of Bristol; Berny Sèbe, University of Birmingham; Colin Herd, University of Glasgow; Gemma Ballard, University of Sheffield; Kaye Mitchell, University of Manchester, and Sukla Chatterjee, University of Aberdeen

Reflecting on themes as diverse as motherhood, war, religion and memory, our experts were impressed by the 2023 shortlist.

Ayanna Lloyd Banwo c Penguin Books USE.

November 28, 2022

The best fiction of 2022: Ayanna Lloyd Banwo’s When We Were Birds – an exquisite exploration of love and legacy