Paper Trails

September 20, 2026

Before I Knew Who I Was

I picked up Oliver’s forgotten graphite pencil from the floor. Holding it against the blank space above my collar, I did not…
September 19, 2026

Vegan Popcorn for Dinner

The rain had been tapping against the single-glazed window of the flat since five o’clock, a steady, indifferent rhythm that matched the…
September 18, 2026

The Crown of Boughs

One grey morning, a silent wolf entered the royal chamber. He came from Calais, carrying a heavy iron axe. The falcon looked…
September 18, 2026

Update the Dummy

Nigel stared blankly at his kitchen counter, nursing a mug of synthetic tea. Having a smart phone, smart TV, smart fridge and…

Days of Yore

September 15, 2026

Thus Spoke Zarathustra

The book remains one of the most influential works in modern philosophy. It challenges readers to step away from mindless conformity, take…
September 15, 2026

Two Rococo Couplets

Queen Marie Antoinette, who regularly sat for Vigée Le Brun, popularised the kind of simple, white muslin dress so beautifully painted in…
August 26, 2026

The Strange Little Hatchling

A devoted mother duck sits patiently on her nest day and night, keeping the precious eggs warm through the long weeks of…

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About Me

Former diplomat and globetrotter, Dan Costinas is a versatile contemporary writer, translator, and editor. A true polyglot, he has authored and contributed to several dozen books spanning mainly fiction, essays, aphorisms, reviews and criticism, journalism, and poetry.

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Books of Our Continent

From the quiet shelves of forty-four national archives and ancient university libraries to the cosy corners of independent bookstores and modest home…

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