About

I'm an Appalachian transplant to Brooklyn. My writing has appeared in Plough, Angelus News, Religion and Liberty Magazine, Athwart, The Bulwark, The Dispatch, The Weekly Standard, American Consequences, Arc DigitalThe Torrey Gazette, The Whitetopper, and Summit Ministries' blog, covering topics as varied as popular culture, entertainment, faith, politics, and literature.


You're here for one of two reasons (probably). Either you've been reading the cultural commentary, or the British detectives stuff. 

I am prone to wax (or wane) eloquent on British detective shows, Doctor Who, the State Of The World, theology, politics, or a dozen other things. To spare people in real life having to endure this, I inflict it upon the internet.

I do spend a lot of time on Twitter, so follow me there, or go like Longish on Facebook.

Cheers!

Hannah Long

29 comments:

  1. Found you through Eric Metaxas and love what I've read so far.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! Make sure to follow on Facebook for updates. :)
      https://www.facebook.com/longishfanpage

      Delete
  2. Hello! I don't know how, but I was looking for something on Figment and I remembered you as Eowyn (blast from the past!) and that I liked reading your stories and somehow I ended up here. Nice blog, I would follow you but my own blog is on Tumblr and I don't have an account here.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Found you through a Kevin Williamson retweet. OVERJOYED to find a fellow British Detective fan! I thought I was the only person in Appalachia (Is Arkansas Appalachia?) to have discovered Morse. Consider me a regular listener to your podcast now! Congratulations on your Weekly Standard review--so exciting!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow! Thank you on all fronts. And you're certainly not the only Morse fan in Appalachia - not only my family, but several people I know like British detectives (and I'm always making converts, usually via the gateway drug, Sherlock). Glad to hear from you! Keep in touch.

      Delete
  4. Hi, Hannah. I hadn't read this page. I too am a Christian. I had a powerful experience at university when I was your age. Changed my life forever. In my dotage, I read a lot of theology (Tom Wright is my favorite author but I read a lot of others, old and new, as well). For light relief, it's British detectives!

    I like quite a few of the many you list but there are others I don't care for. Because of my age, I've read and seen a lot over the years. I love the 90s Maigret, for example, but the 60s one also made a big impression on me when I was just a kid. Very little of that has survived. I really like the books as well.

    Foyle's War is another favorite. Very much my parents' time. I can relate to it as I came along not long afterwards and spent my childhood playing on the bombed sites of Central London and on the river. It was still Dickens' London. About half a mile from where I was born, in a small park behind a church, is the last remaining piece of the wall of the debtor's gaol where Dickens' father was imprisoned. As a child, Dickens worked nearby.

    Keep up the good work!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. To detail the circumstances of my own conversion would be a long and possibly impossible task - it took place very slowly, and involved the influence of many sources, Tolkien's writing one of them. But I've always been surrounded by Christians who encouraged me to think for myself, so I'd mostly sorted out my biggest faith issues by the time college rolled around. That said, it's been a bit of a rollercoaster.

      Bear in mind, while I reviewed or mentioned many of those shows - that doesn't necessarily mean I liked them. My favorites would be Agatha Christie's Poirot (for sentimental reasons), Vera, Foyle's War, Inspector Morse, and Broadchurch's first season. The 90s Maigret was very good - reminds me to revisit it.

      Ah, the Marshalsea? We just finished watching Little Dorrit again. That's amazing. Our local history isn't quite so grand - bootleggers and mountain feuding, for the most part.

      Thanks for reading!

      Delete
  5. Found you via your piece on John Uskglass. Wonderful writing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry for the delay - I was locked out of my account. And thank you! I've been quite puzzled by the amount of traffic that post receives. Where did you happen to run across it?

      Delete
    2. Your page is the 5th google result for "john uskglass" and 4th for "who is the raven king?"

      Delete
    3. Interesting. I'm surprised there are that many people googling that rather obscure topic.

      Delete
  6. HI Hannah. I have stumbled across your reviews of British crime shows a few times now in my efforts to rattle something out of my brain that just does not want to come forth. It seems like you enjoy all the same shows we do. For the life of me I can't remember which show it was (that a particular episode comes from, that is swirling around in my head with snippets of scenes) and the actress that i would stake my life on as being in it...according to IMDB...was not (Lesley Sharp). My husband can recall the same scenes as i do, so i know i am not making it up. and i absolutely cannot recall the faces of any of the other actors (which is just plain odd considering i remember so much my head is clogged with so much useless trivia and much of it on British Tv) If i were to describe the scenes, do you think you would care to attempt seeing if anything sounds familiar to you? I thought it might have been Inspector Lewis, but in going thru what i have seen of yours and the summaries from IMDB, thus far i'm not seeing it. Let me know. And i am enjoying your reviews, will have to check out the rest of your writings.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ok, what i am remembering is there is a blonde woman (with longish blonde wavy hair...the one i would have sworn was Lesley Sharp) she is a free spirit type, hippie-ish, serene in demeanor and she has a business that has to do with plants/greenhouse. she was originally a suspect in the crime or knew the victim (which i am guessing was murder). the lead detective has pretty much ruled her out and has come to be friendly with her, and has gone to her place of business to visit with her and have tea (they are sitting in front of her green house/garden shed at a small table talking like platonic friends. i think i am also recalling that his colleagues are somewhat concerned about his relationship with her potentially interfering with the investigation. there is also another piece...there are other people being investigated...3 of them, and one woman (late 20s early 30s) in particular. she is estranged from her mother who is quite wealthy. she lives with these other 2 (a man and a woman)in what appears to be an abandoned buliding/loft type of structure. they live on the 2nd floor and you enter their unit via a long staircase on the outside of the building that runs along the outside wall. the young woman (i think has something to do with art maybe) and she seems to like the man in the situation but he has something going with the other woman, but they are keeping it quiet from the other one. but she sees them in an embrace and it disturbs her. the detective in some way finds out that this young woman is terminally ill (with what i can't remember) and the young woman returns to her mother's house to try to reconcile with her. i have no memory of the crime, or who died if it was a murder. and i can't visualize any faces. and i'm pretty sure these 2 snippets are from the same episode vs blending 2 shows into one...but i may be wrong.) does any of this mess sound even remotely familiar? thanks in advance for taking time to read this.

      Delete
  7. Hi Hannah, stumbled across this site trying to refresh my memory of the events in Season 3 of Endeavour. What a great site. I really enjoyed reading your list of detectives. I noticed one recent series missing which you might enjoy. It's rather atmospheric and grim, but I recommend it. It's called Hinterland—and also has a Welsh title. They film each episode twice, once in English and once in Welsh. You can stream the English version on Netflix.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the kind words. I've been meaning to watch Hinterland, as I've heard good things about it.

      Delete
  8. Came across your blog on Facebook, Murder, ‘Orrible Murder, love it! I too am from Appalachia, East Tennessee, a Christian and love mysteries. Looking forward to following along with you here and on Facebook.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hello Hanna
    Today Nov 25, I happened upon your piece in the Weekly Standard "The Extraordinary Fidelity of Christopher Tolkien, Last of the Inklings." I am not a'Twitter so glad to find this venue to say...
    Hannah, this was the most beautifully crafted, original and enlightening piece I've ever read on the enigmatic master as writer, thinker, creator, philosopher. And there's been a ton written on him too. The cudo comes from a writer who can appreciate fresh thought and beautiful articulation. Well done. I'm going to read some of your other pieces posted at the Standard to see if you're an ongoing genius or just one-time lucky. Ha!
    God bless and all the best.
    Tommy Cies

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The piece was a pleasure to write. I can't make any promises about my other work - I've been passionate about the world of Middle-earth since I was a kid so my work there is perhaps more informed - but I hope you enjoy it!

      Delete
    2. Hannah
      I have a subject for a piece you might be interested in. If you would email me, I will send you a description.
      tommycies@gmail.com

      Delete
  10. Dear HL, referencing my comment on ‘Apollo’, here is the link to the Holmes story
    Apparently, that paper is/was the Archbishop of Canterbury’s favoured morning reading (at least that’s what Rowan Williams told my mum!) And, allegedly, the pope had it read – and presumably translated – to him. But it’s a long time ago…
    Write me an email, to my lower-case first name ******@byrob.com and I’ll send you the sequel… RW

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry! It's late in England and I'm brainless (founded a club for thick people - Densa, where I designed the coat of arms - three short planks) So here is the link: https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2009/17-april/features/the-mystery-of-the-empty-tomb

      Delete
    2. I just read the first paragraph and was immediately charmed and intrigued. It's hard to get much closer to the perfect intersection of my interests than Sherlock Holmes meets apologetics. I think I'll save this for my commute Monday morning. What a delightful idea!

      Delete
    3. I do hope you like it. The CT also printed an Xmas story, ‘The Reluctant Shepherd’, which google/duckduckgo should find. But the sequel, from MHMC’s following issue, will I hope amuse further. It even links to a clip you’ve put up, which, typically, I’ve only just found… (And this is my third reply/comment – to all of yours to mine. Sorry! Robert

      Delete
  11. Hello there, Hannah! I got to know you and your blog thanks to your wonderful article on Christopher Tolkien at The Weekly Standard. I'm glad to have found so many interesting things here, too!

    I'm an English translator from Argentina and happen to have a blog as well, Tras la palabra (traslapalabra.com/index-eng/). It's a blog on translation, especially about literature, philosophy, and music. In fact, I would like to contact you regarding a translation of the article I mentioned.
    Could I send you an e-mail, perhaps? You may also write me to the e-mail address appearing on my website, if you wish.

    Thank you in advance, and congrats on your blog! :)
    Rafael

    ReplyDelete
  12. Longish,

    Even though I know you're Hannah Long, I still remember you as Longish when I stumbled on your blog a few years ago because I was looking for reviews of every Endeavour episode as soon as I watch that specific show, for instance, I watched all of the 3 episodes of Endeavour- Oracle, Raga, and Zenana. Anyway, I continue to enjoy reading your reviews on your blog, Longish. I just discovered Murder 'Orrible Murder on Facebook.

    Brent

    ReplyDelete
  13. I found this blog by accident. I was googling Vera season 1, episode 1 for more information and I came across your amazing blog about British TV detectives. I discovered Vera recently and I thought it was an awesome show.

    ReplyDelete

WARNING: Blogger sometimes eats comments - copy before you post.