September sees the fourth and final in a cycle of red moons caused by a total lunar eclipse. We mark the occasion with 20 red-inspired books, films and albums
By James Lee-Tullis
Red Harvest – Dashiell Hammett: No one does hard-boiled quite like Hammett. This, his debut novel, set the template for a whole genre of American fiction, not to mention endless film noir classics. More than that, though, it changed American fiction in general. Discover more
Red Dog – Louis de Bernières: Not as famous as Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Red Dog was something of a departure for its author. Depicting the adventures of a remarkable canine in a West Australian mining town, de Bernières vividly evokes the heat and atmosphere of small-town Australia. Discover more
The Red Pony – John Steinbeck: Steinbeck wrote this book, which can be read as a series of short stories or a novella, in the years preceding the publication of Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath. Powerfully describing the growing pains of a young boy, Jody, it can be enjoyed equally by adults or older children. Discover more
Red Rising – Pierce Brown: In ancient times, a ‘blood moon’ brought on panic and fear of the apocalypse. Brown, the new wunderkind of the sci-fi genre, taps into similar anxieties in this, the first book of a dystopian trilogy about a mining colony on Mars. An overnight success, the book has been described as a cross between Hunger Games and Lord of the Flies. Discover more
The Red-Headed League – Arthur Conan Doyle: The continuing television success of Sherlock has revived interest in all things Sherlockian. First published as a short story in The Strand, the plot begins with a bizarre newspaper advert offering work solely to red-headed men. Discover more
Red Bones – Ann Cleeves: This is arguably the most enthralling of Ann Cleeves’ Shetland mysteries – traditional detective stories with the isolated and insular Shetland Islands substituting for the similarly enclosed parlours and drawing rooms of Agatha Christie et al. Discover more
A Perfect Red – Amy Butler Greenfield: A Perfect Red, a perfect read? Quite possibly. This masterpiece of non-fiction makes a gripping narrative out of unlikely material – the history of the food dye cochineal. From the Incas to the present day, Butler Greenfield reveals how one colour changed the world in a small way. Discover more
The Red Shoes – Michael Powell/Emeric Pressburger: Originally seen as unreleasable, The Red Shoes is today revered by the likes of Martin Scorsese as an absolute masterpiece. Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s story of the same title, this might be the greatest ballet, or even the greatest dance film ever made. Discover more
Red River – Howard Hawks: One of the first films to prove unequivocally that Marion Morrison could act. Better known by his stage name, John Wayne, he more than matched Montgomery Clift in the acting stakes in this landmark Western drama. Discover more
3 Colours: Red – Krzysztof Kieślowski: The concluding chapter in Kieślowski’s seminal Three Colours series, the film starred French-born Swiss actress Irène Jacob, who also played twins in the director’s The Double Life of Veronique. Discover more
The Woman In Red – Gene Wilder: Dated? Possibly. Cheesy? Slightly. Silly? Well, there is that. Despite all those potential flaws, this quintessential Gene Wilder comedy still epitomises an era. Few films represent the 1980s like this one – or Wilder’s daft, but endearing brand of zany comedy. Discover more
Red Sorghum – Zhang Yimou: This was the film that opened the eyes of the cinematic public worldwide to a new style of Chinese filmmaking. Directed by the peerless Zhang Yimou – who reputedly sold his own blood to pay for his first camera, it also introduced the luminous talent of Gong Li. Discover more
The Thin Red Line – Terrence Malick: As much as the film itself, which enthrals in its powerful depiction of the Battle of Guadalcanal, the film is fascinating for star-spotting. Quite simply, every Hollywood star wanted to appear in director Terrence Malick’s comeback film after a 20-year sabbatical. Half of them did. Discover more
Little Red Tractor Stories – Peter Tye: Not connected to the similarly named Little Red Tractor children’s show, this beautifully animated series, narrated by the late Richard Briers and Brian Glover, exerts a timeless charm. Discover more
1962-1966 [‘The Red Album’] – The Beatles: This compilation charts the evolution of a small four-piece band from Liverpool to global superstardom. Their songs evolve similarly hinting at the even more progressive and groundbreaking anthems to come. Discover more
The Road to Red Rocks – Mumford & Sons: Following in the path of bands like U2, Mumford & Sons took their acoustic guitars to this spectacular open-air amphitheatre in the summer of 2012. History of the band and its origins accompanies the concert footage. Discover more
Red – Taylor Swift: Swift’s evolution from country to perfect pop has seen her grow into a chart-topping megastar, fashion icon and even an unlikely ‘advisor’ to Apple on their artists’ royalty policy. This, her fourth studio album, encapsulates her appeal. Discover more
Under the Red Sky – Bob Dylan: Initially dismissed by critics, actually still dismissed by critics, this follow-up to the magisterial 1989 album Oh Mercy nevertheless offers a certain charm. This is His Bobness in playful, almost nursery rhyme mode as he sings whimsical ditties like Wiggle Wiggle (yes, really), backed by stellar musicians including Slash and Elton John. Discover more
Californication – Red Hot Chili Peppers: The last great album of the last millennium? Probably. This was The Chili Peppers back at their very best, buoyed by the return of expressive lead guitarist John Frusciante and with a raft of songs charting the underbelly of Californian life. Discover more
Dynamite! The Unsung King of the Blues – Tampa Red: At his peak in the late 1940s and early 1950s, Red was a huge influence on everyone from B.B. King right through to The Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton. This album reveals why so many of his songs have gone on to become blues standards. Discover more
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