The New Dark Ages: James Marriott's Grandiose Defence of Reading 2026

In The New Dark Ages, James Marriott delivers a grandiose but superficial defence of reading, arguing that smartphones have all but killed deep literacy. The Times columnist paints a dire picture: a world where scrolling replaces serious engagement with literature, leaving us vulnerable to tyrants and anti-vaxxers. But does his polemic hold up to scrutiny?

The Core Argument: Literacy Under Siege

Marriott's thesis is straightforward: the rise of digital media has eroded our capacity for complex argument and sustained attention. He traces the fall of print from Montaigne to Mr Beast, warning that we risk losing the ability to appreciate Middlemarch—and with it, the foundations of democratic society. The point is modest—scroll less, read more—but the tone is grandiose, as if reading alone can save us from authoritarianism.

A Personal Crusade

Marriott's own journey lends the book its emotional weight. As a child in northern England in the early 2000s, he spent school holidays in bed with piles of books, under the spell of his teacher father. He later had to get rid of his smartphone because "George Eliot is no match" for its addictive pull. This personal anecdote is compelling, but it also reveals the book's central flaw: Marriott generalises his own experience into a universal crisis.

Strengths and Weaknesses of The New Dark Ages

The book's strengths lie in its passion and its occasional sharp insights. Marriott rightly notes that literacy turbocharged our capacity for complex argument. However, he undercuts his own case by conceding that "conversation is very far from useless" and that literate civilisation "has never produced a work of art with quite the same quality of heroic starkness as the Iliad or Beowulf." Such concessions make his defence of reading feel half-hearted.

More troubling is the superficiality of his analysis. Marriott gestures at neuroscience and history but rarely digs deep. He blames smartphones for a decline in reading, yet ignores socioeconomic factors, education policy, and the role of publishers. His argument that reading prevents tyranny is simplistic—plenty of literate societies have fallen to autocrats.

Comparing Marriott's Claims to Reality

Key Takeaways

• The New Dark Ages is a passionate but flawed defence of deep reading.
• Marriott's personal anecdotes are engaging but not universally applicable.
• The book overlooks structural factors behind declining literacy.
• Its grandiose tone undermines its modest message.
• Readers seeking a rigorous analysis should look elsewhere.

FAQ

Ultimately, The New Dark Ages is a heartfelt but flawed call to arms. Marriott's love of literature shines through, but his grandiose generalisations and superficial analysis weaken his case. Reading is valuable—but it's not a panacea for societal ills.