Granta 103: The Rise of the British Jihad

At present, in Britain, there are at least 200 indigenous active terrorist cells being monitored by the Security Service MI5, with 4,000 British Muslims considered to be a threat to national security. How did we arrive at this state of affairs? A remarkable investigation by Richard Watson into the origins – and the rise – of the British jihad.

Binyavanga Wainaina on what it means to be Kenyan
Catherine O’Flynn tries to draw a map of the world
Lois Williams grows up in the Wash
Craig Raine dines at high table
Aleksandar Hemon’s world of mourning
Carol Ann Duffy sends a dispatch from the moon
Elizabeth Lowry learns to speak English

Plus new fiction by Jennifer Haigh, Tahmima Anam and Daniel Alarcón

Lalage Snow photographs the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan

An extract from Simon Gray’s Coda