The renewal of Englishness
Journalist James Cowley builds a national identity from an excavation of incidents
Sharing the great American dream
The Upswing by Robert Putnam, with Shaylyn Romney Garrett
Good luck…
David Goodhart wishes The Critic every success
Three act tragedy
The Wagatha Christie case reveals the addictive fun of gossip — but also its corrosive power
Will Sinn Fein paint the town green?
The nationalist party may triumph in the Stormont elections, but it could prove a hollow victory
Censored speech
The Queen’s speech revealed a government failing to protect free expression
The eye of the storm
Rachel Podger and Brecon Baroque, Vivaldi, The Four Seasons
It’s a 10 from me
Lunching at one of Soho’s finest as it celebrates a decade of unassuming excellence
A vivid but oddly unresolved picture
This biography of Constable is but a partial portrait
Doing the Strand
The glorious heyday of Roxy Music, when just to be a fan of a band that sounded like no other was like being in an exclusive club
Amis at 100: a master satirist without honour
It’s time to appreciate Kingsley Amis — flaws and all
The Good Friday Agreement is in peril
24 years on the treaty may be on the verge of collapse
Cash in the Cabinet
Helpful tips from your favourite politicians on how to beat the cost of living crisis
Channel 4 is not worth conserving
You can’t build a nation on Dr Who, Gin and publicly-owned TV networks