How to lose an empire
The rise and fall of the Sassoon family, whose yearning for social acceptance brought titles at the cost of success
Aggers declares — the end of an era
It has been an assured innings, and a long one
Violence is a feature of porn, not a bug
Aggression towards women permeates the most popular pornography
A captivating northern star
If Lise Davidsen sneezes, the opera world shuts down
Public sector pay
Bumper pay rises for doctors and teachers are bound to result in higher inflation
Silk Road splendour
The bare plain is now home to a million souls, their mosques, cathedrals and some very exclusive hotels
Poor conduct
Shostakovich: Symphonies 4-6 (Decca)
Anti-Christian persecution is an international problem
Britain should use its diplomatic influence to help
The esoterica trap
We should not pollute good causes with unreliable information
Shades of Gray
Never underestimate the mysterious yet powerful Sue Gray
The far enemy
The motivations for the 9/11 attacks are still misunderstood and moralised
A beguiling star who loved melodrama
Taylor’s hunger for money, flashy gizmos and flashier gewgaws found its echo in Burton’s need to forsake the classics
