Podcast
The long and winding road
Join us on our journey down the roads of the 1800s
For whom the road tolls
Did turnpike roads transform travel in the 18th century? Or were they a means for rent-seeking?
The changing shape of British roads
Professor Jeremy Black and Graham Stewart walk the winding path of British transport history
Advance, legionaries
The Romans and the development of British roads
Lies, damned lies, and biopics
Ridley Scott’s casual treatment of truth in Napoleon does a disservice to both history and storytelling
Geopolitics in the modern world
How does it help us to understand our times?
Xi bangs the drum
On geopolitics with Chinese characteristics
The American decade
The 1990s marked post-Cold War triumph for the States, but choppy waters were ahead
Sparks within the cold
There are rarely easy answers in geopolitics
The state of the arts (w/ Pierre d’Alancaisez)
Can art still be essentially and not just instrumentally valuable?
Going Rogue
An interesting if unappealingly illustrated reassessment of a neglected style
Sometimes it’s best to shoot the messenger
Ordinary citizens feel a greater claim than ever before to what goes on in public institutions
After Covid
English towns have a long road to economic recovery
The price of victory
Benjamin Netanyahu has won battles, but there is no foreseeable end to the war
Choosing enemies wisely
China manifestly wishes to avenge her past humiliation at Western hands
Leo Varadkar is still stirring division
The former Taoiseach should have more humility
Burgundy on a budget
In search of the wine lover’s holy grail
Are all Christians monks?
George Guiver’s book exudes down-to-earthiness, bordering on irreverence
Must-Miss TV
Your regular Critic round-up of the hottest shows and films.
The dark underbelly of the sex industry
Advocacy for the idea of sex work has not been matched by advocacy for the exploited
The Royal British Legion’s day to forget
The “Pride poppy” demeans what should be a dignified occasion
