Biography
The truth about London Bridge
Flawed narratives should not distort historical memory of the planning for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II
Life versus learning: a battle of the titans
In their lives we find fiercely opposed poles of a culture that has profoundly shaped our world
Chapter and verse on the unknowable Bard
The striking thing about Sir Stanley’s Shakespeare is how unsexy he is
Napoleon sold short
On Ridley Scott’s Napoleon and the challenge of biopics
Spare us the wagging finger
Few things are more tedious than books moralising about the deficiencies of yesteryear
The lovelorn lady who broke the rules
A romantic forced by peculiar privilege into perpetual masquerade
Those golden years
Ultimately it’s the music that brings to each of us our personal Bowie
The people’s captain
What our politics can learn from Kevin Sinfield
Crooked timber
A fine survey of the life and work of Isiah Berlin
We are indebted to Otto Klemperer
On the extraordinary talent of a troubled composer
Afrocentrism with a Labour twist
Dawn Butler’s Black History Month video was disturbing as well as weird
How to be realistic on Ukraine
There is a route to peace, but it will take compromise
Worthy instrument
York Bowen, Willam Walton: Viola concertos (SWR Music)
The esoterica trap
We should not pollute good causes with unreliable information
Hatred without end
A year on from October 7th, mutual dehumanisation and refusal of moral responsibility characterises our “debate” over the Gaza war
Invasion literature
It couldn’t happen here. Right?
Democracy is being undermined in Northern Ireland
Brussels and London are both being reckless about Stormont
The futility of safeguards for assisted suicide
Lessons from Belgium and the Netherlands
The Lost Gardens of London
The war between city and greenery is eternal; the concrete and asphalt seeks open land to engulf
Shiva Naipaul
The younger brother of a controversial Nobel Prize winner who has been unjustly overlooked
Exilic yearnings
Miklos Rozsa: violin concerto (LSO Live)
