Books
Learning from the past
Much of Wisdom of the Ancients makes one appreciate how we get sidetracked by so much trivial nonsense
A lighter shade of grey
This scholarly, readable and objective book will be the standard biography of Sir Edward Grey for decades to come
Sacking of the libraries
Should libraries should sell historic manuscripts to solve short-term financial problems
Former spin doctor divulges on India’s ruling dynasty
Sanjay Jha’s new book reveals the degeneration of the oldest party in the world’s largest democracy
Vintage volume: The Story of Wine
The story of wine is a glorious story which illuminates the topics of more conventional histories
Wonderful call of the wild
Macdonald’s prose is full of resonance and beauty, apposite delicacy and memorable evocations, says Matthew Adams
Fishermen’s tails
Through history, Mermaids have been treated as more real than legendary, even by those who have had a reputation to uphold
Anthology of asininity
Lisa Hilton finds it hard to imagine that this guide will be of actual use to anyone at all
Freedom and solitude
Loneliness is not just a side-effect of Coronavirus: it’s been here for a while
Unvarnished tyranny
This is perhaps the only book I have yet read about Amin which gives anything like an accurate assessment of who he was