Illness
Matthew Parris and the illusion of independence
Those in flight from human dependency are the ones who cannot be realistic
The darkness of assisted dying
The desire to end terrible pain is understandable — but the dangers are severe
From cholera to coronavirus
A forgotten novel offers insights into living with a deadly and dehumanising pandemic
Pseudoscience exacerbates the burden of disease
Victims of ME deserve better than dopey Dragons and ear seeds
Vapegoating e-cigarettes
Why do we believe the worst about e-cigarettes?
Save it, Slavitt
We all need the facts about monkeypox
The fear of the fever: how we are now living the authentic Victorian experience
Covid-19 is bringing us closer to the Victorians more than any recreation of an 1830s London townhouse ever could
Free speech for everyone, except …
We have to stop compromising our defence of free speech whenever it is convenient
British universities have a China problem
The increasing influence of the CCP is a threat to free inquiry and free expression
Soothing sounds in time of war
There are expectations going back to 1948 that musicians turn up to provide relief
A right to protest?
The right to dissent is often at odds with the will of the mob
Dumb, glum and zero-sum
British thinking has to value supply more than distribution
Singers have a voice, too
Study of the Western canon is often reduced to a politicised debate: power and patronage versus individual genius. The truth is far more complex
February letters
Questioning Cameron, cautioning Houellebecq and disputing the image of God
The war on noticing in modern Britain
How DEI initiatives and the worldview behind them dull people’s natural perceptiveness
How to win at Chopin
Giving marks to people playing Chopin is no different from deciding on medals in gymnastics
Murders for March
Sharp lines, twisting plots and colourful characters
The secrets of familial suffering
Recovering from the burden of generational pain can be a private act
