The good old ways: nature’s best chance of recovery
Traditional agricultural methods still operating in pockets of Europe maintain an enviable balance of ecology and economy and an extraordinary diversity of wildlife
Disgusted of academia: a university lecturer bewails his lot
The anonymous professor rails against politicians, administrators, colleagues and students who consistently fall short of his ethical and intellectual standards
Kapows and wisecracks: Fight Me, by Austin Grossman, reviewed
A mild-manned academic with special powers joins forces with three similarly gifted friends to defeat the Dark Adversary, Sinistro
At last we see Henry VIII’s wives as individuals
Specialist knowledge of Tudor portraiture, book bindings, music and jewellery enables us to see each woman anew, possessed of a distinct life and afterlife
The diary of a dying man: Graham Caveney’s poignant cancer memoir
With months to live, Caveney looks back on his childhood, muses on favourite writers, decries NHS underfunding and rejoices in his beloved partner, Emma
Jam-packed with treasures: the eccentric Sir John Soane’s Museum
The delightfully higgledy-piggledy display of antiquities, filling walls from floor to ceiling, may have been inspired by the Piranesi prints Soane also collected
The sheer drudgery of professional tennis
The most surprising thing about Conor Niland’s bruising account of his tennis career is that he emerges with his sanity intact
The costly legacy of Margaret Thatcher’s monetarism
As Thatcher’s economic private secretary in the first years of her government, Tim Lankester is well qualified to analyse the controversial policy and its effects
A long goodbye to Berlin
Christopher Isherwood’s experiences as a young man in Weimar Germany would be reworked in his autofiction for the rest of his life
Starmer will keep shtum til 5 July
Tonight Keir Starmer took another look at Labour’s poll lead, threw caution to the wind, and revealed his radical plans…
The incoherence of Labour’s Palestine stance
The Labour manifesto commits the party to recognising a Palestinian state. It frames this as ‘a contribution to a renewed…
The Princess of Wales is making a welcome recovery
I have recently had the bad fortune to read a forthcoming biography of the Princess of Wales. Its greatest fault…
In praise of Swiss Army knives
In May, Carl Elsener of Victorinox, makers of the Swiss Army knife (all other manufacturers must refer to their products…
Farage: I am now the ‘Leader of the Opposition’
After the first poll was published showing Reform ahead of the Tories, there was only one thing for Nigel Farage…
Javier Milei is popular, despite Argentina’s protests
A glimpse into the mindset of Javier Milei was given by his decision this week to retweet a picture on social media…
Boris backs Sunak sceptic
At long last, Boris Johnson has joined the campaign trail. With less than three weeks to go until polling day,…
Why the EU is cracking down on Hungary’s migrant policy
We are set for another high-profile tussle between Budapest and Brussels. Yesterday the EU Court of Justice chose to impose a…
Watch: Starmer slams audience for ‘disrespect’ over ‘toolmaker’ jibes
There’s less than three weeks to go until polling day and the TV debates are continuing to roll in. This…
Reform is rapidly gaining on the Tories
The great British public seems to have got over its feelings of anger and disillusionment towards the Conservative party. It…
A left-wing government would spell tragedy for France
It has been the craziest week in French politics for decades but for the Republic’s police it’s business as usual.…
Turbulence after the Trump verdict
We live in tumultuous times. Donald Trump’s adversaries blame much of it on him — his hyperbole and personal attacks,…
Exclusive: How many XL Bullys live in your area?
In the past few years, you may have noticed a terrifyingly large breed of dog stalking the streets of Britain:…
The trouble with Thames Water
On the day the election was called, I turned on the tap but nothing came out. The sudden stoppage was…
Who is the real opposition to Labour now?
Nigel Farage tried to claim at the start of Thursday’s TV debate that Reform was the real threat to Keir…
