In search of kindred spirits: An Absence of Cousins, by Lore Segal, reviewed
When Ilka Weisz, a young refugee from Vienna, accepts a teaching post in smalltown Connecticut, she struggles to make friends in the close-knit academic community
Margaret Tudor – queen, regent and hapless intermediary
Aged 13, Henry VII’s eldest daughter was dispatched to marry James IV of Scotland. But a precarious truce between the kingdoms soon ended with the Battle of Flodden
Repenting at leisure: Early Sobrieties, by Michael Deagler, reviewed
Back with his family in suburban Philadelphia after seven years of solid boozing, Dennis Monk tries to make amends for past misdemeanours. But will he succeed?
Another mistress for Victor Hugo: Célina, by Catherine Axelrad, reviewed
A young chambermaid joins the Hugo household in Guernsey and soon finds herself summoned at night to her master’s adjoining bedroom
The irrepressible musical gift of Huddie Ledbetter
Before his genius was widely recognised, the blues singer known as Lead Belly survived not only America’s most brutal prisons but cruel betrayal by his racist ‘manager’
An AI visionary looks forward to the best of all possible worlds
Technology unquestionably improves lives, says Ray Kurzwei, and soon we’ll be living to 150. As for 3D-printed guns invisible to scanners – there’ll be a solution to those too
Snobbery in the garden: U and non-U borders
When Richard Sudell began promoting pyracantha, hanging baskets and crazy paving in the 1920s, the backlash from the gardening elite was vicious and immediate
The rape of Ukraine continues while the world’s sympathies move on
Two detailed, on-the-ground accounts from Andrey Kurkov and Oleksandr Mykhed remind us of the atrocities that are changing life in Ukraine forever
Will the Olympics ever be politics-free?
Despite Baron Coubertin’s ideals, nationalistic friction at the Paris Games in 1924 had already prompted a Times headline: ‘Olympics doomed’
Watch: Badenoch tears into Rayner
Back to the Commons, where Kemi Badenoch has been making waves. The shadow housing secretary has been ruffling feathers in…
Starmer’s army in private plane hypocrisy
Well, well, well. Off the back of his thumping majority, Sir Keir Starmer has been making good use of the perks of…
Will Trump defend Taiwan?
The prospect of a second Donald Trump administration has put the fear of God into America’s allies around the world.…
A new subdued Trump at the RNC
Milwaukee, Wisconsin “The challenge for Trump,” says The Spectator editorial from this month’s magazine “is to show Americans a steady…
Good luck fixing the CrowdStrike glitch
Worldwide, computers are saying no. GPs can’t access appointments and medical records, banking apps have been knocked offline, flights are…
Just Stop Oil fanatics deserve their lengthy jail terms
The prison sentences passed on the Just Stop Oil protesters who immobilised the M25 – five years for Roger Hallam…
Trump might be bad news for Israel
If Donald Trump becomes president again – which seems likely – American policy towards Israel could see a dramatic shift.…
Trajectory towards assassination
Debasement of political discourse is to blame
Australian diary
I was rather pleased to be pulled aside by Australian Border Force when I arrived in Brisbane as a guest…
World politics
Worth a chuckle and a tear
France threatens the euro
A currency designed to fail
DEI and the Pink Panthers
America’s Secret Service meets Inspector Clouseau
Taking potshots at Trump
It’s not social media spreading misinformation about the assassination attempt
God bless America
Aftermath of an attempted assassination
Election interference
Did the Hand of God save Donald Trump?
What’s progressive about social decline?
The left love twisting words
