Was there no end to John Buchan’s talents?
John Buchan was a novelist, historian, poet, biographer and journalist (assistant editor of The Spectator indeed); a barrister and publisher;…
They’re all doomed
Night of Fire is Colin Thubron’s first novel for 14 years. For most of us he is better known as…
Beautiful, wilful, never dull: in praise of Clumber spaniels
For the first time in more than 30 years we have no Clumber spaniel. We have had five: Henry, Judith,…
When London burned like rotten sticks
Spectator readers know Andrew Taylor from his reviews of crime fiction. Many will also know him as an admirable writer…
Beyond the Leaning Tower: the wonders of Pisa
Say ‘Pisa’ and everyone thinks of the Leaning Tower. Fair enough; it’s a curiosity, and the tourist board must be…
The drama of St Crispian’s Day: Shakespeare got it right
Charles VI of France died on 21 October 1422. He had been intermittently mad for most of his long reign,…
King John was not a good man: two distinguished historians echo A.A. Milne
This being the 800th anniversary of the signing of Magna Carta, it is not surprising that there should be two…
Scotland’s miraculous century (it started with the Union)
In 1707 Scotland surrendered what it had of its independence by the Treaty of Union with England. That independence had…
Business books aren't meant to cheer you up. But this one will
Economics is known as ‘the dismal science’, and certainly there have been — and indeed are — economists whose day…
Roman baths didn't make you clean — and other gems from Peter Jones's Veni, Vedi, Vici
Spectator readers need no introduction to Peter Jones. His Ancient and Modern column has instructed and delighted us for many…
Laidlaw by William McIlvanney - review
Laidlaw was first published in 1977, 36 years back from now, 38 on from The Big Sleep. Like Chandler’s classic…
