Main villain: the aftermath of war
Most crime novels offer a curious kind of escape, to places that jag the nerves and worry the mind. Their…
It’s not nice being used and abused
The term ‘psychological thriller’ is an elastic one these days, tagged liberally on to any story of suspense that explores…
What family life — and love — was like in East Germany
Historians still argue over whether the regime of the GDR can be called a totalitarian one. Some say that the…
'Bauklotzartigewortzusammensetzung'
Mark Twain had a notoriously thorny relationship with German, a language he gamely tried to conquer. His main beef was…
What’s in a Surname, by David McKie - review
In South Korea, some 20 million people share just five surnames. Every one of Denmark’s top 20 surnames ends in…
