Bookends
A toast to beer, from Plato to Frank Zappa
‘He was a wise man who invented beer,’ said Plato, although I imagine he had changed his mind by the…
Roll out the barrel
‘He was a wise man who invented beer,’ said Plato, although I imagine he had changed his mind by the…
Roll out the barrel
‘He was a wise man who invented beer,’ said Plato, although I imagine he had changed his mind by the…
The completely ludicrous – and sometimes believable – world of the First World War spook
There can’t have been this many books about the first world war since — just after the first world war.…
I, spy
There can’t have been this many books about the first world war since — just after the first world war.…
I, spy
There can’t have been this many books about the first world war since — just after the first world war.…
The talent and tragedy of Richard Pryor
The troubles of Richard Pryor’s life are well known — from his childhood in a brothel to his self-immolation via…
Cracking up
The troubles of Richard Pryor’s life are well known — from his childhood in a brothel to his self-immolation via…
Cracking up
The troubles of Richard Pryor’s life are well known — from his childhood in a brothel to his self-immolation via…
Hurrah for Andrew Strauss
Andrew Strauss is a serious man and Driving Ambition (Hodder, £20, Spectator Bookshop, £18) is a serious book. It looks…
Captain courageous
Andrew Strauss is a serious man and Driving Ambition (Hodder, £20, Spectator Bookshop, £18) is a serious book. It looks…
Captain courageous
Andrew Strauss is a serious man and Driving Ambition (Hodder, £20, Spectator Bookshop, £18) is a serious book. It looks…
Slow Train to Switzerland, by Diccon Bewes - review
In 1863, the pioneering travel agent Thomas Cook took a group of British tourists on the first package holiday to…
Cantons and Cantonese
In 1863, the pioneering travel agent Thomas Cook took a group of British tourists on the first package holiday to…
Cantons and Cantonese
In 1863, the pioneering travel agent Thomas Cook took a group of British tourists on the first package holiday to…
#Onyourmarks! What is the formal name for the hashtag?
One day there simply won’t be any strange byways of the English language left to write quirky little books about.…
On your marks…
One day there simply won’t be any strange byways of the English language left to write quirky little books about.…
On your marks…
One day there simply won’t be any strange byways of the English language left to write quirky little books about.…
Gower vs Boycott
Ask any England cricket fan in his fifties to name his favourite batsman and chances are he will say David…
Grace under pressure
Ask any England cricket fan in his fifties to name his favourite batsman and chances are he will say David…
Grace under pressure
Ask any England cricket fan in his fifties to name his favourite batsman and chances are he will say David…
Walking in Ruins, by Geoff Nicholson - review
Geoff Nicholson is the Maharajah of Melancholy. The quality was there in his novels, it was there in his non-fiction…
Comfort in melancholy
Geoff Nicholson is the Maharajah of Melancholy. The quality was there in his novels, it was there in his non-fiction…
Comfort in melancholy
Geoff Nicholson is the Maharajah of Melancholy. The quality was there in his novels, it was there in his non-fiction…
The Mitford Girls’ Guide to Life, by Lyndsy Spence - review
For some reason you don’t expect people to be fans of the Mitford sisters, as others are fans of Doctor…
