Life
Should I return to the land of my Italian ancestors?
When I was growing up, my Italian grandfather was my favourite person. He taught me to play a mean game…
Britain is following in the footsteps of Africa’s former failed states
Kenya ‘In the past months the people of Uganda have been following with sorrow the alarming economic crisis befalling…
Bridge
The world bridge championships are finally over — and I don’t remember another where the England players gave us such…
Visky business
‘Visky,’ said the man driving the taxi. ‘Risky?’ ‘Visky.’ ‘Ah… whisky! Or vodka.’ I grinned as I…
no. 574
Black to play. Here is my own tragedy, from Yuffa-McShane, Khanty-Mansiysk 2019. Needing a win, I tried 81 … Kg7-f7…
Here be monsters
In Competition No. 3118, which was inspired by Joan Didion’s wonderful essay of that title, you were invited to submit…
2428: Tracks to the isles
The unclued lights (one of two words), individually or as two pairs, are of a kind. Elsewhere, ignore one accent.…
to 2425: Herein
The unclued lights are regular contributors to the pages of The Spectator week by week. 5/35, 8/10, 12/28, 13, 21A/33 and…
Is it time to revive our play about Boris’s sex life?
I’m writing this from the Conservative party conference where Boris’s attempt to ram home the message that he’s the only…
The Battle for Britain
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Why rugby is a perfect match for Japanese culture
The ITV set for the channel’s thunderingly good coverage of the Rugby World Cup is more Japanese than anything in…
Dear Mary: How do I cope with university flatmates who can’t cook?
Q. For many years I employed around 60 people with whom I worked in an open-plan office. I moved on from…
I’ve had my fill of brasseries: Moncks reviewed
If you review restaurants professionally you would not think Britain wanted to leave the EU. You would think she wanted…
Sweaty Betty, Acne: the fashion for nasty brand names
On my way to a party in Ealing I saw a shop called Pan Rings. A mental image popped up…
An elegy for New York
New York The master of the love letter to New York, E.B. White, eloquently described the city as a place…
Why Sodom and south Devon are a million miles apart
We gathered around in the sunshine and watched the coffin being lowered into the freshly dug trench. Stratifications visible on…
The rise of the Brexitainers
The Union Jack is flying on the front of my house. After a long discussion with the local council, planning…
When nice guys come first
With shorter days and leaves falling, I begin to itch for the more sporting, less obviously commercial world of jump…
Bridge
The World Championships, held in Wuhan, China, came to the end of a gruelling eight days of qualification (eight teams…
Double fianchetto
In my pantheon of heroes a particular place of honour is occupied by the hypermodern grandmaster Richard Réti, the first…
no. 573
White to play. This position is from Van Foreest-Bortnyk, St Louis 2019. How did White break through on the kingside…
Speeches as sonnets
In Competition No. 3117 you were invited to recast a famous political speech as a sonnet. Lots of you…
2427: In other words
The unclued lights are of a kind, all confirmed in Chambers or Oxford. A portmanteau word (7) defining this phenomenon…
to 2424: Poem V
The poem is La Belle Dame sans Merci by John Keats. ATONY (2), CORYZA (3), LOCKJAW (6), ENTERITIS (8) and…
Abolish private schools? Bring it on!
I cannot recall a week in which Britain’s private schools have received better PR. The Labour party has pledged to…
