My life as a writer
It was roughly 55 years ago, at the tail end of the 1960s, that I took the monumental decision to…
The irreplaceable Lady Annabel Goldsmith
During Jane Austen’s time, their roles would be reversed. Lady Annabel Goldsmith, who left us last week at 91, would…
The day I ate a royal love letter
Our very own Roger Kimball made it possible. I am referring to The Last Alpha Male, the greatest book ever…
High life
Gstaad The Speccie arrived just in time for me to read about the rudeness of one Lyndon Johnson, then vice-president,…
High life
Gstaad This is the best news since the Bush-Blair duo saved us from the nuclear holocaust Saddam was about to…
High life
Gstaad A reader’s inquiry as to why I think Paris belongs to yesterday (12 August) has me remembering times past.…
High life
Coronis Trafficking in enchantment, I sailed west to Coronis, the most perfect private isle on this planet. At times I…
High life
On board Aello She was built in 1921, a beautiful wooden ketch that is as graceful to look at…
High life
Athens With energy bordering on the demonic, I strut around an ancient stadium trying to make up for…
High life
Patmos While green Rhodes and greener Corfu burn away, arid Patmos remains fireproof because rock and soil do not a…
High life
Now that Wimbledon is over, a few thoughts about youthful brains showing traces of horse tranquillisers, angel dust and cannabis,…
High life
A poor little Greek boy writing about cricket etiquette is like Harry Sussex lecturing on discretion, but never mind. As…
High life
Gstaad There are lurid rumours circulating around this Alpine village that an international literature symposium has taken place, with some…
High life
Rome To the Eternal City for the saddest of occasions, the funeral of the mother of Taki, 17, and Maria,…
The only way is Middlesbrough
‘I was 12 when I first got laid.’ ‘Where was that?’ ‘In Middlesbrough.’ ‘How the hell did you get lucky…
High life
Southampton, Long Island ‘Why, oh why, do the wrong people travel?’ sang Noël Coward back in the early 1960s. Lucky…
High life
He bore his death sentence more gracefully than most heroes I’ve read about. As the end approached, his columns showed…
