Was Cat Stevens the inspiration for Carly Simon’s ‘You’re So Vain’?
The pop pin-up of the 1970s certainly suggests so – and, judging by his ‘official autobiography’, still finds himself endlessly fascinating
Paul Poiret and the fickleness of fashion
The master couturier, once celebrated by le tout Paris, found himself by the 1920s debt-ridden and eclipsed by the likes of Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli
A treasure chest of myths: The Poisoned King, by Katherine Rundell, reviewed
In the archipelago of Glimouria live many fantastic creatures: nereids, mermaids, riddle-posing sphinxes, and endangered dragons in need of rescue by an Outsider
The lonely passions of Katherine Mansfield
Mansfield’s early infatuations led to many catastrophic rejections – and even in their brief marriage, her husband John Middleton Murry would treat her with wounding indifference
Books of the Year I – chosen by our regular reviewers
Popular choices include Merlin Holland’s After Oscar, Ian McEwan’s What We Can Know and Vincenzo Latronico’s Perfection
Victoria has made history, but at what cost to democracy, equality, and social cohesion?
Treaty is separation, not reconciliation
When foreign-policy critique becomes blood libel
“I’m a Christian man,” the college student at the University of Mississippi said to J.D. Vance, our future 48th (or…
Pakistan has lost control of the Taliban monster
The futile peace talks taking place between Pakistan and the Taliban over cross-border terrorist attacks have produced at least one…
Don McCullin shows no signs of slowing down
“A Desecrated Serenity” at the Hauser & Wirth gallery chronicles the remarkable seven-decade career of Sir Don McCullin CBE, Britain’s most…
Who will save Ukrainian troops in Pokrovsk?
What matters more – land or the lives of soldiers? For each side fighting in Ukraine, the answer is different.…
‘Nuking’ the filibuster would only aid Democrats
Donald Trump keeps going nuclear. First it was his demand on Thursday that the Pentagon resume nuclear testing. Now he’s…
Why Christians should celebrate Halloween
Hallowe’en is nearly over for another year. Thank goodness, you might say. Each October, many Brits scratch their heads about…
Will the Tories leave Westminster?
On Sunday, it is one year since Kemi Badenoch was elected Tory leader. The anniversary is expected to pass with…
Tory kitchen sink approach sees success in Hendon
It turns out Kemi Badenoch’s kitchen sink approach in the recent Barnet by-election paid off. The result of the Hendon…
Andrew Windsor is more vulnerable than ever
There’s been speculation for some time, mostly hushed, occasionally not, that the Epstein case has not yet run its course.…
NSW Nanny State makes regional roads more dangerous
I challenge John Graham, NSW Minister for Transport, and Jenny Aitchison, the NSW Minister for Roads and Minister for Regional…
The deluded liberalism of Michael Heseltine
Michael Heseltine is making a bid to become the fresh new face of Remoanerism. Earlier this month ‘Hezza’ wowed the…
Reeves under fire after changing letting story
Can Labour get anything right? If it’s not freebie fiascos, or tax affair slip-ups, it’s Chancellor Rachel Reeves coming under…
The assisted suicide bill’s backers are abysmal
In the midst of all the slip ups, the corruption and the lies, you might have forgotten the most consequential…
Hamas’s return is revealing Gaza’s true colours
Remember that weird little Covid ritual of 2020, when every Thursday at 8pm people stepped out onto their doorsteps and…
Why is the army’s top brass waging war on private members’ clubs?
The British Army – at its smallest size since we lost our American colonies in the 1770s – is facing…
Human rights scepticism is now mainstream
When Nigel Farage introduced a bill in the House of Commons requiring the UK to leave the ECHR (European Convention…
The luck of the Irish is finally running out
For the past twenty years, Ireland has been Europe’s improbable overachiever. A small island nation on the fringe of Europe…
It’s all over for Andrew Mountbatten Windsor
It’s all over for Prince Andrew or, as he is now known, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. The former Duke of York,…
Halloween is being spoilt
It may be a pagan festival but thank God for Halloween and all its joys: the child’s delight at being…
