Rio’s rococo genius
Described by his biographer David Jackson as ‘the major figure of all time in Latin American literature’, the 19th-century Brazilian novelist has been unjustly neglected in the English-speaking world
Polymath or psychopath?
The highly gifted Freeman emerges a very odd, elusive fish from Hugh Purcell’s dogged biography, written without its subject’s co-operation
The lonely struggle of Jude the obscure
New York’s contemporary gay community is the setting for Hanya Yanaghira’s controversial A Little Life — but this vast novel highlights in general the ‘unfreedom’ of life in the free world
A Broken Appointment
I opened the envelope: it contained a ticket in my name from London St Pancras to Paris Nord, departing at…
I reshot Andy Warhol
On release people had to be bribed to watch it, but Andy Warhol’s Empire has cast a long shadow
Great expectations
To say that this film lacks the courage of its convictions doesn’t get near it — I’m not sure it had any in the first place
Seeking closure
Plus: jumbled heads, limbs and torsos at the John Soane Museum: Drawn from the Antique reviewed
Edinburgh round-up
Ukip! The Musical makes a hero of Farage, while Boris: World King will be lucky to make the West End with the talented David Benson still on board
Sick and tired
Plus: why does British self-deprecation sound so like boasting?: Channel 4’s Very British Problems reviewed
Long life
Tony Blair’s cavorting with a right-wing billionaire mired in scandal epitomises what the Labour party is now trying to leave behind
Bridge
I hadn’t realised quite what a thriving bridge scene Manchester has until spending a weekend there recently. I went with…
Buried treasure
Jonathan Hawkins has emerged as the winner of this year’s British Championship, which finished last week at the University of…
No. 374
Black to play. This is a variation from Osborne-Hawkins, British Championship, Coventry 2015. Black is a piece down. What is…
Pet hate
In Competition No. 2910 you were invited to submit a poem by a pet who is cheesed off with its…
2224: All here
The unclued lights (two of two words), individually or as pairs, are of a kind. Elsewhere, ignore one accent. …
To 2221: Shielded
The unclued lights are heraldic terms. First prize Simon Horobin, Kidlington, Oxon Runners-up Mick O’Halloran, Dunsborough, Australia; John Roberts, Cheltenham,…
Nuclear reaction
As a realist, I don’t have the luxury of certainty – but I’d rather be on Harry Truman’s side
Free markets and dumb luck
Communism might be able to build a boring bridge, but it could never have created Red Bull
