Into the blue
In Deeper than Indigo, Jenny Balfour Paul confesses to having an out-of body experience with the 19th-century adventurer and indigo hand, Thomas Machell
Sex, violence and lettuces
Scarlett Thomas’s The Seed Collectors is a clever, chaotic, filthily gorgeous, satirical Aga-saga
Carrying on regardless
The British beat second world war shortages at home by adapting inventively, and in some cases carrying on much as before, according to Duff Hart-Davis’s Our Land at War
Social climbing through the basement
Rachel Johnson’s latest novel delves deep into the lives of Notting Hill’s super-rich. What Fresh Hell will it bring?
Licence to kill
In Operation Nemesis Eric Bogosian shows how, in the 1920s, the world turned a blind eye to widespread revenge killings for the 1915 Armenian massacres
‘It’s always wrong to starve’
Jim Shepard’s novel The Book of Aron tells (with the bitterest black humour) the little-known story of a real-life paediatrician who devoted his life to the orphans of the Warsaw ghetto
The devils’ advocate
Jeremy Hutchinson, who successfully defended some of the most notorious figures of the 20th century, had a criminal record himself — for accidentally shooting a policeman
The Durable Postie
(For Karl) He doesn’t even bother to change out of his uniform, just goes straight to the pub after…
Dick Whittington for the 21st century
Sunjeev Sahota’s novel, The Year of the Runaways, highlighting the horrific plight of Indian immigrants to Britain, is the best novel of the year, says Cressida Connolly
City life
Gentrification is not a recipe for twee middle-class accessorising; it’s about bringing dead cities - like Detroit and Stoke - back to life
Maestro maker
Ronald Wilford invented the chimera of ‘the great conductor’ and, as president of Columbia Artists, sold it at unimaginable profit
Maestro maker
Peter Bogdanovich's new movie is built on absurd coincidences and bad jokes and unsympathetic characters and Imogen Poots lays on a Brooklyn accent with several trowels
Better than Bayreuth
Longborough's new production of Tristan und Isolde will remain a yardstick, says Michael Tanner. And Continuum Ensemble's night of miniature operas at King's Place made a strong impression
Shape-shifter
![‘Sculpture with Colour (Deep Blue and Red) [6]’, 1943, by Barbara Hepworth](https://www.spectator.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/exhibitions1.jpg?w=410&h=275&crop=1)
Tate Britain's new exhibition pursues some interesting byways but it doesn't really answer the question
Savile exposed
Jonathan Maitland’s new play, An Audience with Jimmy Savile at the Park, reminds us that Machiavelli had nothing on Savile. And Motherfucker with the Hat at the Lyttleton may be a Mamet knock-off but it’s a hit with the punters
Look back in anger
Host Chris Evans only has three noticeable qualities: big glasses, carrot-coloured hair and a ready laugh. His lack of threatening intellect rendered him perfect for the Nineties
Sea sound
Plus: Patrick Marber imagines sipping champagne with Anthony Burgess; Esther Rantzen bares all; and what’s it really like to have dementia?
Bridge
A feast of bridge is looming! Tromso in Norway is host to the Open European Championships starting on Saturday, and…
Tempus fugit
In serious competitive chess the play is regulated by time limits for completion of the moves. In the mid-19th century,…
