No mappa mundi
Benjamin B. Olshin’s The Mysteries of the Marco Polo Maps is an unconvincing speculation – but a reminder of a great story does not convince our reviewer
Time trials
In The Singular Universe and the Reality of Time, Roberto Mangabeira Unger and Lee Smolin attempt to bring modesty to physics
Battle scars
Christopher Elliott’s High Command is a study of what’s wrong at the MoD, and an excellent primer for the Chilcot report
Friend or foe?
In Tolstoy’s False Disciple, Alexandra asks many questions, but doesn’t always answer them
Cellulite factor
The British have never warmed to the Flemish master’s fleshy paintings. But then neither did he have a very high opinion of us
Depicting the Prophet
The Koran has no injunction against depicting Mohammed. In fact, within Islam, there’s a rich tradition of painting the Prophet
Heads will roll
By all means go to hear the thrilling Jonas Kaufmann but don’t expect a night of theatrical profundity
Stolen pleasures
I’ve illegally downloaded hundreds of pounds worth of classical music and I feel no remorse
Great coat
New York’s heating oil business is sexier than you’d think - especially with Oscar Isaac at the helm
Losing the plot
If the makers of this drama serial don’t know the difference between a barrister’s and a judge’s wig, it’s not worth our attention
High life
Betty Grable I never met, Ava Gardner asked me if I was gay, Cyd Charisse told me to drop dead — and I blew it with Ginger
Long life
There's no real point to them, I think, but once you have one, they're terribly hard to live without
Bridge
2015 got off to a rollicking start with TGR’s sixth Auction Pairs — chief rollickers being the Norwegians, whose unparalleled…
London Blitz
Britain’s leading grandmaster, Michael Adams, started well in the London Classic, with a beautiful win against the rising star Fabiano…
No: 346
White to play. This position is a variation from Kramnik-Nakamura, London Classic Blitz 2014. How can White make a decisive…
Lines on law
In Competition No. 2881 you were invited to do as Carol Ann Duffy has done and provide an amusing poem…
2195: In question
Each clue contains a superfluous word. When these words are put in sequence according to alphabetical order of answers to…
To 2192: Never again
Eight unclued lights were papal names used only once. Pope JOAN (30) was the fanciful ninth. First prize Michael…
Je suis Page 3
The idea that we are in the midst of a rape epidemic caused by ‘everyday sexism’ is a myth
