Christianity’s moral revolution
How did we get here? Larry Siedentop's Inventing the Individual shows how our religious tradition brought us individualism, equality — and charity
The Old Man Comes Out With an Opinion
This long orchestral piece records a day the composer spent one summer meditating in Dibnah’s yard on the sounds of…
A choice of first novels
Helene Gestern's People in the Photo deserves all its accolades; Ghost Moth and Land Where I Flee are good, too
At the crossroads again
With Mark Wigglesworth about to replace Edward Gardner as musical director, English National Opera is again at the crossroads
Dazzled but confused
Christopher Alden's new ENO production has given the heave-ho to Jonathan Miller's after 32 years. Prepare to be dazzled and confused
Misdirected rage
Plus: How to spend the night with Tennessee Williams in three rooms at the Langham Hotel
Small wonders
Here's why you must see the small wonders of Liam Hanley, James Turrell, Brian Rice, John Kiki and Gauguin
Blind ambition
Storage Hunters and Bakery Boss are actually rather captivating, but aren't reality programmes completely fabricated and dishonest?
Laugh but don’t pop
Martin Creed's retrospective, What's the point of it?, is best seen with children in tow
High life
We all know unfortunates who succumbed to weakness and can only focus on their next fix. Eddie Somerset was one of them
Low life
'I will demonstrate to you, Jeremy, that there is infinitely greater pleasure in making love with a man than with a woman.'
Real life
Forget the Big Society — it's more Knackered Society as campaigners take flak from all and sundry as they protest day in, day out
Long life
The novelist's idea that the child star resembled Marlene Dietrich when wearing trousers is quite extraordinary
On course for thrills
This year you don’t want to be a jockey’s valet. Never have their washing machines spun so vigorously. From every…
Bridge
Bridge players are a generous bunch — both with their expertise and their time. There are many charity events to…
Triumvirate
Three important tournaments concluded this month, for two of which (Gibraltar and Bunratty) I attended the awards ceremonies. I have…
no. 302
White to play. This position is from Keogh-Chevannes, Bunratty 2014. How did White’s massive central build-up transform into a winning…
Lonely hearts
In Competition 2835 you were invited to submit a profile for an online dating website for a well-known politician, living…
2150: Content
Each of thirteen clues contains a superfluous word. Initial letters of these words spell the first four words of a…
Solution to 2147: Amazing Performance
Taking one unchecked letter from each across solution gives EXTRAORDINARY RENDITION, whose victims, according to Chambers 2011, include TERRORIST SUSPECTs.…
A question of authority
How can parents and teachers both maintain their authority and inspire a questioning spirit?
