Loss, grief and guilt
The schizophrenic hero of Nathan Filer's novel, Matt Homes, gives us a true, clear view of the world through his distorted vision
Corpses and clichés
Interweaving a thriller with the backstories of a large cast of characters, the Chilean author give us two underwhelming novels in one
A&E
If this waiting is hellish, then the sick are limbo dancing; only those who are bent double, or on the…
In praise of the Emperor
The Roman ruler abolished the Republic – but he also created a new system of imperial government and oversaw a flourishing of the arts
Brown studies
Plus: A sneak preview of the drawings of Gainsborough, one of the greatest European draughtsmen of the 18th century
Animal appetite
How the Welsh National Opera's MTV version of Manon the minx made me wish for comfortable cotton underwear
Inspired by Bach
Plus: Directors of Swan Lake could learn something from Channel 4's reality TV show Big Ballet
Clooney’s tale
Clooney has cast himself, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, Hugh Bonneville and Cate Blanchett in a patchy show that tells, not shows
Bonjour, Benelux!
Comparing the cops of Salamander, Midsomer Murders, Brooklyn Nine-Nine — and Danny Boyle's frustrating Babylon
Glorious gallimaufry
Discoveries: Art, Science and Exploration marks the first time Cambridge university's eight museums are collaborating
High life
The Sochi Games are being held on the edge of a war zone with Muslim extremists, yet the media concentrate only on gay rights
Low life
'You’ve got to get a hat, my son. Walk into a room with a hat on and every bird in the room will turn around and clock you.'
Real life
The Dutch conductor of feet-stamping classics is a weapon of mass happiness, and could sort out the Syrian mess in a couple of hours
Wild life
The man who held the fort for me many a time, and who once saved me from bandits, is leaving Laikipia for his own home
Bridge
A couple of Sundays ago, in London, Zia Mahmood and Demetri Marchessini held the first ever ‘Goulash Individual’ tournament. ‘Goulash’…
Georgics
George Osborne is a supporter of chess. During the award ceremony at 11 Downing St for last year’s London Candidates’…
no. 301
White to play. This position is from Carlsen-Caruana, Zurich 2014. White’s pin against the black rook and the passed pawn…
Hard-boiled Blyton
In Competition 2834 you were invited to submit an extract from a classic of children’s literature rewritten in the style…
2149: Super!
Each of the unclued lights (one of two words and one of three) can be preceded by the same word…
Solution to 2146: 4 ÷ 4 = 8
One 4-letter word is to be placed in the middle of another to yield an 8-letter solution: 6 ÷ 19…
