Uphill struggle
This sanctifying film is so busy ticking all the historical boxes that it pays no attention to what made Mandela tick
Saint and sinner
'Nelson was considered a hunk in his young days,' says the actress, who's keen to reprise her role as Miss Moneypenny in the next Bond
Staying alive
Plus: Darcy has become a sensitive soul in Death Comes to Pemberley, but I miss the uptight Regency posho
We will remember
On 28 June, Radio 3 will broadcast a concert from Saravejo to mark the first step on the road to WWI. Four years of unparalleled memorial coverage follow
A connoisseur’s eye
Alec Cobbe: Designer, Collector, Connoisseur takes a look at the man who advised on the interiors of many a stately home
Bridge
What is the purpose of bidding? It’s how partners describe their hands to each other in order to reach the…
Vale Vishy
Viswanathan Anand, the 15th world champion, suffered a complete meltdown in his title defence against Magnus Carlsen towards the end…
No. 295
Black to play. This position is from Kramnik-Anand, Nice 2008. Both sides have dangerous-looking attacks. Can you spot Anand’s brilliant…
That was the year that was
In Competition 2828 you were invited to submit a retrospective verse commentary on 2013. Reasons to be cheerful are, apparently,…
2143: Revising geography
The unclued lights are broadly of a kind (33 differs from the others, though 33K would have been more appropriate,…
to 2141: Megacant
The unclued lights are examples of super slang listed on pp 7/8 in the Word Lover’s Miscellany section of Chambers…
Australian Notes
Advice to new graduates from an old Chief Justice of Australia, Murray Gleeson: ‘To think against the spirit of the…
Diary
As Australia faces a new year of fiscal restraint, sobering economic news and reduced circumstances, it’s interesting to reflect on…
The missing milestone
The crossing of the Blue Mountains marked a great moment in our history — too bad we didn’t commemorate it last year
Brown Study
I am pleased to report that the Christmas season was full of peace on earth and goodwill towards men. Well,…
