Bringing modernism to the masses in 20th-century Britain
Owen Hatherley examines the contribution of refugees from central Europe to the film industry, publishing and public art, especially architecture and town planning
Escape into fantasy: Stories of Ireland, by Brian Friel, reviewed
Friel’s tightly knit rural communities like to cling to illusions, whether it’s belief in sunken gold in the bay or in the continual prosperity of impoverished gentry
The story of Noah’s flood will never go out of fashion
Most cultures have a universal flood myth, and the idea of a cataclysmic climate event brought on by human wickedness is always bound to resonate
Across the universe – John and Paul are in each other’s songs forever
The Lennon-McCartney collaboration was one of genius from the start – and even in later years their songs continued to speak to one another, says Ian Leslie
How Anne Frank’s photograph became as recognisable as the Mona Lisa
To date, the diary, pieced together from Anne’s notebooks, has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide, with her story further explored in plays, films and novels
Why did I bother getting a job?
It was an ominous start to the day of Rachel Reeves’s Spring Statement, when she had to rush out messy,…
Trump’s toxic mineral deal for Ukraine
Donald Trump’s latest scheme to exploit Ukraine is gaining momentum. Kyiv has been handed a rewritten, 58-page minerals deal, which…
Why Prevent’s boss had to go
The head of the Prevent counter-terrorism programme, Michael Stewart, is to carry the can for failures exposed by the Southport…
The flight of the millionaires will impoverish Britain
Steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal is considering leaving the UK because of the Labour government’s abolition of the ‘non-dom’ tax regime.…
Reform’s ‘think tank’ isn’t serious
Donors of the Reform party are considering creating a partisan think tank in the American style. These plans are subject to…
Hundreds feared dead in Myanmar earthquake
Hundreds of people are feared dead after a 7.7-magnitude quake struck Myanmar. Tremors from the quake, which had its epicentre…
Why can’t Nigel Farage praise men for a change?
Nigel Farage has really done it this time. He may have sailed close to the wind before, but defending the…
The Sinbad disaster didn’t have to happen
For tourists aboard the Sindbad, the final moments of their planned jaunt below the waves will have been a hellish,…
Who’s going to miss WH Smith?
WH Smith is opting for the oldest trick in the corporate playbook. It is changing its name. It might have…
The Houthi threat isn’t going away
On 27 March, the Houthis launched two ballistic missiles at Israel. It also reportedly launched ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and…
Keir’s No. 10 comms chief quits
It’s the new rule of British politics: if you’re going to quit, do it on a Friday. Labour has had…
Zelensky may regret wishing for Putin’s death
Ever since 2013, I’ve been hearing that Vladimir Putin is going to die any day. Is Volodymyr Zelensky now trying…
King Charles’s hospital visit will prompt concern
The news released last night that King Charles had been briefly hospitalised was an unwelcome surprise. A statement from the…
Why does Britain think it can censor Gab?
A dramatic escalation has happened in the information war between the US and Europe. Ofcom, the British media regulator that…
Jolyon Maugham gets it wrong again
Oh dear. The Babe Ruth of the bar has blundered once again. Jolyon Maugham, the kimono-cladded KC, has been raging…
Britain narrowly escapes recession – again
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has just confirmed that the economy ‘grew’ by 0.1 per cent in the last…
Australia is bracing itself for a chaotic general election
Early this morning, even before dawn broke, Australia’s Labor party prime minister, Anthony Albanese, asked the country’s governor-general to call…
