George III
The King is still our Trump card
George III has not been well remembered on either side of the Atlantic. Despite reigning for almost 60 years, in…
The myth of collective wisdom
After 250 years of American independence, a nation home to many of the smartest and most talented people in the…
Mad for it
The longest interval in theatre history continues. Last week the National Theatre livestreamed a 2018 version of The Madness of…
Behind the Throne is a cracking read about a neglected subject – the royal household
Never judge a book by its cover. To look at, this is a coffee-table book with shiny pages which make…
A dazzling vision
There are a number of reports by his contemporaries of Thomas Gainsborough at work. They make you realise what a…
Wings of desire
Maria Sibylla Merian was a game old bird of entrepreneurial bent, with an overwhelming obsession with insects. Born in Frankfurt…
Hanoverian trail
The 300th anniversary of George I coming to the British throne on 1 August 1714 is big news in his…












