j.r.r. tolkien
Why spiders deserve our respect, not fear or disgust
Not only do the world’s arachnids eat up to 800 million tons of insects a year, but they are models of creativity that have captured the human imagination since antiquity
Everybody needs ‘good neighbours’: fairy folklore from time immemorial
From ancient Greek dryads to Tolkien’s elves, fairies have had a fantastical past and seem destined for a fabulous future
The key to Giorgia Meloni’s resounding success
The once sullen, bullied girl, abandoned by her father as a baby, found iron in her soul and refused to become a victim
Everyday exchanges
Conversation is a fascinating subject, says Philip Hensher – but very few people get it right
