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August 2008

Standpoint is published monthly by Social Affairs Unit Magazines Limited, a subsiduary of the Social Affairs Unit (Registered Charity No.281530). The views expressed in Standpoint are those of its individual authors, not those of the Social Affairs Unit Magazines Ltd and its Directors or those of the Social Affairs Unit and its Trustees and Director

Civilisation

Critique

The Unfinished Journey of Lionel Trilling

BY EDWARD ALEXANDER

Until recently, it was assumed that Trilling had written only one long fiction, The Middle of the Journey (1947). Now, thanks to Geraldine Murphy we know that Trilling was a third of the way through another novel, begun years earlier

Art

Hadrian: Man, Hero, Husband, Lover, Emperor

MICHAEL PRODGER

The British Museum’s exhibition reassesses the great Roman, a complex figure who left a legacy of unique glory

Film

That's Enough Protest Movies

PETER WHITTLE

This summer, we’ve seen the release of two more leftwing documentaries. Isn’t it about time the other side said its piece?

Music

There's no Place Like Home for a Singer

IAN BOSTRIDGE

Intimacy, authenticity and domescity combine to make for a great performance

Books

Flight from Egypt

MICHAEL GOVE

Chicago by Alaa al Aswany

Pulling Punches

ALLAN MASSIE

Boxing, A Cultural History by Kasia Boddy

It's Better in Latin

LOUIS AMIS

The Aeneid by Vergil, translated by Sarah Ruden

Power Behind the Throne

JESSIE CHILDS

Burghley: William Cecil at the Court of Elizabeth I by Stephen Alford

Hypocrites are not What They Seem

FERDINAND MOUNT

Political Hypocrisy: The Mask of Power, from Hobbes to Orwell and Beyond by David Runciman

Television

Self-Censorship And The BBC

NICK COHEN

The London Bombers was a major drama-documentary about 7/7 of which the BBC should have been proud

Theatre

Musical Theatre Is A Matter Of Taste

MINETTE MARIN

Slick and professional popular productions have many merits, but the gap between Les Mis and opera is very wide