Last Of The Great Elitists
A book of conversations with George Steiner, newly available in translation, is a good introduction to the great cultural critic's preoccupations
Flying high
Peter Stanford grew up with a benevolent notion of angels. But the true picture is complicated: while some angels in the Bible are kindly, others are brutal
How the truth can set you free
Jordan Peterson is erudite and well read but 12 Rules for Life has much of the tenor of a typical self-help book
The Value Of Victoria
Paula Bartley's biography of Queen Victoria, based on the monarch's letters and journals, brings out surprising contradictions
Auteur Provocateur
Michel Houllebecq's Soumission is provocative but treads familiar territory
The Dandy and the Crazy Gang
Michael Bloch's deft biography turns Jeremy Thorpe's life into a page-turning narrative
Tough Tales For Dark Times
Erich Kästner's books for children shows that that difficult ideas don't have to be kept from young readers
The Case For The Classics
Three books offer fresh and enchanting views on the ancient past and how it can still live
A Reputation More Durable Than Marble
What does it take to achieve lasting poetic fame in an age of glut?
A currency to make bankers cry
Bitcoin is a fascinating hybrid: part cult, part asset, part business enterprise, part currency, part fad—and it appeals to the best and worst of human nature