Tsar Of The Holy Land
For Vladimir Putin, Syria is as much a question of religion as of arms sales; in his eyes, Assad protects Syria’s ancient Christian communities
Kennedy’s False Note
Much hoo-ha was made of the BBC’s “censorship” of Nigel Kennedy’s remarks about Palestine at the Proms. In truth, Kennedy knew all along he’d
A Syrian Precedent
In 64BC, Roman general Pompey annexed a potentially volatile Syria. Then, as now, where Western concerns are paramount, intervention needs to be diplomatic and
Spending Spree
According to the LSE, the last Labour government’s public spending “worked”. But the researchers came to this conclusion solely from a play on words
Phoney Freedom
Do smartphones rob us of our freedom, as Edgar Degas thought? Isaiah Berlin would argue otherwise
Is Bach The Voice Of God In Music?
John Eliot Gardiner's new portrait is the culmination of a lifetime's devotion to the great composer
Dizzy’s Wizardry (Boris, Take Note)
Douglas Hurd and Edward Young’s witty and original biography of the former prime minister presents him as a master of self-aggrandisement
Feud Of The Cold Warriors
Isaiah Berlin and Isaac Deutscher were the best of foes, as David Caute’s compelling presentation of a decades-long intellectual sparring match shows