Civilisation- Page 46

Art, books, music, theatre and criticism from Standpoint. Criticism as argument, not consumer advice.

ONLINE ONLY: The Jihad Against Culture

Mali's literary heritage is at risk of destruction by Islamists bent on eradicating all art that doesn't fit their oppressive worldview

March 25, 2013

Africa·Art·Counterpoints

No Mickey Mouse Artist

Roy Lichtenstein based his work on comic strips but his approach to painting was intellectual

February 25, 2013

Art

The Poet To Whom Fascism Owed It All

Lucy Hughes-Hallett's Life of Gabriele D'Annunzio paints a picture of a compelling and anarchic poet-statesman

February 25, 2013

Books·History·Italy·Literature

Not Hitler’s Pope, But No Saint Either

Robert A. Ventresca's attempt to dispassionately assess the divisive Pope Pius XVII's pontificate is well-meaning but a penance to read

February 25, 2013

Books·The Catholic Church

Privileged Outsider

The cult of Benjamin Britten lives on in Paul Kildea's new biography, painting the composer as a perennial victim

February 25, 2013

Books·Music

Israel’s Tragic Hero-Victim

Unapologetic terrorist or revolutionary? Menachem Begin is rightly de-demonised, but not whitewashed, in Avi Shilon's new biography

February 25, 2013

Books·Israel·Middle East

The Philosopher and His Scholar

Noel Malcolm's magisterial new edition of Hobbes's Leviathan is a fine example of why, in the 21st century, scholarship still matters

February 25, 2013

Books·Philosophy·Politics

Boffins and other Backroom Boys

Highlighting the importance of scientists and engineers in defeating Germany is the noble aim of Paul Kennedy's new book, but ultimately he goes too far

February 25, 2013

Books·Military

Thomas and the Fat Controllers

Many in the 1970s predicted the demise of the railway. A new book by Richard Faulkner and Chris Austin tells how the foresight of a select few saved the trains

February 25, 2013

Books·Transport·UK Politics