Eighty pages in to Age of Anger, I still had no idea what it was about
When Pankaj Mishra describes a “postmodern collage rather than a coherent doctrine”, he inadvertently summarises his own book.
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The Trump era
Women on the edge: new films Jackie and Christine are character studies of haunted women
With their claustrophobic close-ups and desolate wide shots, both films are stunning portraits of life on the brink.
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Yaa Gyasi’s debut novel is nothing short of magic
Homegoing is a novel borne not only of skill and knowledge, but also of a lifetime of experience.
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If you think Spielberg can’t do women, you’re missing his point about men
Donning her Freudian hat, Molly Haskell uses her new book to explore Steven Spielberg's attitude to women. But is…
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The decline of the north’s sporting powerhouse
Yorkshire historically acted as a counterweight to the dominance of southern elites, in sport as in politics and culture. Now, things…
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The idol and the bogeyman: Emile Zola in England
Michael Rosen's account of Zola's year of exile sheds light on the great author's public heroism and personal failings.
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The empire strikes back
How the Brexit vote has reopened deep wounds of empire and belonging, and challenged the future of the United…
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For the Ukip press officer I slept with, the European Union was Daddy
My Ukip lover just wanted to kick against authority. I do not know how he would have coped with the…
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When Theresa May speaks, why don’t we listen?
Not many Prime Ministers have to repeat themselves three times.
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Under Trump, American democracy will change – with the whole world at stake
We know that powerful countries don’t work well when nuance is cast overboard. Is this the collapse of the…
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Despite new challengers, Andrew Marr is still the king of the Sunday-morning politics skirmish
The year began with a strong challenge from Sophy Ridge, who scored a coup with her Theresa May interview. By…
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The NS Poem: And Then
A poem by Grey Gowrie, the former Conservative cabinet minister, who has died aged 81.
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What I learnt when my wife and I went to Brexit: the Musical
This week in the media, from laughing as the world order crumbles to what Tristram Hunt got wrong – and…
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Paul Auster’s 4 3 2 1 is rich, rewarding and occasionally maddening – just like life
Auster’s epic new novel of immigration, politics and consciousness has a protagonist with four alternative lives.
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Donald Trump ushers in a new era of kakistocracy: government by the worst people
Trump will lead the whitest, most male cabinet in memory – a bizarre melange of the unqualified and the unhinged.
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Did I magically make Kate Middleton pregnant? Well – not quite
“When I ring this bell,” I told my sceptical audience, “William and Kate will conceive a new child”.
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Leader: Trump and an age of disorder
Mr Trump’s disregard for domestic and international norms represents an unprecedented challenge to established institutions.
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Commons Confidential: What happened at Tom Watson’s birthday party?
Finances, fair and foul – and why Keir Starmer is doing the time warp.
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He went in to report on crystal meth – before long, Luke Williams was hooked
The journalist moved into a house of meth addicts to investigate the drug. Within a month, he was using,…
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Why I refuse to swallow the “clean eating“ craze
Clean Eating – the Dirty Truth reveals the dodgy science behind the restrictive eating trend.
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The West can never hope to understand Islamic State
Graeme Wood's The Way of the Strangers: Encounters with the Islamic State reminds us of something that ought to…
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The food trends coming your way in 2017 – from vegan butchers to, er, crickets
Insects are an economical alternative protein source to meat – and tastier than charred pizza base.
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Why is Alan Dein so good at getting his interview subjects to talk?
The presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Aftermath never traps or exhausts his subjects – he just gets them to open up.
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Fake news sells because people want it to be true
The rise of bullshit, from George Orwell to Donald Trump.
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Even as a seasoned doctor, patients’ motivations can surprise you
The daughter who wanted to save her 99-year-old mum against all odds – and the amusing reason why.
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There is nothing Donald Trump can do to stop immigration
The story of American immigration has been flowing inexorably in one direction. Even Trump's 24/7 tweeting can't turn the…
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What the lessons of the Roman Empire can teach us about Donald Trump
Trump is a reminder that a republic is rarely anything other than an ideal.
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How board games became a billion-dollar business
A new generation of tabletop games escaped the family table – and fuelled a global industry.
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The best days of the internet are over – now our privacy will suffer
Thankfully, nobody can see the Freddie Mercury impression I uploaded to YouTube in 2006. Tomorrow's teenagers, however, might not…
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My latest Brexit worry? What will happen to our footballers
My week, from why we should “keep on running” to mansplaining in the Commons.
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It’s time we were honest about our generational crisis
Every year, more Britons pass the historical finishing post of 65, lumbering on to fourscore and ten.
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