A Point of View

Tom Shakespeare presents the first of his four essays. There have been several recent scandals in th

John Gray finds new resonance for our own age in the story of "the Great Gatsby". "Just as in the Ro

John Gray argues for another way of perceiving the world inspired by the fantasy fiction writer Arth

John Gray turns to the writer Patricia Highsmith and her character Tom Ripley for a perspective on t

John Gray draws on the novels of Mervyn Peake to argue it's a mistake to imagine that modernity mark

John Gray draws on a story by Walter de la Mare to argue that the prevailing creed of scientific mat

John Gray wonders what the rise of the cyber currency Bitcoin tells us about our human need for free

Adam Gopnik's son is about to leave home. His suitcase is already packed. It's not a day Adam is loo

What is the difference between magic and science? What is the difference between Galileo and his con

Every nation has a core irrationality - a belief about itself which no amount of contrary evidence c

Adam Gopnik reflects on what makes a happy marriage. Darwin, Gopnik writes, when first thinking abou

"Lately I've been thinking a lot about the Turk", writes Adam Gopnik. He's talking - not of the Otto

When two spectacular comets appeared in the night sky in 1664 and 1665, many feared they were harbin

Lisa Jardine celebrates the achievements of the mathematician Dame Mary Cartwright, the first woman

Lisa Jardine celebrates the influence of art connoisseur Sir Denis Mahon and reflects on the impact

Lisa Jardine celebrates the achievements of Elizabeth of Bohemia, the "Winter Queen", and sees her r

David Cannadine defends his home city of Birmingham against a slur in Jane Austen's "Emma" as, "not

David Cannadine celebrates the saving of New York's now century old Grand Central Terminal and regre

David Cannadine reflects on the enduring appeal of the teddy bear in contemporary culture. Why, he w

David Cannadine reflects on the history of American presidential inaugurations since Abraham Lincoln