Notebooks

Notebooks are snapshots from our writers, reflecting on current affairs and underappreciated aspects of culture and history.

A frieze of Henry III on Middlesex Hall, the home of the UK Supreme Court.
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For the common good

In the 13th and 14th centuries, the concept of the 'common good' became a pivotal battleground in English politics, foreshadowing the modern-day rhetoric of politicians who promise..

Caroline Burt August 23, 2024
The town of Poundbury in Dorset.
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New towns, old problems

The idea of expanding the supply of housing by building new towns is fraught with difficulties. There may be other options, with inspiration coming from unlikely places.

Clive Aslet August 20, 2024
Alain Delon in 'Le Samourai.'
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The dark beauty of Alain Delon

Alain Delon was the embodiment of French cinema's golden era, his life and legacy as enigmatic and intense as the characters he portrayed on screen.

Alexander Larman August 19, 2024
Smoke billows near windows as performers participate in the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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What the Paris Olympics opening ceremony really meant

There was method in the madness of the Paris Olympics ceremonial displays. The message was one of ideological rancour, reflecting the politics of a deeply fractured nation.

Muriel Zagha August 16, 2024
The theatre of Dionysus at the Acropolis, Athens.
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What did ancient Athens sound like?

The soundscape of ancient Athens told a tale of philosophy, industry and aesthetic revolution.

Armand D'Angour August 14, 2024
Stan Getz.
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The genius of Stan Getz

Known simply as 'the Sound', the saxophonist Stan Getz could transport the listener to jazz heaven.

Henry Jeffreys August 13, 2024
A violinist plays in front of a Venezuelan flag.
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Venezuela faces the music

In Venezuela, globally renowned musicians and orchestras are grappling with their obligation to speak out against Nicolás Maduro's attempts to steal another term as president.

Elisabeth Braw August 7, 2024
Oast house at Ightham, Kent.
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1524: The year beer came to England

Writers as eclectic as Daniel Defoe, Rudyard Kipling, and Thomas Tusser have cited 1524 as the year that made English beer as Protestant immigrants brought the European process of ..

Fred Garratt-Stanley August 7, 2024
Flags of the New Welfare Party in front of a poster of Erdogan, Istanbul, Turkey.
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The Islamist rivalry reshaping Turkish politics

The success of an alternative, and more hard line, Islamist party threatens the dominance Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's AKP and may open the door to a secular government in Turkey.

Dora Mengüç August 5, 2024

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