Notebooks

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A paean to Shane MacGowan

The late maverick joins the pantheon of balladeers and troubadours.

Max Mitchell December 1, 2023

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Kissinger: a man of three centuries

Henry Kissinger's worldview was shaped by his scholarly engagement with the great European statesmen of the 19th century and his experience of the Second World War. His death marks..

Angus Reilly November 30, 2023

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Argentina’s post-Peronist future

The election of Javier Milei as president has shattered the traditional split between Peronism and anti-Peronism in Argentinian politics and marks a new era for the country.

Amélie Jaques-Apke November 29, 2023

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OpenAI’s dual personality disorder

The tensions between Silicon Valley's commitment to hyper-capitalism and technological idealism have been made explicit by the crisis at OpenAI.

Andrew Keen November 29, 2023

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Napoleon can’t conquer the silver screen

For nearly a century, filmmakers have grappled with the difficulties of telling the story of Napoleon Bonaparte on screen. Can any director truly do justice to the iconic general a..

Katherine Bayford November 28, 2023

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The fight to save the trees of Paris

Every week, cherished trees disappear from the streets and gardens of Paris — and there is a growing public backlash.

Agnès Poirier November 27, 2023

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Inside Mossad

Israel's foreign intelligence service has played a crucial role at key moments in the country's history. In the coming months, it may target Hamas operatives both in Gaza and furth..

Ahron Bregman November 27, 2023

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Is Falstaff too large a character to bring to life?

Falstaff is, along with Macbeth, perhaps the hardest major Shakespearean role to fully inhabit.

Alexander Larman November 23, 2023

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Ferdinand’s second life was the sweetest

How did the deposed and once despised Habsburg monarch manage the perfect political retirement?

Fergus Butler-Gallie November 22, 2023