Notebooks

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You can call me Al

The surname of the new Wimbledon champion, Carlos Alcaraz, is a reminder of the enduring Arabic influence on European languages.

Armand D'Angour July 18, 2023

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Ukraine’s long game

History suggests that Kyiv’s latest offensive requires patience as much as it needs bullets.

Ronan Mainprize July 17, 2023

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Milan Kundera: Novelist of European nostalgia

The great Czech writer, who migrated from his native language to French, cast a cold eye on the slow erosion of Europe's illusions.

Agnès Poirier July 13, 2023

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Lessons for NATO from Ancient Greece’s Delian League

Following NATO's critical summit in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, it is timely to reflect on parallels between the ancient Greek alliance against Persia and NATO’s response to..

Matthew Godwin July 13, 2023

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Milan Kundera dreamt in Czech

The émigré Czech novelist's uneasy relationship with his homeland adds more layers to his enigmatic output.

Anna Parker July 12, 2023

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In search of William Byrd’s lighter side

William Byrd is often seen as an all-too-gloomy artist — but glimmers of levity can be found in the great composer's varied oeuvre.

Rory McCleery July 10, 2023

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The multiple mysteries of Italian wine

Italy accounts for more than a third of the world’s grape varieties, a reflection of the country’s proudly fragmented culture and geography.

Tobias Jones July 6, 2023

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The Ancients loved dogs too

Greeks and Romans took a generally unsentimental view of animals, but there is evidence that some people in antiquity were no less inclined than moderns to love their dogs.

Armand D'Angour July 4, 2023

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La Haine: jusqu’ici tout va bien?

The 1995 breakthrough film about life in troubled banlieues still holds up a mirror to France in 2023.

Muriel Zagha July 3, 2023