Notebooks

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The haunting presence of Stanley Kubrick

Twenty-five years after his death, Stanley Kubrick remains the most influential director in English-language cinema, yet his influence will be felt less and less if the industry co..

Alexander Larman January 17, 2024

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Conservatism and the sceptical enlightenment

The descendants of the enlightenment who usually think of themselves as ‘progressive’ are really a regression to religious dogmatism. It is the conservative political thinkers who ..

Lincoln Allison January 9, 2024

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Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie and the humanity of history

The great French historian, who died in November, left a formidable legacy and reshaped the study of history.

Alexander Lee January 8, 2024

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Roald Dahl’s readable but regrettable Uncle Oswald

The great children's author's adult misfire offers a glimpse into his deeply peculiar psyche.

Alexander Larman January 5, 2024

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The Pythagoras myth

Contrary to popular belief, Pythagoras did not in fact first develop his eponymous theorem, which had been known for over 1,000 years.

Mark Ronan January 4, 2024

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Gaza and the long tail of terror

The war in Gaza will – sooner or later – inspire other Islamist terrorist groups, just as previous conflicts did.

Suzanne Raine January 3, 2024

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Writing in the New Year

While less prominent in literature than Christmas, the New Year has been a subject for many distinguished writers and poets.

Malcolm Forbes January 2, 2024

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New Year’s Christian origins

While the origins of Christmas are well known, New Year’s Day is also a Christian celebration rooted in the early life of Jesus.

Eleanor Parker January 1, 2024

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Fay Schopen, 1975-2023

Fay Schopen, a contributor and editor at Engelsberg Ideas, died on 19 November 2023 at the age of 48.

Engelsberg Ideas December 31, 2023