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Art history ‘could help medics be less judgmental when it comes to obesity’

Obesity was viewed as a sign of wealth for centuries, and future art may depict gaunt faces caused by rapid weight loss from GLP-1 drugs. Understanding famous pieces of art…

Look Mum No Computer performs with dancers in computer costumes

Temperatures could climb into mid-20s by bank holiday weekend, says Met Office

Family of British couple jailed in Iran say they have lost contact with them

Three women recovered off Brighton beach not believed to have attended nightclub

‘Full and inclusive’ review of Sussex maternity failings welcomed by families

King taking centre stage amid British political drama captures US attention

Massive policing operation as two protests and FA Cup final coincide in London

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Sonia Sodha

Breaking the class ceiling

Aspiration and social mobility were at the heart of Tony Blair’s “education, education, education” pitch in 1997. They are similarly echoed in Keir Starmer’s vision for Britain: he has repeatedly framed his desire to be…

Simon Heffer

New protest laws would be extreme

Having been bored into a stupor by a supposedly Conservative government’s serial failure to be conservative, something Rishi Sunak said recently suddenly had a voice inside me crying, “Whoa!”. His…

Peter Phelps

Hopeful histories

“No news is good news”, the saying goes, but the reverse is also true. Good…

Michael Janofsky

Roar deal

A century ago, America was ablaze in progressive change: Jazz. Flappers. Shorter skirts. Speakeasies. The…

Khaled Bazzi

Where hope takes root

As headlines veer toward the apocalyptic – from collapsing ecosystems to vanishing species – it’s…

Mic Wright

High society

In 1989, Richard Hoggart wrote in his introduction to George Orwell’s The Road to Wigan…

Nathaniel Tapley

Cradle of libertines

England likes to think of itself as “the cradle of liberty”. True, if you think…

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For some of the world’s best independent writing on the stories and ideas shaping our world

COMMENT

Sonia Sodha

Breaking the class ceiling

Aspiration and social mobility were at the heart of Tony…

Simon Heffer

An age without rival

It wasn’t long before Hallowe’en that I noted many of…

Christopher Hart

Hedge fund

According to the great Dr Oliver Rackham, hedges may be the oldest manmade structures on…

Sarah Hall

Natural hazards

The first novel that truly affected me as a young reader was eschatological in nature.…

Peter Lawlor

Rent in two

In this class-themed issue I want to touch on an important social distinction in the…

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Perspectives

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The end of days

Boris Starling

If the apocalypse comes, we will almost certainly have brought it on ourselves

The New Crusades

Boris Starling

From crusader crosses at marches to political speeches quoting the Old Testament, a strident form of Christian nationalism is crossing the Atlantic, threatening Britain's traditional separation of church and state

The disappearance of Abdullah Öcalan

Toby Green

Imprisoned for a quarter-century, the Kurdish leader has been all but forgotten

Les Temps Modernes

Antony Beevor

The Liberation of Paris in August 1944 led to an era of philosophical, political and sexual ferment

Perspectives

The end of days

Boris Starling

If the apocalypse comes, we will almost certainly have brought it on ourselves

The colder war

Chris Lincoln-Jones

AI weaponry has already made sci-fi a reality, so the big question is: can we control the machines?

The funk of flunk

Cosmo Landesman

There’s an art to failing gracefully

The colder war

Chris Lincoln-Jones

AI weaponry has already made sci-fi a reality, so the big question is: can we control the machines?

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PEOPLE

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TCE The Interview The Interview - Front Page

BY

Joanna Grochowicz

Charles Spencer

The writer, historian, podcaster and 9th Earl Spencer Charles Spencer talks about boarding school trauma, class aspirations and the importance of speaking out

In Conversation In Conversation - Front Page TCE

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Rowan Pelling

Dominic Cummings

Rowan Pelling talks to Dominic Cummings about a start-up party, Brexit, the covid inquiry, Whitehall and other shit-shows

Reputations Reputations - Front Page

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Andrew Lownie

Earl Mountbatten

Re-evaluating the legacy of one of the last century’s most controversial leaders

FROM MY PERSPECTIVE - Q&As

Chris van Tulleken

Doctor, author and science presenter

Wasfi Kani, CBE

Founder of Pimlico Opera and Grange Park Opera

Robert Peston

ITV News political editor and presenter of Peston

Andrew Roberts

Historian and journalist

Chris Smith

Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge, and former Culture Secretary

Ronni Ancona

Comedian, actress and filmmaker

Lord David Owen

Former foreign secretary and co-founder of the SDP

Dan Snow

Historian and TV presenter

Vince Cable

Former Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Secretary of State (2010-2015)

DBC Pierre

Booker Prize-winning author

Lucy Hughes-Hallett

Historian, biographer, novelist

Rosie Boycott

The first woman to edit a UK broadsheet newspaper

Bobby Seagull

Maths teacher, author and TV broadcaster

John Lloyd

Producer of Blackadder and Spitting Image

Craig Brown

Author and satirist

Wynne Evans

Opera singer and radio presenter

Benny Higgins

Banker

Joanna Lumley

Actress, campaigner and national treasure

Zandra Rhodes

Fashion designer

Daniel Howell

Author, entertainer and comedian

FROM MY PERSPECTIVE – Q&As

Jeremy Bowen

International Editor of BBC News

Lucy Easthope

Disaster planner and recovery expert

Daniel Howell

Author, entertainer and comedian

Zandra Rhodes

Fashion designer

Tom Curry

England Rugby International and Sale Sharks Flanker

Joanna Lumley

Actress, campaigner and national treasure

Vince Cable

Former Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Secretary of State (2010-2015)

Lynn Barber

author and journalist

Doon Mackichan

actress, comedian, author

Lucy Hughes-Hallett

Historian, biographer, novelist

Dan Snow

Historian and TV presenter

DBC Pierre

Booker Prize-winning author

Benny Higgins

Banker

Katie Brand

Award-winning writer and comedian

Lord David Owen

Former foreign secretary and co-founder of the SDP

Jeremy Paxman

Journalist, broadcaster and quizmaster

Bobby Seagull

Maths teacher, author and TV broadcaster

Ed Balls

Economist, broadcaster and former cabinet minister

Ronni Ancona

Comedian, actress and filmmaker

Robert Peston

ITV News political editor and presenter of Peston

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CULTURE

MORE AUTHOR INTERVIEWS

Author Interview - Front Page TCE The author Interview

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Helen Brown

“When you see extremely violent sexual stuff on stage you always need to ask: who’s creating it for who and why?”

Ruth Ivo

The former burlesque dancer discusses her fictionalised memoir of Soho life in Performance, the exhilarating freedom of club nights in her youth and “hatching” from an egg on stage

Cathy Newman

Channel 4’s first female news anchor discusses trailblazing women, internet trolls, sexual assault and her new book The Ladder

Hanna Pylväinen

Whiting Award and Balcones Fiction Prize-winner discusses her strict Lutheran upbringing and her novel The End of Drum-Time

Sarah Hall

The acclaimed novelist discusses her Goldsmiths Prize-shortlisted novel Helm, writing a "strange biography" of Britain's only named wind, climate collapse and "radical optimism," and why sorority is the key to consolidating power shifts and positive change

FEATURES

Hymn to Hestia

Natalie Haynes

The forgotten goddess of the hearth

There’s always whisky

Miranda Seymour

Jean Rhys, literary genius and troubled alcoholic

Gothic delights

Elizabeth Sharkey

Exploring the history of a genre that first bewitched Elizabeth as a teenage Joy Division fan

FILM

Apocalypse now and then

Anne Billson

STYLE

Dressing for utopia

Christobel Kent

POETRY

Hermeneutics by Rebecca Hurst

Things to Consider in the Design of Your First Space Suit by Harry Man

I Am Waiting For You by Risalet Merdan

Tight Little Island by Rishi Dastidar

There's a Walrus on My Windscreen by Ian Humphreys

ART

The art of perturbation

Rachel Campbell Johnston

MUSIC

Sucking the marrow out of life

Laura Barton

CULTURE

Author Interview - Front Page The author Interview

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Helen Brown

This is a book that faces the awful possibility of a wind’s death amid climate collapse

Sarah Hall

The acclaimed novelist discusses her Goldsmiths Prize-shortlisted novel Helm, writing a "strange biography" of Britain's only named wind, climate collapse and "radical optimism," and why sorority is the key to consolidating power shifts and positive change

Tessa Hadley

The critically acclaimed novelist discusses her 1950s-set novella The Party with Helen Brown

Francesca Beauman

The Persephone Books publisher discusses forgotten gems written by women and the imprint’s 150th book

Bee Wilson

The food writer, journalist, author and charity campaigner for TastEd discusses festive family rituals, celebrating Christmas as a newly single parent and her first recipe book

FEATURES