National Gallery, LondonFive huge views of a fortress in Saxony by Canaletto’s nephew demonstrate the younger Venetian’s mastery of landscape, but the characters who populate his paintings steal this fascinating showThe fortress rears up on its crag ag…
The Pages by Hugo Hamilton review – a book with a story to tell
A novel smuggled out of Nazi Germany narrates this ingenious work which warns of the danger in ignoring lessons of historyTowards the end of Hugo Hamilton’s ingenious and engaging novel The Pages, a book club in Berlin devotes its attention to Joseph R…
Eimear McBride: ‘Women grapple with shame because we’re held to a higher standard’
The novelist on her first book of nonfiction – about women and disgust – and the complexities of prize cultureEimear McBride, 44, is the bestselling author of three novels: A Girl Is a Half-Formed Thing, which won the Women’s prize for fiction and the …
Bad genes, not rock’n’roll excess, killed Elvis Presley, claims biographer
A new book by Sally Hoedel argues that the singer was a sick man supporting his family and friendsElvis Presley, who died 44 years ago this month, was not a drug abuser in the typical rock’n’roll lifestyle sense, a new book claims, but he was medicatin…
Hay festival in disarray as director quits after bullying claim upheld
Exit of Peter Florence adds to list of woes that include two years of Covid cancellations and a sex assault claim against a Gulf royalThe future of the Hay Festival of Literature and Arts, one of Britain’s oldest and most esteemed annual cultural landm…
Listen up: why indie podcasts are in peril
As big spenders such as Amazon and Spotify fill our ears with more commercial, celebrity-driven fare, can grassroots, diverse shows survive?Miranda Sawyer picks 20 indie podcast gemsThe British Podcast Awards were different this year. Held in a south L…
The Sparks Brothers review – a match made in heaven
Shaun of the Dead director Edgar Wright is a perfect fit for the absurdist antics of art pop’s most elusive duo in this stranger-than-fiction documentary“They are a band who you can look up on Wikipedia and know nothing!” So says long-term Sparks fan J…
Shailene Woodley: ‘Authenticity is my love language’
Despite being only 29, Shailene Woodley already has 25 years’ acting experience under her belt. Here, the star of Big Little Lies and Divergent talks about being free-willed, her hippy passions and her late-night calls with Kate WinsletThe one and only…
Lily Allen: from chart-topping handbag kid to the heart of London’s West End
The singer is back in front of a live audience this week, playing ‘a woman with a real point of view’ in a spooky new play, 2:22 – A Ghost StoryThere, in the background, wearing drop pearl earrings, is 13-year-old Lily Allen dressed up as a little lady…
Chaise Longue by Baxter Dury review – teenage kicks with the Blockheads
This unflinching memoir by the son of Ian Dury recalls his chaotic life with the ‘pot-soaked Fagin’ and his bodyguardThe first time Baxter Dury performed on stage was at his famous father’s wake. While various stars worked their way through the Ian Dur…