Published by The Spectator (8th August, 2020) Surviving Autocracy by Masha Gessen (Granta) It is easy to forget the abnormality of Donald Trump’s presence in the White House. […]
Arts / Books
Plumbing the depths
Published by The Spectator (14th March, 2020) Going Dark: The Secret Social Life of Extremists by Julia Exner (Bloomsbury) Two years ago, the counter-extremist analyst Julia Ebner decided […]
Arts / Books / South Korea / World
Glimpse into a murky world
Published by The Spectator (26th October, 2019) The Killing in the Consulate: Investigating the Life and Death of Jamal Khashoggi by Jonathan Rugman ((Simon & Schuster) The story […]
Aid
How politicians failed to learn from the charity sex abuse scandal
Published by The Spectator (19th October, 2018) When Tamsyn Barton was summoned before MPs last month to be quizzed on her suitability to run the official aid watchdog, […]
Arts / Books / Europe / Norway / Syria / World
The tragedy of Syria: how protest spiralled into savagery
Published by The Spectator (26th April, 2018) Two Sisters: Into the Syrian Jihad by Asne Seierstad (Virago); No Turning Back: Life, Loss and Hope in Wartime Syria by Rania Abouzeid (Oneworld) […]
North Korea / South Korea / World
North Korea’s idea of Britain? David Beckham and The Queen
Published by The Spectator (20 April, 2017) Korean Notebook When I arrived in Seoul, I joked to my editor that I hoped this was not going to be […]
Africa / Arts / Books
A truly monstrous regiment
Published by The Spectator (31st December, 2016) When The Walking Defeats You: One Man’s Journey as Joseph Kony’s Bodyguard by Ledio Cakaj (Zed) When George Omona first saw […]
Arts / Books
Murder in the blue lagoon
Published by The Spectator (4th August, 2016) The Jolly Roger Social Club: A True Story of A Killer in Paradise by Nick Foster (Duckworth Overlook) Cher Hughes loved […]
Crime / Policy / Politics / United States / World
Prison reform is a classic conservative issue
Published by The Spectator Coffee House (12th October, 2015) Many people were surprised when David Cameron placed prison reform at the heart of his party conference speech last […]