Published in The Guardian (November 21st, 2011) Hang ’em high Texas is not the first place you might look for lessons in criminal justice. The lone star state […]
Afghanistan / Arts / Books / World
The day that shook the world
Published in The Observer (September 11th, 2011) The Eleventh Day by Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swan (Doubleday); The 9/11 Wars by Jason Burke (Allen Lane); Granta 116: Ten […]
Arts / Books / United States / World
The other Barack: Bigamist, drunk and wife-beater
Published in the Daily Mail (August 12th, 2011) The Other Barack by Sally H. Jacobs (Public Affairs) Shortly after being elected first black president of Harvard Law Review, […]
Pakistan / World
The troubling aftermath of Bin Laden’s killing
Published in The Mail on Sunday (May 8th, 2011) It was a scene familiar from coffee bars around the world. A student in designer clothes tapping away on […]
Travel / United States / World
Mississippi yearning: driving down America’s Great River Road
Published in The Guardian (December 4th, 2010) As we nudged the Mustang on to the vast metal bridge spanning the Mississippi, a glorious sunset broke behind us, shading […]
United States
This award is premature – and potentially very foolish
Published in The Independent (October 10th, 2009) When Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973, the American humourist Tom Lehrer declared that political satire was […]
Education / Policy / United States / World
Lessons from the flood
Published in The Sunday Telegraph (September 12, 2010) Five years ago, America was struggling to come to terms with the destruction of New Orleans. The nation was stunned […]
Travel / United States / World
Virginia and Maryland: On the trail of the lonesome pine
Published in The Independent (September 24th, 2005) First there was the twang of country music, which turned out to be an apposite version of “Take Me Home, Country […]
Travel / United States / World
Summer in New England
Published in The Independent (May 22nd, 2004) Things began badly. After 15 years, I had finally persuaded my wife to go on holiday to the United States. I […]