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Articles tagged with: Books & culture
'Dissatisfying chutzpah': Matt Warman reviews 'Scoop'
Books & culture
By Matt Warman MP
'Dissatisfying chutzpah': Matt Warman reviews 'Scoop'
At best a compelling assertion of the value of journalism, Scoop’s niche focus on how Newsnight’s Prince Andrew interview was obtained, and for all its dramatic affectations, is still less cringeworthy than watching the real thing
A story of moral courage: Flick Drummond reviews 'American Mother'
Books & culture
By Flick Drummond MP
A story of moral courage: Flick Drummond reviews 'American Mother'
The moving story of a mother’s fight to honour her son’s memory after his brutal murder at the hands of ISIS, Colum McCann and Diane Foley have also written an important exploration of the dynamics of hostage-taking
'I doubt if a better history book will be published this year': Lord Lexden reviews 'Queen Victoria and Her Prime Ministers'
Books & culture
By Lord Lexden
'I doubt if a better history book will be published this year': Lord Lexden reviews 'Queen Victoria and Her Prime Ministers'
Anne Somerset has produced a masterful and scintillating study of Queen Victoria’s relationship with her 10 prime minsters
A clever play which fails to capture the essence of Bevan: Lord Davies reviews 'Nye'
Books & culture
By Lord Davies of Brixton
A clever play which fails to capture the essence of Bevan: Lord Davies reviews 'Nye'
Michael Sheen’s Aneurin Bevan is always watchable but generally fails to capture the essence or charisma of this secular saint
David Davis reviews 'The Trust Fall: Julian Assange'
Books & culture
By David Davis MP
David Davis reviews 'The Trust Fall: Julian Assange'
Thoroughly engaging and skilfully interspersed with animations, Kym Staton’s important film paints a searing indictment of the political persecution of one man for his journalism
George Parker reviews 'Red Queen? The Unauthorised Biography of Angela Rayner'
Books & culture
By George Parker
George Parker reviews 'Red Queen? The Unauthorised Biography of Angela Rayner'
Lord Ashcroft’s latest political biography successfully reveals some previously unknown details of Angela Rayner’s remarkable back story – but uncovering her core political beliefs has proved more of a challenge
Dawn Butler reviews 'Bob Marley: One Love'
Books & culture
By Dawn Butler MP
Dawn Butler reviews 'Bob Marley: One Love'
A film celebrating the music and creativity of Bob Marley, director Reinaldo Marcus Green also places the role a strong Black woman front and centre of the story
Lord Dobbs reviews Tony Sewell's 'Black Success: The Surprising Truth'
Books & culture
By Lord Dobbs
Lord Dobbs reviews Tony Sewell's 'Black Success: The Surprising Truth'
In an age obsessed with white privilege, Lord Sewell wants to talk about Black success. It will irritate some but inspire many more – this is a book for our time
Eddie Hughes reviews John O’Farrell's 'Family Politics'
Books & culture
By Eddie Hughes MP
Eddie Hughes reviews John O’Farrell's 'Family Politics'
A tale of offspring returning to the family nest with a political twist, John O’Farrell’s latest book will perpetuate his reputation for comedy genius
'Compelling': Lord Collins reviews 'The Merchant of Venice 1936'
Books & culture
By Lord Collins
'Compelling': Lord Collins reviews 'The Merchant of Venice 1936'
A powerful wake-up call to the re-emergence of antisemitism in today’s society, this occasionally jarring new interpretation of Shakespeare’s controversial play menacingly portrays the reality of fascism in 1930s East End
A stark reminder of the human cost of Putin's war: Tom Randall reviews '20 Days in Mariupol'
Books & culture
By Tom Randall MP
A stark reminder of the human cost of Putin's war: Tom Randall reviews '20 Days in Mariupol'
A visceral and deeply personal account of the city’s first brutal days under siege, Mstyslav Chernov’s Oscar-winning documentary underscores the vital role of journalism in times of conflict
Lord Sandwich reviews 'Io Capitano'
Books & culture
By Earl of Sandwich
Lord Sandwich reviews 'Io Capitano'
An Oscar-nominated tale of courage and folly, Matteo Garrone’s film about migration from across the desert of North Africa and the Mediterranean Sea is a stirring exploration of the best and worst of humanity
Lord Black reviews Chris Bryant's 'James and John: A True Story of Prejudice and Murder'
Books & culture
By Lord Black
Lord Black reviews Chris Bryant's 'James and John: A True Story of Prejudice and Murder'
A harrowing and beautifully told story, Chris Bryant’s meticulously researched book about the last two men to be hanged in Britain for being gay makes for painful reading
'An utterly beautiful film': Tracey Crouch reviews 'COPA 71'
Books & culture
By Tracey Crouch MP
'An utterly beautiful film': Tracey Crouch reviews 'COPA 71'
A powerful and moving documentary of a sporting event airbrushed from history, COPA 71 is the insight into women’s football you didn’t realise you needed until now
'Excellent': Lord Lexden reviews 'Sex, Spies and Scandal: The John Vassall Affair'
Books & culture
By Lord Lexden
'Excellent': Lord Lexden reviews 'Sex, Spies and Scandal: The John Vassall Affair'
Drawing on recently declassified secret service files, Alex Grant has written a definitive account of a sensational scandal and its terrible repercussions
Lord Collins reviews 'All Of Us Strangers'
Books & culture
By Lord Collins
Lord Collins reviews 'All Of Us Strangers'
Powerfully conveying the impact of growing up gay in the 80s, Andrew Haigh’s story of love, loss and loneliness packs a strong emotional punch
Rosena Allin-Khan reviews 'The End We Start From'
Books & culture
By Rosena Allin-Khan MP
Rosena Allin-Khan reviews 'The End We Start From'
This eerily relatable climate change drama – featuring a compelling performance from Jodie Comer as a new mother struggling to survive the aftermath of a catastrophic flood – is definitely worth a watch despite its flaws
Baroness O’Grady reviews 'The Wild Men'
Books & culture
By Baroness O’Grady
Baroness O’Grady reviews 'The Wild Men'
Rooted in robust research, David Torrance’s new book casts fresh light on Britain’s first Labour government – and how establishment dirty tricks helped bring it down
Diana Johnson reviews 'Poor Things'
Books & culture
By Diana Johnson MP
Diana Johnson reviews 'Poor Things'
A steampunk tale of gothic horror with glorious cinematography, Yorgos Lanthimos’ film pushes the boundaries of artistic freedom with this disturbing – yet hopeful – black comedy
Lord Robertson reviews 'Deterring Armageddon: A Biography of NATO'
Books & culture
By Lord Robertson
Lord Robertson reviews 'Deterring Armageddon: A Biography of NATO'
Peter Apps has produced a well-researched, highly readable account of the military, strategic – and indeed personal – twists and turns of NATO’s 75-year history
The banality of evil: Lord Pickles reviews 'The Zone of Interest'
Books & culture
By Lord Pickles
The banality of evil: Lord Pickles reviews 'The Zone of Interest'
Featuring strong, nuanced performances, Jonathan Glazer’s film is a brilliant and chilling depiction of how the Holocaust happened in plain sight
Foreshadowing #metoo: Baroness Thornton reviews Sofia Coppola's 'Priscilla'
Books & culture
By Baroness Thornton
Foreshadowing #metoo: Baroness Thornton reviews Sofia Coppola's 'Priscilla'
Visually beautiful and inescapably sad, this story of how a young girl was groomed and abused by a powerful older man does not let Elvis off the hook
Nick Thomas-Symonds reviews 'Age of Hope': Labour, 1945, and the Birth of Modern Britain
Books & culture
By Nick Thomas-Symonds MP
Nick Thomas-Symonds reviews 'Age of Hope': Labour, 1945, and the Birth of Modern Britain
Although not always convincing in its assertions, Richard Toye’s comprehensive history of the Labour Party is a useful and accessible read
Forensic: Lord Cormack reviews Peter Hennessy’s 'Land of Shame and Glory'
Books & culture
By Lord Cormack
Forensic: Lord Cormack reviews Peter Hennessy’s 'Land of Shame and Glory'
Wise and even prophetic, Lord Hennessy’s examination of the UK’s recent political upheavals will both impress and depress you