MY old art teacher used to say there are no straight lines in nature. At the same time, one of the French teacher’s pet phrases was, “There are always the exceptions”. And when it comes to straight li

The literary locations that inspired ten of our favourite festive stories and wintry tales, plus where to stay to enjoy them for yourself

Tennyson’s embrace of science and catastrophe theory

Bob Cooper of Macclesfield, Cheshire remembers: From an early age, I have always loved reading and writing. My best subject at school was English to the detriment of maths, and I managed to become top

Middleland: Dispatches from the Borders Rory Stewart (Jonathan ...

MARIE peered out of the front room window, wondering if people would be on time. And not only that – what if nobody showed? She let the net curtain drop, listening to the kettle whistling in the kitch