142. the curiosities of venice

How she turned rejection into lifelong fortune, favour and independence

Dreda Say Mitchell is a powerhouse. Fierce and fabulous company – open, vibrant, forthright and highly intelligent – but with her combination of drive and determination, you wouldn’t mess. You can tel

Showcasing the incredible world we live in

Many birds have fabulous plumage to attract mates or send warning messages. Some of the colours in their feathers are produced by microscopic structures on the feather surface that absorb and reflect

Alfred and Bede. These are the two figures who tower over the first half-millennium of the history of Anglo-Saxon England. There’s a reason for that, of course: they wrote this history. The Venerable

In 1798, Britain’s most celebrated admiral pursued the French across the Mediterranean, attempting to thwart General Bonaparte’s mission to Egypt. The pursuit culminated in what was arguably the most strategically important naval battle of the Napoleonic Wars