Miscellany

Composite figment of imaginations The writer credited with composing the Iliad and the Odyssey, and often regarded as one of the most important authors of all time, is to my mind the most overrated hi

Daniel Pembrey picks out his top travel books of 2025

The article on the battle against U-boats in the Second World War in the November issue omitted perhaps the most important episode. That was the part played by the late Joe Baker-Cresswell of Bamburgh

Q What is the world’s tallest statue? A The tallest statue in the world is the Statue of Unity in India, which stands a massive 182 metres high. It was built in honour of independence leader Sardar Va

A maths formula, the Spanish Armada and Madonna all take centre stage this month

In 1494, the high castle walls that had dominated the Middle Ages came tumbling down in clouds of gunpowder smoke. It was the start of a new age