The Critic Magazine

27 July 2023

The Critic’s summer double issue brings an abundance of seasonal reading and original thinking across 112 pages surveying the world of culture and ideas. From Ukraine, Fred Skulthorp explores an under-reported face of war — the mysticism and deep faith of soldiers on both sides in a conflict that is redefining without shaking the Orthodox religion as central to Ukrainian identity. Closer to home, David Butterfield pitches his tent with the festival-goers and argues Glastonbury needs to get its countercultural mojo back. Speaking of home, Andrew Orlowski argues that “Street Votes” is a terrible idea to get more houses built, and Helen Barratt defends the Venice Architecture Biennale from those who couldn’t find much evidence of buildings. Also, Helen Joyce offers first-hand advice on how to navigate being hated on Twitter, and David Elstein discovers that Ofcom doesn’t care if Channel 4 broadcasts misleading documentaries. Paul Raffaele travels into the Hindu Kush to uncover the tale of a forgotten heroic siege and rescue mission; Henry Jeffreys uncorks the best rosés for summer; Daniel Johnson admires Spinoza; Patrick Kidd adores French rugby; Norman Lebrecht mourns the slow death of London’s orchestras whilst Sarah Ditum salutes the glory that was Wham! There’s something for everyone in The Critic this summer.