Who, today, remembers Robert Vas? His Refuge England (1959), a partly autobiographical account of a Hungarian migrant trying to make sense of London—its confusing streets and dizzying profusion of sig

Lola Young Eight Weeks Looking back, moving forwards, defying the odds 336pp. Penguin. Paperback, £10.99. Lola Young has been a crossbench member of the House of Lords since 2004. She is also an emeri

An illuminating peak behind the Iron Curtain

Leading historians share the texts that have inspired and informed their work

Rough roads rising to 15,275ft above sea level, deserts, water crossings and 21 countries. A total of 16,651 miles in a 36-year-old BMW saloon. Yes, the adventure is as unlikely as it sounds. Many peo

It’s mid-morning at Hadrian’s Wall and the Romans have already lost again. Not to the Picts this time, or to the weather, or even to the slow grind of history. But to Lee Anderson. “Now this is what a