The Tumbrel Diaries

Calm motions are essential for the smooth running of a vice-regal establishment, and in this respect Norman was a model aide-de-camp, self...

“Come in, Norman.” “Yes, Lady Sutherland.” “Sit down.” “Thank you, Lady Sutherland.” “I gather Foster has found something disagree...

Those who say that President Barack Obama’s standing in the world has been damaged by the decision of the International Olympic Committee ...

Air travel has been intolerable for years, but this morning for me the process sank to new depths. Since 9/11 I have navigated security an...

My malapropism collection is expanding. To (a) “one foul swoop”—or, I suppose, “one fowl swoop”—(b) “pet noire,” and (c) “it never seems t...

This week I did what I should have done years ago—I got rid of the television. The cable man came today to disconnect me, and took away th...

The snag with checking a large manuscript ( The Finger: A Handbook ) is that although you get better at it as you go along, you also start...

Morning tea, again. I am going through the corrected manuscript of The Finger: A Handbook and am beginning to piece together tiny flecks ...

This long weekend I am tackling the manuscript of my next book, The Finger: A Handbook , which has returned from the copy editor with gra...

In his Island to Empire: 300 Years of British Art, 1550–1850 , Ron Radford cleared up the problem of the identity of Caroline Matilda Sother...