Journalism
Boris Johnson’s Terrible Parting Gift
In his last days as prime minister of Britain, Boris Johnson conducted a farewell tour of the country. Possibly he expected something like the accolades his beloved Roman generals were given—a small arch in his honor, say—or at least a few angry Gauls walking miserably behind his chariot. Instead he went to a field in southwest England and stared at a hole in the ground. (The Atlantic)
What If Joan of Arc Wasn’t A Woman?
Joan of Arc dared to take on the traditionally masculine role of soldier and commander. In her day, everyone wondered: Was she holy—a saint, a sacred being, a vessel of enlightenment—or merely a woman? Four centuries later, the Globe is asking the same question. (The Atlantic)
I’m The Driver Now
Thirty-seven, I decided, was old enough. Even here in Britain, that is an advanced age to begin learning to drive, but somehow, I had never gotten around to it. And so I found myself, one morning last fall, trying to master the exact sequence of foot movements required to hit something called “biting point.” (The Atlantic)
The Spark: Transport for Humans
The Spark: Non-Human Intelligence
The writer and artist James Bridle has a background in artificial intelligence, but has turned to studying the natural world: everything from slime moulds that can solve complex logistical problems to octopuses that recognise human faces. (The Spark, BBC)
The Spark: The Case Against the Sexual Revolution
The liberalisations of the 1960s brought significant new freedom to women's lives. But Louise Perry argues that this has now combined with the more recent impact of online pornography, which is both ubiquitous and frequently violent. (The Spark, BBC)
How Social Justice Became A New Religion
A quick question. If someone is yelling “repent” at you in the street, are they more likely to be (a) a religious preacher or (b) a left-wing activist? (The Atlantic)
The Church of Social Justice
What do you believe in? As traditional religions wane in Britain, Helen Lewis asks if political movements are taking their place (BBC Radio 4).
The British Right Doesn’t Want to Hear Doubts
This is a long, hot summer in Britain, and 150,000 people are choosing our next prime minister. (The Atlantic)
Jane Austen’s Persuasion Meets the Girlboss Era
This Persuasion has turned its heroine, Anne Elliot, from a quiet, melancholic presence to a klutzy Fleabag clone. (The Atlantic)