Sydney Smith, the irreverent reverend
How a cleric famous for his punchlines helped to shape liberal England.
By
Matthew Engel
Matthew Engel is a contributing writer to the New Statesman.
Latest articles
All Articles
The rise and fall of local newspapers
The local newspaper, which prized truth and accountability, was once the best training ground a journalist could possibly have.
By
The plot against the Prime Minister
Boris Johnson was parachuted into Uxbridge four years ago and has never bothered to make himself popular there. Now,…
By
The boy from Boree Creek: the moral and physical courage of Tim Fischer
Fischer led his party through the 1990s and was deputy prime minister, before suddenly opting out to give more…
By
Meeting Bryan Gould, the leader Labour lost
Gould’s Euroscepticism now seems prophetic, but it blighted his promising career.
By
New Zealand, a land for all seasons
It has suffered one of the most brutal terror attacks in recent history, but under Jacinda Ardern the country is…
By
Can’t-do country: how Australia is on the brink of environmental disaster
Rather than tackle the impending catastrophe, Australia seems intent on becoming the most nannyish nation on earth.
By
Romania, the land of no return
Known for corruption, orphans and Dracula, Romania wants to become a modern nation, but while its people keep leaving it doesn’t stand…
By
A life on the tracks
From Alpine tunnels to the Zambian border, seeing the world by train brings adventure, intriguing company – and a deep…
By