Gripped by his habitual despair, the French novelist Gustave Flaubert wrote to a friend in 1872, ‘I am appalled at the state of society. I’m filled with the sadness that must have affected the Romans of the 4th century. I feel irredeemable barbarism rising from the bowels of the earth.’
Leo McKinstry
Less alcohol, fewer drugs: how the British seem to be shedding their harmful habits
Contrary to popular belief, Britons’ harmful habits seem to be on the wane

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