From Tree of Death to Tree of Life: the history of the cross
Among Christians, the cross is seen as an instrument of execution and an emblem of victory. Christopher Howse explores the paradox
The piety and wit of Monsignor Ronald Knox
During the second world war, while one brother was editing Punch as a national institution (‘Working with him was a…
The Spectator's 2016 Christmas quiz
Set by Christopher Howse Illustrated by Castro
The answers
Say so 1. Theresa May 2. David Cameron (overheard on air, speaking to the Queen) 3. Jeremy Corbyn 4. Stephen…
The Oxford English Dictionary: not just a labour of love, a feat of endurance
What the Great Eastern was to Brunel, the New English Dictionary was to James Murray (1837–1915) — an unequalled task…
St Mark’s Gospel is as good as EastEnders
More brides in Britain go down the aisle to Gloria Gaynor’s ‘I Will Survive’ than to any other tune, Simon…
Breaking the commandments on Moses’s mountain
A medieval party of 800 Armenians at the top of Mount Sinai suddenly found themselves surrounded by fire. Their pilgrim…
A pilgrim’s progress to Santiago
In his friendly and beguiling voice, Jean-Christophe Rufin explains (in a way that reminded me of the pre-journey relish of…
What did the ancient Greeks believe?
It is a curious fact that the modern Hebrew for ‘atheist’, Tim Whitmarsh notes in passing, is apikoros. The word…
John Dee thought he could talk to angels using medieval computer technology
John Dee liked to talk to spirits but he was no loony witch, says Christopher Howse
Take up and read Augustine’s Confessions
I usually throw away dust jackets but Robin Lane Fox chose his for a reason. He originally encountered Augustine of…
Christmas Quiz
Set by Christopher Howse. Illustrated by Castro
The answers
On the record 1. Jean-Claude Juncker 2. David Cameron 3. Sir Tim Hunt 4. Jeremy Corbyn 5. President Vladimir Putin…
Remembering P.J. Kavanagh
OBITUARY
St George: patron saint of England, patronised by all
What did St George do? Killed a dragon, as everyone knows. And yet, as Samantha Riches points out, no mention…
Christmas Quiz
Set by Christopher Howse. Illustrated by Castro
Five of the best celebrity biographies of 2014
Cilla Black has become a strange creature during her 50 years in showbiz. When her husband Bobby was in hospital…
Charles Saatchi’s new book of photos makes me feel sick
Charles Saatchi, the gallery owner, has created his own Chamber of Horrors in this thick, square book, ‘inspired by striking…
Floating bodies, seeing hands, rippling skies - is Jerry Uelsmann’s photomontage a tragic dead-end?
An untitled photograph by Jerry Uelsmann from 1991 shows a rock like Magritte’s floating in the sky between an Ansel…
Judge a critic by the quality of his mistakes
What the title promises is not found inside. It is a tease. John Sutherland says he has ‘been paid one…
The right way to see Madrid
I got Madrid utterly wrong for quite a long time. It’s a lovely city to walk in, and I thought…
The Spectator's Christmas Quiz
Set by Christopher Howse
The Christmas Quiz answers
Says who? 1. David Cameron. 2. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Justin Welby. 3. Nick Clegg. 4. Prince…
What's notable about 'a lovely little old rectangular green French silver whittling knife'?
In the reminiscences of Bertie Wooster we find this: As I sat in the bathtub, soaping a meditative foot and…
Charles Saatchi's photo play
The game that Charles Saatchi plays in The Naked Eye is to find photographs of subjects that look surprisingly like…
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