This is the first in a series of daily extracts from the Spectator during the course of the first world war. The aim is not to tell the full story of the conflict, or even to provide a full assessment of our coverage of it — that requires deeper expertise and a wider view. Our
Britain is braced for the anniversary of the outbreak of world war one. Memorials and events are taking place across the country this weekend. Not so in Germany, where reticence reigns. This week’s Spectator features a piece by Antonia Oettingen, a descendant of Karl Max von Lichnowsky, the Kaiser’s ambassador in London from 1912-1914. She
‘What’s happened to us? We never says LOL any more.’
‘Sorry I’m late. I was stuck in a jam.’
‘They spoke so loudly I could barely hear my phone ring.’
‘I’ll see you on court.’
‘A true sportsman doesn’t fish using a bloody drone, sir.’
‘Just leave, please. We don’t like your sort round here.’
‘We’re a very inclusive school — we even have an award for stupidest pupil.’
‘That’s Pope Innocent X — he was framed.’
Nepotism rules Sir: Julie Burchill’s piece ‘Born to be famous’ (26 July) was very strong and as, like her, I’m an ex-Labour supporter turned conservative, it echoed my opinions. The performing arts in particular were a great outlet for the untapped talents of what we used to call the working classes. Between the mid-1950s and about
