2012 is drawing to a close. Here is a selection (published in the magazine last month) of the Spectator’s best books of the year. A.N.Wilson Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death by James Runcie (Bloomsbury, £14.99). At last, an Anglican Father Brown. Runcie has sensibly set his detective stories in the 1950s, before the
It’s Boxing Day. Your kitchen worktops are groaning under piles of plates, roasting dishes, pans and champagne glasses. If you’re struggling to persuade anyone in your house to fill the sink with hot soapy water, you should first hand them a copy of Mark Mason’s piece in the Christmas issue of the Spectator, ‘The tao
Christmas is one of the few times of year when those unaccustomed to attending church feel prompted to join their local congregation for a few carols. But what will they find when they walk through those church doors? In the Christmas issue of the Spectator, Damian Thompson profiles Nicky Gumbel, vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton.
Find out which books PD James, Sam Leith, Susan Hill, Mark Amory, Barry Humphries and many more hate, then tell us about yours in the comments section. Craig Brown Which classic work do you think this comes from? ‘Her teeth were white in her brown face and her skin and her eyes were the same
If you’re still struggling to find a present for the inscrutable toddlers and children in your life, fear not for behold we bring you good tidings of great joy: Juliet Townsend’s annual selection of the best children’s books on the market, published in the Spectator a few weeks back. My 20-month-old granddaughter totters into the
‘Sorry kids, but this something-for-nothing culture has got to stop.’
‘Stop looking at me with those go-to-bed eyes.’
Dogs
‘If you don’t like it, I can go back and nick you something else.’
Boot
Dalek
Fishing
‘Your targets don’t want to meet you.’
‘Sorry, mate, got to take these off — children might get hurt.’
Austerity
‘The usual — ducking and diving, bob bob bobbing and weaving.’
‘You may have heard stories of over-treatment..’
Jewellery
‘I know you spent ages making it, but Mummy prefers shop-bought presents.’
Kazoo