Some Strings Attached
The little-known story of a wartime British ambassador who appeased Adolf Hitler but saw the error of his ways
Senses and Sensibility
From Beethoven to Bach, Handel to Homer, so many of the greats throughout history lacked the precise faculty their art required. What does it all mean?
Murder, They Wrote
This month in mystery books, sequels improve on their predecessors—plus a locked-room puzzle from John Dickson Carr, as thrilling now as when it was first published, in 1944
Cynthia Addai-Robinson
To step into J. R. R. Tolkien’s fantastical world for Amazon’s Lord of the Rings prequel, the actress found common ground with her royal character
Tales of Two Grifters
From Jared Kushner to an impostor M.I.5 agent, this week’s podcast has plenty of bad behavior—and more than a few laughs, thanks to Christopher Buckley
Catcher in the Wry
Eight questions with Christopher Buckley, ranging in subject from his comic pandemic novel and George Bush 41 to what his parents would have made of Trump
When Menus Were the Main Event …
A delicious new book offers a visual history of menu design from 1800 to the present
The Yellow and the Blue
Led by their American music director Hobart Earle, the Odessa Philharmonic flies Ukraine’s colors in Berlin
Re-writing the History Books
In an interview, Maggie O’Farrell discusses how she resurrects women in her historical fiction
Smells Like Team Spirit
From Hollywood to Wales—a charming new documentary follows actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney on their quest to revive Britain’s unluckiest football club
Birkin’s Baggage
On the occasion of her new album, Jane Birkin looks back on old love
Owen Kline
The actor’s directorial debut, a film about a young cartoonist finding his way, reflects his own childhood spent studying comic books and haunting video stores
Crisis Control
Eight questions with Jonathan Darman, whose new book explores how polio prepared F.D.R. for the presidency—and saved his marriage
Is The Rehearsal the Strangest Show Ever?
Errol Morris stops by this week’s podcast to share his view
