Books

Sir Anthony and Raymond Newell lay out their evidence in more than 600 pages in this, the latest in Sir Anthony’s mission to document the times in office of Prime Ministers. He began with John Major. One wonders if there will be enough material to produce a Truss At 10. …

To quote the old cliché, I know nothing about art but I know what I like. This book was an education. Nick Trend has curated a collection of art firsts to explain the art world. Everyone has heard of van Gogh and Rembrandt but do you know what the first …

Bus drives through the abandoned village of Imber (Image: PA) Ghost villageImber, Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire Four years into the Second World War, the residents of this remote Wiltshire village were given just days to evacuate their homes so it could be used by American troops practising for the D-Day invasion …

A pilot ejects (Image: Supplied) The F-117 Nighthawk looked like a black dart with a V-shaped tail. The world’s first Stealth fighter, many branded it invisible and invincible. Its secret state-of-the-art coating of radar-absorbent material, and angled airframe, made it hard for an enemy radar to lock on to. Yet …

One of Martin-Baker’s Gloster Meteor jets carries out a live ejection seat test (Image: John Nichol) The cocoon-like cockpit of the AW52 prototype jet was snug for a man of John “Jo” Lancaster’s imposing, square-shouldered build – like being behind the wheel of a Formula 1 ­racing car. But the …

Frederick Cook starred in a movie short (Image: Getty) It was one of the biggest stories of the new century. In September 1909, American explorer Frederick Cook returned from a two-year expedition during which he claimed to have become the first person in history to reach the North Pole. But …

The resort itself is described in forensic detail through the eyes of all the main characters (and suspects) involved. There is sun, obviously. There is drink. There are murky ambitions and intentions. There is partying and beach-led playfulness. But there is a dark heart to this novel which points to …

Rolf Harris’ daughter, Bindi Nicholls, reportedly drafted pages for a book titled “Living With A Pervert” where she lifted the lid on living with her elderly sex-offender father. Harris – who was confirmed dead today, Tuesday, May 23, 2023 – was convicted and jailed in 2014 for 12 counts of …

Allied troops going ashore to liberate Sicily in November 1942. (Image: Getty) The wartime SAS may be remembered primarily for its daring desert raids in North Africa, not least thanks to the BBC’s recent hit drama Rogue Heroes. But some of the service’s most ferocious fighting actually took place in …

Helena Garcia aims to change witches stereotype (Image: ) Appearing on The Great British Bake Off in 2019, Helena Garcia’s gothic-looking cakes were memorably described by judge Prue Leith as “sinister but very pretty”. If it sounds slightly eccentric, it’s a compliment she brandishes with pride, having been embraced by …