Television & radioThe history of humanity told by topless men: Mr Darcy's wet shirt started it allThe news of the shirt being exhibited in a museum reminds us that many historical dramas have been liberally garnished with shirtless men
It’s not often that a man with his top on becomes a sex symbol, but that is precisely what happened to Colin Firth when he climbed out of a pond with his white shirt clinging to his manly chest in the BBC’s 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. Read More...
‘I’ve been through the rigours that have produced miracles and also great difficulties’ … Paul Auster. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian‘I’ve been through the rigours that have produced miracles and also great difficulties’ … Paul Auster. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The GuardianPaul AusterInterview‘This might be the last thing I ever write’: Paul Auster on cancer, connection and the fallacy of closureNicholas WroeAs he was finishing his latest novel, the writer became seriously ill. He talks about making sense of his life through fiction, the secret of sustaining love and how his new book took him by surprise Read More...
Lost in showbizJoss StoneWhy Joss Stone is the perfect Anne of ClevesIt seems incredible, but apparently there are people out there who openly doubt the polymath capacities of rock and pop stars, who believe that the ability to make successful albums does not automatically indicate a mastery of the arts in their entirety. Lost in Showbiz advises you to pay them no heed, and instead look at the incontrovertible facts. Fact: the greatest novel in the English language is Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson's searing roman à clef The Adventures Of Lord Iffy Boatrace (the greatest novel in the German language is the translation of Dickinson's searing roman à clef, Lord Iffy Und Die Sex-Maschine). Read More...