Thinking constructively

This week on CW, Nicky Charlish reviews Frank Auerbach’s pictures of post-war London building sites at the Courtauld, celebrating a time when engineering and technology could be seen as part of making the Good Life. Andrew Wheelhouse reviews Martin Meredith’s history of post-colonial Africa. And Wes Brown defends poetry from censorship on the grounds of health and safety. Meanwhile Brenda Stones reviews Audrey Hiffenegger’s decisively embodied ghost story Her Fearful Symmetry and Alicia Rudd reviews Kathleen Kent’s evocation of the Salem Witch Trials, The Heretic’s Daughter.

Over at the Battle of Ideas website, there are now audio recordings of last weekend’s debates, and new Battles in Print including Dennis Hayes on philosophy as therapy, and Toby Marshall on understanding the education crisis. Next week on CW: Britain’s Supreme Court, Asian food for thought, and more books.

6 November 2009