Lost in golden times: how a 20th century literary masterpiece could help you cope with Covid woes
(5 minute read)
Martin Ketterer suggests that Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited could be just what you need in this time of confinement.
The Leningrad Symphony – Shostakovich’s Seventh Symphony and how the Russians survived a siege
(4 minute read)
The Russian composer Shostakovich began writing his symphony while the city was besieged by German forces. Kenson Li believes we can draw lessons for our current crisis.
Poetry page
(2 minute read)
We offer some haiku and tanka poems by Neena Singh, from her recently published One Breath Poetry: A journal of haiku, senryu & tanka (2020) and a poem by Richard Bauckham, Virus, specially written as a reflection on the coronavirus epidemic.
Downsizing: how to cope when the children leave home
(3 minute read)
Mary McGinty explains how moving house once her children had grown up and departed made her shed tears of both sadness and joy.
Life – and death – in the world’s Coronavirus capital
(5 minute read)
Barbara Zappa, a high school teacher from Bergamo, offers a searing insight into life inside the world’s most severe hotspot of coronavirus
A Hymn to Italy in time of plague
(4 minute read)
The city of Florence has traditionally celebrated March 25, feast of the Annunciation, as its own New Year day. An Irish writer staying in the city marks the day with a pain-filled, yet beautiful homage to the spirit of Italy.
Do international courts of human rights promote or curb our freedom? One of Europe’s top judges replies.
(12 minute read)
Never afraid to express his views when his conscience demanded it, Judge De Gaetano talks about some of his experiences answering questions from our correspondent José Young.
Three lessons from a city under siege
(3 minute read)
Ronnie Convery draws lessons from his parents on how to confront coronavirus.
Creating new kinds of contact
(5 minute read)
Richard Bauckham sees the positive side of his Covid 19 self-isolation.
Five ways to lose weight in Lent
(3 minute read)
Joseph Evans argues that Lent has a meaning for believers and non-believers alike.
