Since the beginning of recorded history, and probably before, people have told tales of catastrophes that sweep through the world and destroy the majority of humankind, leaving only a few to start again.

This is the first time I’ve written about a non-fiction book in this newsletter, although there are plenty on my shelf. Non-fiction dates...

The Velázquez painting known as the Rokeby Venus hangs in the National Gallery in London. It was badly slashed by a suffragette in 1914....