All that jazz

The writer, historian, podcaster and 9th Earl Spencer talks to Joanna Grochowicz about boarding school trauma, class aspirations and the importance of speaking out.

As climate change, pandemics and global conflicts fuel apocalyptic fears, James McConnachie uncovers the fascinating story of Joanna Southcott - a forgotten 19th-century prophetess who captivated thousands with her visions of the end times.

Claudia Cockerell explores how history repeats as sewage pollutes UK waters. With water bills set to surge, campaigners debate solutions from fines to renationalisation. Can we clean up this modern-day “Great Stink”?

Suzanne Moore takes aim at the UK’s elite education system. From cricket metaphors to Oxbridge fast-tracks, she exposes the stark education divide. Is private schooling a necessary evil or a damaging force in British society?

Sarah Hall challenges our dystopian mindset in the face of climate crisis. Are we trapped or can we find inspiration in real-world activism? From River Action’s legal battle to protect the Wye, to rethinking the role of literature, she explores how we might shift from spectators to agents of change in our climate story.

In this personal piece, Khaled Bazzi reveals the lasting, profound legacy of the acid house movement of the late 80s on people and culture at large.

Rowena Macdonald’s journey with Lana, a hairdresser who's more than meets the eye. Explore the intimate, often fraught relationship between stylist and customer in this compelling personal essay about identity, ambition, and the power of reinvention.