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Book of the week: The Long Weekend: Life in the English Country House Between the Wars
Giles Waterfield finds this new history of the English country house to be brimming with both architectural detail and social insight.
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Book of the week: Life in the Country House in Georgian Ireland
A new study offers a fascinating insight into the planning, furnishing and life of country houses in Georgian Ireland, John Goodall explains.
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Book of the week: Woburn Abbey: The Park & Gardens
John Martin Robinson delves into an account of a garden and finds it to be the best country-house history published in years.
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Book of the week: The Last Royal Rebel
David Gelber is gripped by a new biography that redefines the reputation of Charles II’s amoral but courageous illegitimate son.
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Frankenstein review: 'sometimes lightning strikes twice'
Our dance critic reviews The Royal Ballet's interpretation of Mary Shelley’s neo-gothic novel.
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Book of the week: The Fight for Beauty
A campaigner’s first book is a provocative read, says Kate Green.
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BalletBoyz: Life Review
These young men are terrific dancers and compelling performers, and their impeccable teamwork gives their repertory its distinctive edge, says our reviewer
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Book of the week: A natural history of the hedgerow
John Lewis-Stempel enjoys this fascinating new guide to the hedgerows of Britain
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7 heritage sites in need of rescue
Historic England publishes an annual Register of Heritage at Risk. Here are seven sites added to the list this year.
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Akhnaten at the London Coliseum
Akhnaten has been revived at English National Opera after more than 30 years.
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Two must-see ballets
Barbara Newman reviews a new production of Giselle by the Royal Ballet, and Mark Bruce's re-imagining of The Odyssey
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A gentleman's reading list
A man’s library might be ‘a sort of harem’, but, for Jonathan Self, these are the 10 titles that every gentleman should read
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New dance and music pieces
Our reviewer sees two productions around the theme of mystery, Kodo’s fusion of dance, theatre and music and Christopher Wheeldon’s latest work for the Royal Ballet.
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Idyllic Dorset retreat
A perfect Dorset village house offers family accomodation in a dreamy position near Blandford Forum
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Devon country house near Sidmouth
This beautiful 20th century country house near Exeter has views to the Jurassic Coast
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Artist and Empire at TATE: review
Artist and Empire at TATE Britain is a quite randomly put together collection, finds Clive Aslet
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New Post-war public art exhibition
Featuring the work of leading 20th century sculptors such as Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Elisabeth Frink and Geoffrey Clarke, Historic England describes public art as a ‘fascinating yet forgotten national collection’
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What makes a great musical?
Country Life gets to grips with what makes a good musical
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Theatre shows for your diary
See wonderful theatre this year, from Stratford-upon-Avon to the Minack Theatre in Cornwall
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Little Easton Manor, Essex
This prestigious country house in Essex has history dating back to Tudor times, when Elizabeth I enjoyed stag hunting in the nearby forests
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The Vanishing man: in pursuit of Velázquez
This history of Velázquez is well put together and passionately written, finds Huon Mallalieu
