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In Focus

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Tribute to the legends

Shafqat Amanat Ali is a Pakistani vocalist, son of the legendary singer Ustad Amanat, widely considered one of the most influential ghazal singers of all time, who was part of the circle of Pakistan’s influential 20th century singers that included the “Emperor of Ghazal” Mehdi Hassan Khan and Ahmed Rushdi […]

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Radek: a novel

This historical novel begins just before the outbreak of World War I with Karl Radek waiting to hear if he has been expelled from the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SDP).   Sean Sheehan   The matter is controversial and Lenin does not support his expulsion. Radek suspects, all too […]

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From beyond the grave: Ken Saro-Wiwa

Ken Saro-Wiwa was born in October 1941, the eldest son of a prominent family in Ogoni, which is today in Rivers State, Nigeria. He was executed on November 10th 1995.   Dorset Eye    After leaving university he initially pursued an academic career. During the Biafran war (1967-1970) he was […]

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Decadence, art and ideology

“Decadence” is usually a term used by right-wing people to castigate individuals and societies with whom they disagree, and whose lifestyle they disapprove of.   Steve Latham   The arts are frequently said to be in decline, embodied in paradoxical trends: a lack of originality and repetition of the past, […]