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History & The Arts
A Victorian Christmas: Christmas in Dreamthorp
The essayist and poet Alexander Smith's Dreamthorp is a collection of essays he wrote in the countryside. This extract, titled Christmas, is anchored in the December of 1862, and includes some personal views which are very much of their time.
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History & The Arts
Killed by Agatha Christie: Strychnine and the detective novel
In the first Poirot book, the murderer's weapon of choice is the bitter poison strychnine. The scientist, writer and poison expert Deborah Blum reopens the case.
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History & The Arts
Vikings - just misunderstood?
Vikings weren't just raiders and pillagers - they were pioneers of craft and trade.
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Health, Sports & Psychology
Do books need trigger warnings for distressing content?
At Lancaster University English literature students have requested that trigger warnings be added to texts that include distressing passages. Claudia Hammond examines.
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Society, Politics & Law
Uncanny valley: why we find human-like robots and dolls so creepy
Why do robots that look human (but not quite human enough) make us uncomfortable?
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History & The Arts
Mizuki Shigeru: An appreciation
Manga artist, folklorist and icon Mizuki Shigeru has died. Nevin Thompson explains the role he played in Japanese culture, and why he'll be so missed.
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History & The Arts
What were Victorian pauper's graves like?
An account of a tragedy in a London graveyard gives an insight into the way the poor were buried in 19th Century England.
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Society, Politics & Law
Are businesses just leaping on transgender trends to turn a profit?
When Selfridges is clearing space to make a genderfluid display space, and Will Young is working with trans actors, transgender people might seem to be riding a wave into the heart of the mainstream. But, says Ray Fillar, until the media goes deeper than just jumping on the transwagon, we've still a long way to go.
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Society, Politics & Law
Could Islamic law be the key to defeating ISIS?
The solution to ISIS could be offering a different interpretation of Islamic Law, says Muslim scholar Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na'im
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Society, Politics & Law
Tumble And Twirl: David Bowie and gender transgression
Throughout his career, David Bowie has pushed at the edges and limits of the gender binary. Lisa Perrott offers a brief guide.
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History & The Arts
Have transgender storylines finally gone mainstream?
This month, both EastEnders and Hollyoaks are introducing transgender characters played by transgender actors. At the same time, Tangerine has brought a tale of transgender friendship to the big screen. Are depictions of gender queer people finally catching up with their realities?
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History & The Arts
Keeping the spark of the 60s alive: Neil Young and a sense of place
A new book argues that Neil Young has more to offer the 21st Century than, for example, Bob Dylan.