Before Bond: The Books That Built the Spy Genre
Long before Bond, Bourne and Lamb, there was Kim, Hannay and Ashenden. For The Arbuturian,…
Author Philip Cottam
The Wizard of the Kremlin
Sometimes a book almost seamlessly fits a moment in real time and flies off the…
A History of the World in 47 Borders
If you are looking for an informative and entertaining read I can heartily recommend A…
A Winter Miscellany
If the rain has taken up permanent residence and your social life now revolves around…
The Wrong Alps, Part III: Ortisei and the Sella Ronda
In the final stage of his trip to the Dolomites, Philip Cottam reaches the Val…
The Wrong Alps, Part II: La Villa and Alta Badia
In the second instalment of his tour of the Dolomites, Philip Cottam moves east into…
The Wrong Alps, Part I: Pinzolo and Brenta-Adamello
In the first instalment of a three-part series for The Arbuturian, Philip Cottam steps away…
An Autumnal Mixed Bag
From ancient wars retold through the eyes of forgotten women to modern myth-making with a…
A Summer Holiday Miscellany
Whether you’re braving airport queues, seeking shade in the garden, or sheltering from a sudden…
The Siege by Ben MacIntyre
Just over 45 years ago, for six days in February 1980, the attention of the…
A Spymaster Begins: Karla’s Choice
Following in the footsteps of the master of any trade, let alone when that master…
Precipice by Robert Harris
Robert Harris has the knack of finding interesting historical individuals or events around which to…