The Looking Glass War is a 1965 spy novel by John le Carré that explores the decline of a British military intelligence organization known as 'The Department'. The story revolves around their attempt to verify Soviet missile sites in East Germany by reactivating an old agent, Fred Leiser. The novel critiques the bureaucratic inefficiencies and nostalgic attitudes within the intelligence community during the Cold War era.
In 'The Phoney Victory', Peter Hitchens questions the conventional narrative of World War II as a 'Good War', arguing that Britain's entry into the war led to its decline and that the Allies sometimes used immoral methods. He critiques the idea that Britain went to war to save the Jewish population and highlights the unpreparedness of Britain and France for a major European conflict.
Published in 1925, 'The Great Gatsby' is a tragic love story, a mystery, and a social commentary on American life during the Jazz Age. The novel is narrated by Nick Carraway, who moves to Long Island and becomes entangled in the lives of his wealthy and mysterious neighbor, Jay Gatsby, and Gatsby's obsession to win back his first love, Daisy Buchanan. The story delves into themes of honesty, the temptations of wealth, and the struggle to escape the past, ultimately reflecting on the disintegration of the American Dream.
The story, set in St. Petersburg, follows a young, unnamed narrator who lives a solitary life. He encounters Nastenka, a young woman crying on a bridge, and saves her from a potential harasser. Over four nights and a morning, they share their stories and hopes. Nastenka is bound to her blind grandmother and is waiting for her lover to return from Moscow. Despite the narrator's growing feelings for her, he helps her draft a letter to her lover. However, when the lover returns unexpectedly, Nastenka leaves the narrator heartbroken. The story concludes with the narrator receiving a letter from Nastenka announcing her upcoming marriage and expressing her gratitude for their brief friendship.
Published in 1937, 'Of Mice and Men' by John Steinbeck is a novella that tells the story of George Milton and Lennie Small, two migrant ranch workers in California during the Great Depression. The narrative revolves around their dream of owning a small farm, a symbol of the American Dream. However, their plans are continually thwarted by circumstances, including Lennie's accidental killing of the ranch owner's daughter-in-law, which leads to a tragic conclusion. The book is known for its vivid portrayal of farm life, its exploration of themes such as loneliness, friendship, and the harsh realities of the labor system, and its objective narrative style. It has been widely adapted into stage and film versions and remains a significant work in American literature[1][3][5].
In 2024 the Conservative party suffered their worst defeat in two centuries. But while Labour struggles in office, the Tories are going nowhere fast. Meanwhile Britain shambles on without an economic model, or a wider vision for the future. How long can national decline continue? And when will things come to a head? Aaron Bastani […]
Novara Media 
