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The ancient mapmakers who shaped the world as we still see it centuries later
The desire to chart the world around us is an impulse as old as time and some map-makers’ efforts have an astonishing longevity, reveals Matthew Dennison.
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The chimneypiece by Sir John Soane that still inspires designers to this day
The reductivist simplicity of a chimney piece designed 200 years ago by Sir John Soane explains the architect’s reputation as a founding father of Modernism.
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Needlepoint: The craft of kings, queens and countesses
Far more than a fancy of old ladies, unoccupied hands and evenings are never a problem for enthusiasts of needlepoint. Matthew Dennison takes a look.
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Curious Questions: What is the Stone of Scone?
Shrouded in myth and mystery, the unremarkable-looking Stone of Scone — the ancient symbol of Scottish sovereigns — still plays a significant role in the coronations of British monarchs, says Matthew Dennison.
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St Edward's Crown: The tale of the crown being used at the Coronation of King Charles III
It is to the Crown that we owe allegiance. Matthew Dennison considers the history of this most familiar attribute of royalty, which he finds as laden with the hopes of a nation as it is with glittering gold and precious jewels.
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J.R.R. Tolkien: The life and times of the lord of the books
From a sentence born of an exhausting teaching job, J. R. R. Tolkien crafted a series of fantastical novels that, 50 years on from his death, still loom as large in our imagination as Sauron’s all-seeing eye, says Matthew Dennison.
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Curious Questions: Who invented the fork?
Once viewed with suspicion, forks remained the preserve of royalty until nearly 200 years ago. Matthew Dennison takes a stab at the king of cutlery, which changed the way we eat.
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How to fold a napkin rose at Christmas: A step-by-step guide
A beautifully-folded napkin is the ideal way to finish off your festive table setting. Here's how to fold a rose napkin.
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In Focus: How Roald Dahl's love of the countryside shaped his life's work
The countryside filled the Matilda author Roald Dahl with joy and proved a constant source of inspiration, as Matthew Dennison reveals in a new biography of the prolific storyteller.
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'In over a thousand years, no monarch has been more loved or more esteemed': Her Majesty The Queen remembered, by royal biographer Matthew Dennison
The twist of fate that led the young Princess Elizabeth to become heir to the throne could not have gifted us a better sovereign, says Matthew Dennison, as he looks in depth at Queen Elizabeth II's life and legacy.
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Ruth Manning-Sanders: 'She was certain that it was every child’s birthright to visit a world of enchantment and occasional terrors'
Nursery favourite Ruth Manning-Sanders believed it was every child’s birthright to enter a world of enchantment and occasional terrors, where good always triumphs over evil, discovers Matthew Dennison.
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In Focus — Beatrix Potter: Remarkable, doughty, gifted, intimidating, and a child who just never grew up
Beatix Potter's unforgettable children's stories have left an indelible mark on the cultural life of Britain. Here, her biographer Matthew Dennison looks at her life, work and legacy, and examines the V&A's new exhibition about her life: 'Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature’.
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Poodles: Bright, questioning and surprisingly hardy — and 'once you're an owner, you won't switch'
Originally known as ‘pudels’ or ‘puddles’, curly-coated standard poodles raise both smiles and eyebrows, not least with their distinctive pom-pom trim. Matthew Dennison discovers more, with photographs by Sarah Farnsworth.
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In Focus: The art of Ford Madox Brown
Known for his bold and thoughtful pictures, as well as a fondness for magenta, Ford Madox Brown was one of the most flamboyantly gifted Pre-Raphaelites, even if he was never a member of the sacred brotherhood.
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How pineapple mania gripped Britain
From the Americas to the roof of country-house follies, Matthew Dennison traces the journey of the pineapple, one of Georgian Britain’s most coveted fruits.
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In Focus: The 100-carat diamond tiara once owned by one of history's greatest spendthrifts
Matthew Dennison takes a look at the life and times of Henry Paget, aka the 'Dancing Marquess', whose legendary shopping sprees saw him blow a vast fortune.
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In Focus: The fine art of cloisonné, the 'appealingly blingy' meeting point of art and metalwork
Flamboyant and colourful, the best examples of cloisonné render flowers, fruits and dragons in a rainbow of multi-hued enamel on metal, enthuses Matthew Dennison.
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In Focus: How Spode went from local ceramics manufacturer to global fame and household name
This year, Spode celebrates its 250th anniversary. Matthew Dennison tells the story of how this English ceramics manufacturer, still based in the Potteries.
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In Focus: Francis Wheatley, the Londoner who immortalised everyday Georgian life across the strata of society
Francis Wheatley RA (1747–1801) is best known today for his ‘Cries of London’, but, as Matthew Dennison explains, he was also a painter of delightful and accomplished portraits and landscapes.
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In Focus: Why Dora Maar’s vision placed her in the first rank of Surrealists
The brilliant, innovative photographer at the forefront of Surrealism was much more than merely Picasso’s mistress, says Matthew Dennison.
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Flatcoat retrievers: The dogs that are charming, endlessly happy and will do anything to capture your heart
Intelligent, devoted and adept at working all country, the flatcoated retriever is the Peter Pan of the dog world with a tail that never stops wagging, discovers Matthew Dennison. Photographs by Sarah Farnsworth.
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Gordon setters: Distinguished, handsome and kindly dogs who deserve consideration
Developed by the 4th Duke of Gordon, the handsome black-and-tan Gordon setter has fallen out of fashion as a working dog, but deserves our attention as a potential pet.
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Curious Questions: Have you been taking books off shelves the wrong way for your entire life?
The question of how to take a book off a shelf without damaging it may not be one you've ever given much thought to — but you owe it to your collection to do it the right way.
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Port Fairy, Australia: The former whaling town with more bite than its name suggests, on Australia’s Great Ocean Road
Cruising down Australia’s Great Ocean Road, Matthew Dennison discovers a former whaling town well worth visiting.
