Author Archives: Charles Lambert

Sharia hits fan

Posted on February 10, 2008 by Charles Lambert

Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has created a brouhaha after suggesting on Radio 4 that the acceptance, or ‘accommodation’, in the UK of some aspects of Sharia law might be ‘unavoidable’. This is already the case, apparently, with Sharia courts … Continue reading →

Posted in islam, politics, religion | 3 Comments

Returns

Posted on February 8, 2008 by Charles Lambert

I’m off to England for the weekend to celebrate my mother’s 92nd birthday. See you next week.

Posted in birthday, mother | 6 Comments

Home from home

Posted on February 6, 2008 by Charles Lambert

Occupied with more pressing matters, Berlusconi won’t be grieving beside his mother’s tomb on a daily basis. He’s done the next best thing. He’s had her buried between a stand-up comic and Wanda Osiris, soubrette.

Posted in berlusconi | 2 Comments

It’s the money, stupid

Posted on February 6, 2008 by Charles Lambert

Clemente Mastella, ex-minister of justice and the man who brought down Prodi’s government, isn’t just a consummately self-regarding politician. He’s also a newspaper editor. Like all Italian parties, UDEUR, Mastella’s gang of hangers-on, cronies and relatives, has the right to … Continue reading →

Posted in corruption, italy, money, politics, prodi | Leave a comment

Used already!

Posted on February 5, 2008 by Charles Lambert

The first second hand copy of Little Monsters to appear on the market can now be obtained from Loch Croispol Bookshop, the most north-westerly bookshop on the UK mainland, in the remote village of Durness. It’s a bound proof and … Continue reading →

Posted in little monsters | 2 Comments

Sue Barker’s beard

Posted on February 5, 2008 by Charles Lambert

If, like me, you can’t stomach Cliff Richard you’ll enjoy this piece by Terence Blacker very much. My mother used to say: If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. How wrong she was.

Posted in music | 9 Comments

NQR

Posted on February 4, 2008 by Charles Lambert

You may need to click on this to see it properly, but, believe me, it’s worth it. It comes from a revealing article by Robert Hudson in today’s Guardian, called Medical Confessions. I particularly like TEETH (Tried Everything Else, Try … Continue reading →

Posted in homoeopathy, work | Leave a comment

Mug shot

Posted on February 2, 2008 by Charles Lambert

If you’ve spent more than a few days in Rome you’ll probably have left the traffic of Largo Argentina behind you and paused by the turtle fountain in Piazza Mattei and thought, for a moment, how wonderful it must be … Continue reading →

Posted in art, freedom of speech, photography, politics | 5 Comments

Ross Leckie: Hannibal

Posted on February 2, 2008 by Charles Lambert

One of the problems with historical fiction is that the reader is likely to have a fairly clear idea of what happens. This is particularly the case when the fiction deals with the illustrious dead. Novels about Napoleon and Marie … Continue reading →

Posted in hannibal, review, ross leckie | 1 Comment

Riparliamone

Posted on January 31, 2008 by Charles Lambert

For Italian speakers, here’s the wonderful Paola Cortellesi casting a wry glance (as they used to say) at the Italian situation, character, political opportunism, and so on. She’s interrupted by the appalling Serena Dandini, but I can’t do anything about … Continue reading →

Posted in humour, italy, politics | 1 Comment