Turkey stands at the crossroads of world politics: caught between the West and the Middle East; bordering Syria and the frontiers of ISIS; excluded from the EU and governed by an increasingly hard-line leader. Recent events – both the failed military coup and Erdoğan’s subsequent nationwide crackdown – have propelled this young democracy into a new chapter of turbulence. Continue reading
Yesterday, Abbas Kiarostami passed away at the age of 76. The filmmaker, best known for the Koker trilogy (1987–94), Close-Up (1990), Taste of Cherry (1997) – which won the Palme d’Or – was interviewed by Shiva Rahbaran for her book, Iranian Cinema Uncensored: Contemporary Film-Makers Since the Islamic Revolution (2015). Here is an extract of that interview… Continue reading
Time is ticking down. The day is almost upon us. Are you ready to make an informed decision? If not, you might like to do some last-minute referendum related research… Debates have become increasingly heated, emotions are running high, hashtags have been engaged and polls are predicting Brexit. The run up to the EU referendum … Continue reading
Alex Wright, Executive Editor at I.B.Tauris, talked to Philip Almond about his new book Afterlife: A History of Life After Death, which is published on 9 June 2016. ALEX: Phil, I realise to my great satisfaction and pride that you and I have been working together since 1988, the year I published The British Discovery … Continue reading
Excerpts of a 2016 interview with historian Philip Mansel, author of Aleppo: the Rise and Fall of Syria’s Great Merchant City. Dr Mansel describes Aleppo’s colourful history, its trading position, and the vulnerability of cosmopolitan cities, both in the Middle East and elsewhere. (Courtesy: B Hadrian) Philip Mansel is a historian of France and the … Continue reading
In the wake of International Women’s Day 2016, Kirsty Fairclough-Isaacs picks two stand-out moments for celebrity culture and activism over the past year… As a celebrity studies scholar and one who is interested the representations of famous women in mainstream culture, when International Women’s Day approaches, I find myself reflecting on the past year … Continue reading
To celebrate Women’s History Month, here are 4 I.B.Tauris books on remarkable women Continue reading
Eugène Delacroix (1798-1863) Scenes from the Massacres at Chios (1824; Paris: Musée du Louvre) Continue reading
Outside the narrow mainstream, a vibrant contemporary feminist cinema is thriving – and being celebrated – around the world. So why are we not paying enough attention? The headlines didn’t say ‘Iranian Women Conquer America’, but the Sundance success of Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami’s documentary Sonita certainly makes the case. Ghaem Maghami took the Grand Jury … Continue reading
Cornelius Norbertus Gijsbrechts (c.1610 – after 1675), Trompe l’oeil. The Reverse of a Framed Painting, 1670 Continue reading
In the wake of Burma’s historic elections last week, Rory MacLean, author of Under the Dragon reflects on his first visit to Burma, where he met opposition leader and Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi… Continue reading
From the Gulf to Ararat, G.E. Hubbard’s memoir of his time in the Middle East as he negotiated the border that runs from the Persian Gulf to Mouth Ararat, will be reissued this November. His granddaughter, Sue Hubbard, talks about his memories of some of the issues that faced the Turco-Persian Frontier Commission in 1913. Continue reading
Martin Robson, author of A History of the Royal Navy: The Napoleonic Wars discusses the Battle of Trafalgar and its significance, over 200 years later. Continue reading
