Freedom and the Arts: Essays on Music and Literature
To fully appreciate great works of art one must be tuned into history, discovers Mark Berry

To fully appreciate great works of art one must be tuned into history, discovers Mark Berry

New league table aims to identify the rising stars of the global academy. John Morgan reports
The man who kept Berkeley from sinking as California slashed its budget will step down this year. He tells Zoë Corbyn how disaster was averted even though huge challenges remain
Chris Hackley is wrong when he suggests that we need a more humane and compassionate style of doctoral examination ("The kindness of strangers", 24 May). In fact, what we need is more respect for...
While raising a number of valid concerns about the external assessment of PhDs in the UK, Chris Hackley seems to take consumer sovereignty beyond its limits (if it is indeed appropriate to education...
For those of us who have long been active in developing educational and research provision beyond these shores, it is heartening to learn that David Willetts, the universities and science minister,...
I welcome ߣߣÊÓÆµ's argument that we don't just need more British students to study abroad: we need to encourage a wider range of universities to support student mobility as part of...
The University of Southampton's Centre for Global Englishes is to be welcomed ("A word of advices: let speakers of Englishes do it their way, UK told", News, 17 May). Much as the tradition of British...
Regarding "Pianist wants comeback as review hits bum notes" (News, 10 May).I am currently organising a short season of recitals involving professional musicians to be funded by business sponsorship...
I very much enjoyed the eulogy of Van Morrison by neuropsychiatrist Ray Dolan ("And he stoned me", Features, 24 May). But maybe that is because I too am a long-time "Van the Man" fan.Yet, while...
Mary Evans' "Heartbreak hotels" (Opinion, 24 May) served little purpose. The appropriate reaction to the lamentable "service" she described was: first, complain to the hotel manager face to face and...
Helen Sword's book Stylish Academic Writing has an interesting title. Could you publish a review of the contents? ("Prose to die for, by the Spade-ful", Books, 3 May).Martyn Thomas, London

One of the world's leading experts on sleep has died.Ian Oswald was born in London on 4 August 1929. He was educated in the capital and at the Herbert Strutt grammar school in Belper, Derbyshire -...

Weekly transmissions from the blogosphere
University of East LondonDresses to impressBudding fashion designers presented their work to the Queen during a stop on her Diamond Jubilee tour of the UK. Mikaela Cephinis, a foundation textiles and...