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I S S U E 2 6 8 • A P R I L 2 0 1 1

Ed’s letter…

THE CHAMPAGNE corks have been popping at Oldie Towers yet again, with the news this month that our circulation has risen to a record figure of 38,540.

But we do not rest on our laurels. There are still lots of people out there whose lives remain sadly unenriched by The Oldie. Many of them, alas,

may never have heard of it.

With this in mind I am appealing to subscribers to fill in the form on the back of the carrier sheet that comes with your copy. Supply us with the names and addresses of six potential converts and you will receive a free 2011 Oldie Annual.

RICHARD INGRAMS

FREE! The Oldie Review of Books Our quarterly literary supplement contains features, comment and objective summaries of reviews of 50 of the most-talked about books

C O N T E N T S

Review of Books

R E V I E W O F T H E R E V I E W S Review of Books

Whatthecriticssaid

OVER 50

OVER 50 OF THE BEST BOOKS COVERED INCLUDING Paul Auster Auberon Waugh Amanda Foreman Patrick French

Tony Judt Jane Gardam Simon Garfield Hans Fallada Julian Barnes Henry Hitchings Mordecai Richler

Judith Flanders Hugh Thomas Ernest Hemingway Usain Bolt Adam Mars-Jones Giles Milton

John Gray David McKie Anna Pavord …and many more

Quentin Letts on the recent glut of political memoirs

Faulks on Fiction: was it any good? Memories of a Gulag boss

A R O U N D - U P O F R E V I E W S • N O T J U S T T H E B E S T S E L L E R S

14

12

12 PEARLS OF WISDOM Melanie McFadyean talks to Alice Herz-Sommer

STILL WITH US: LESTER PIGGOTT Jamie Douglas-Home on racing’s favourite son 22

ABC Primary Figure: 38,540 Subscription rates for 12 issues: UK £37.50; Europe £42; USA £43; Rest of World £52.50

The Oldie is published by Oldie Publications Ltd, 65 Newman Street, London W1T 3EG

ISSN 0965-2507. Printed in England by St Ives plc

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All rights of reproduction are reserved in respect of all articles, drawings, sketches etc. published in The Oldie in all parts of the world. Reproduction or imitation of any of these without the express prior written consent of the publisher is forbidden.

The Oldie is available in audio format for the benefit of blind and partially sighted readers through the Talking Newspaper Association. Tel: 01435 866 102 or visit: www.tnauk.org.uk for further details.

Cover illustration by: Martin Honeysett

32

48 OLDIE OF THE YEAR AWARDS Photos from the only awards ceremony that matters

DARK CENTENARY John Bray on Scientology’s founder L Ron Hubbard 19

30 MILITANT TENDENCIES Mark Seddon recalls the golden age of student unrest

44 INSIDE STORY A day in the life of prison-based probation officer Howard Rainer

34 CANTERBURY TALE Edward Enfield does battle with the train ticket system

Edward Enfield does battle with

38 I ONCE MET… Edward Mirzoeff’s encounter with Richard Dimbleby

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