Looking for something brilliant to read this weekend? We've curated six of the most fascinating and thought-provoking articles from the last seven days, covering topics from high-stakes geopolitics and the hidden inspirations of great art to the science of social connection and gripping television drama.
From the Oval Office to the Arctic Circle
Donald Trump's interest in purchasing Greenland was not a passing whim but a strategic notion encouraged by a billionaire friend, an investigation reveals. According to former national security adviser John Bolton, Trump summoned him to the Oval Office to discuss the idea after it was suggested by Ronald Lauder, heir to the Estée Lauder cosmetics fortune. Guardian correspondent Tom Burgis explores Lauder's own business interests in the autonomous Danish territory and the strategic reasoning behind this remarkable fixation.
Inside England's Prisons
A powerful long read examines the traumatic rise of murders within prisons in England and Wales. Former prison officer Alex South describes the hotspots for violence—such as exercise yards and showers—and the peak volatile times like mealtimes. The piece argues that while these incidents deeply traumatise both inmates and staff, violence within the prison system is not an inevitable fact of life, prompting urgent questions about rehabilitation and safety.
The Artist Behind the Master?
Did the world-famous Dutch painter Piet Mondrian owe his revolutionary grid-like compositions to a lesser-known British artist? A new spotlight falls on Marlow Moss, a cross-dressing lesbian artist who lived in a Cornish cove. Joanna Moorhead celebrates this extraordinary talent, who died in obscurity, presenting compelling visual evidence that Mondrian's iconic style may have been significantly influenced by Moss's earlier, strikingly similar geometric abstractions.
Neuroscientist Ben Rein provides a compelling case for the life-extending power of friendship in a post-pandemic world. In an interview with Emma Beddington, Rein explains the biological and psychological mechanisms through which socialising and maintaining strong connections can contribute to a longer, healthier life, offering a timely reminder of its importance.
The explosive popularity of the gay hockey TV drama Heated Rivalry among women is analysed by Julia Carrie Wong. The show's success, she suggests, reveals a widespread desire for narratives about sex and romance that are free from traditional violence and power hierarchies, prompting intriguing questions about contemporary gender relations and fantasy.
Finally, acclaimed author George Saunders, known for Lincoln in the Bardo, speaks to Sophie McBain about his latest metaphysical tale. He reflects on profound themes of mortality, the state of partisan politics in Trump's America, and how a terrifying mid-air flight emergency fundamentally changed his perspective on life and writing.
