ADVERTORIAL • January 2021

Have a happy ‘news’ year with The Spectator

With 2020 fading in the rear-view mirror, we’re optimistic for happier news this year. And what better way to keep abreast of events – while earning up to 12,500 Avios – than by subscribing to the world’s longest established weekly news magazine, The Spectator? Here’s a taste of the topics that the magazine covers, and what you can look forward to when you sign up

Politics

Like a master trapeze artist, The Spectator walks the line between opposing sides of the political spectrum, offering new insight and nuanced opinion on the talking points in and out of Parliament. Columns at the time of writing include SDP politician Patrick O’Flynn on the wrestling match between Labour MP Clive Lewis and Secretary of State Priti Patel, and Scottish journalist Alex Massie on ‘the Sturgeon paradox’, and how “the worse she does, the more popular she becomes”…

Society

They’re the subjects and discussions that affect us all, ranging from the fluffy stuff, such as whether the traditional cricket tea is under threat, to the arguably more profound questions of climate change impact and environmental affairs. In his December piece, ‘Are heat deaths on the rise?’, writer Ross Clark examines why the statistics should be carefully examined, and how potential misinterpretations – spread through respected sources – can be dangerous. You’ll also get words on sport, pandemic-proof board game reviews and the excellent Tanya Gold on food.

International

The Spectator is a British institution, but its horizons have always been broad. So it stands to reason that the magazine’s offering on international affairs is as rigorous and expertly written as its domestic content. From Russian security and crime lecturer Mark Galeotti on the country’s wariness over Putin’s vaccine programme, to James Forsyth on the squeaky-bum Brexit timeline, to Anna Richards on why Poland and Hungary might be the next two countries to lead an EU rebellion, you’ll be up to date on the latest overseas news ahead of your travels.

Books

If there’s one thing we were able to do more, rather than less of in 2020, it was reading. And we don’t intend to slow down this year, which is why The Spectator’s extensive library of book reviews has been a godsend. Last year, thanks to the compellingly written critique by Scott Bradfield of William Souder’s John Steinbeck biography, Mad at the World: A Life of John Steinbeck, we learned how committed and meticulous the Nobel prize-winning writer’s research was for Grapes of Wrath. We also picked up some great Christmas present ideas from Martin Gayford’s round-up of 2020’s best art books, and got the scoop on Barack Obama’s best-selling autobiography, A Promised Land.

Art

If it’s cultural nourishment you’re looking for, The Spectator is an all-you-can-eat buffet. Beyond books, you’ll find digestible content on everything from the most scintillating current exhibitions to coverage of classical music, dance, theatre and what’s hot in the world of opera. Films and TV more your thing? You’ll never get stuck in one of those endless Netflix trawls again, with reviews and recommendations of the best things to watch – at home and in the cinema – arriving through your letter box every week as a subscriber.

Digital

Why wait a week? Add the digital package to your print subscription and all of the above – plus a whole lot more – will be available at the click of a mouse. You’ll get additional content such as commute-busting podcasts and Spectator Life, a digital lifestyle magazine stuffed with more of the same expert writing on topics such as travel, health and wine and food. You’ll also have access to the Spectator Wine Club and the calendar of Spectator Events, which bring the magazine’s world-class journalism to life.