30 MARCH 2002, page 39

Anatomy Of A Tyrant

Philip Hensher THE FEAST OF THE GOAT by Mario Vargas Llosa Faber, f16.99, pp. 404, ISBN 0571207715 T his ugly, mesmerising, masterly novel is as steeped in facts as Macbeth was......

That Damned Elusive Ghost

Jane Gardam OLD MAN GOYA by Julia Blackburn Cape, £16.99, pp. 239, ISBN 0224062794 T he biographical novel, or imaginative biography where the author awards himself or herself a......

Conversations In Church Hanborough

'Buckler found that steeple tricky. You've seen The drawing he did? It's in the church guide.' Outside The Hand and Shears, chance-met, we chat. It's some years,' I say, `since......