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Culture

The best art exhibitions to see in 2025

From 14th-century Siena to female modernists, the year’s most exciting exhibitions chart an evolving Western tradition.

By Michael Prodger

Photo of The best art exhibitions to see in 2025

Ethel Cain’s American Gothic

Ethel Cain’s American Gothic

Emily Bootle

25 books to read in 2025

New Statesman

Babygirl casts a cynical eye on the post-MeToo workplace

Ann Manov

Elsa Morante’s wild, compelling fiction

Ellen Peirson-Hagger

Lessons from the afterlife

Lessons from the afterlife

Sophie McBain

Robert Eggers’s Nosferatu: a spooky but oddly cold take on the vampire story

Simran Hans

Interviews

John Simpson: “No matter the danger, I wanted to strut my stuff”

The Kate Mossman Interview

John Simpson: “No matter the danger, I wanted to strut my stuff”

Kate Mossman

Self Esteem: “I’ve been maturing my disgust at societal norms”

Self Esteem: “I’ve been maturing my disgust at societal norms”

Kate Mossman

Sathnam Sanghera: “Of course we’re doomed. It’s what gives life its fizz”

Sathnam Sanghera: “Of course we’re doomed. It’s what gives life its fizz”

New Statesman

Sally Rooney: “We’re trapped in a cultural moment”

The Culture Interview

Sally Rooney: “We’re trapped in a cultural moment”

Fintan O’Toole

Reviews

Did the Tories create modern Britain?

Richard J Evans

The indulgent sadness of Angelina Jolie’s Maria

Simran Hans

Elton John’s The Devil Wears Prada musical can’t improve on the film

Elton John’s The Devil Wears Prada musical can’t improve on the film

Kate Mossman

Jesse Eisenberg’s A Real Pain is a masterpiece

David Sexton

Playing Nice is good, clean, twisted fun

Rachel Cooke

The happiness diary

The happiness diary

Elle Hunt

The long read

Why the novel matters

Why the novel matters

We read and write fiction because it asks impossible questions, and leads us boldly into the unknown.

By Deborah Levy