The blog post analyzes Nigel Kneale's 1976 horror episode 'During Barty’s Party', exploring its themes of isolation, societal fears, and the evolution of horror television. It contrasts traditional horror tropes with the modern tr...
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The metadata does not provide a specific summary about the author. The site is named 'Lion & Unicorn', and it appears to be associated with the Twitter handle @LionUnicorn.
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The article reflects on the cultural significance of Paddington Bear over the last decade, particularly in relation to British identity and politics. It discusses the character's origins, his rise to fame through books and films, ...
The article reflects on David Bowie's final album, 'Blackstar,' released on his 69th birthday, and its significance in the context of his life and the cultural landscape of the last decade. It discusses the album's critical acclai...
The blog post celebrates the British television series 'Clangers,' created by Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate, which aired from 1969 to 1972. It describes the show's unique charm, its handmade aesthetic, and its gentle critique o...
The blog post critiques Raynor Winn's memoir 'The Salt Path', which recounts the journey of a couple facing personal hardships as they walk the South West Coast Path. The author argues that despite its commercial success and accla...
Ben Finlay presents a personal selection of the ten best British folk-rock albums from the 1960s and early 70s, highlighting the genre's evolution and significance. The post discusses the origins of British folk-rock, its key figu...
The blog post celebrates the 1978 episode 'Rumpole and the Alternative Society' from the series Rumpole of the Bailey, highlighting its themes of individualism, personal freedom, and the contrast between traditional and alternativ...
5.9Six of one…
2025-08-24 • music history politics cultural criticism
The author reflects on the tenth anniversary of Lion & Unicorn by revisiting twelve significant pieces of writing. These include explorations of historical and cultural topics such as the National Union of Ex-Servicemen, children'...
The article reflects on the stagnation of real earnings in the UK economy from 2015 to 2025, comparing it to previous economic periods. It discusses the impact of inflation, economic policies, and the lack of effective measures to...
Ben Finlay presents a personal selection of ten essential British progressive rock albums, emphasizing a subjective approach to the genre. He reflects on his evolving taste in music and critiques the over-familiarity of classic ti...
5.8The death of fiction
2025-08-09 • social media culture fiction narrative discourse
The article discusses the decline of fiction in contemporary culture, arguing that it once played a crucial role in shaping societal values and fostering social cohesion. The author laments the lack of new fictional contributions ...
The blog post explores the life and works of Alexander Baron, a novelist and TV dramatist who was initially acclaimed but later forgotten. Born Joseph Bernstein in 1917, he had a politically active youth and served in WWII, docume...
The blog post reviews the episode 'The Legions of Ammak' from the 1966 crime series The Baron, highlighting its surprising guest performances, particularly by Peter Wyngarde. It discusses the episode's plot involving a pearl neckl...
The blog post reviews the political comedy film 'The Chiltern Hundreds' (1949), directed by John Paddy Carstairs. It discusses the film's context within British political cinema, highlighting its satirical take on the aristocracy ...
The post celebrates the 10th anniversary of the blogsite Lion & Unicorn, founded by Dan Atkinson, Sam Harrison, and Alwyn Turner. It reflects on the site's evolution, its focus on British politics, culture, and history, and the co...
Ben Finlay presents a curated list of the ten best British blues albums from the 1960s and early 70s, highlighting the emotional depth and originality of the music. Each album is discussed in terms of its historical significance, ...
The blog post reviews the 2003 film 'Johnny English,' a spy spoof that combines elements from James Bond and Inspector Clouseau. It highlights the film's comedic tone, the bumbling character of Johnny English played by Rowan Atkin...
The author reflects on a decade of sports in the UK, highlighting significant events and trends, including the rise of women's soccer, the success of Team GB in the Olympics, and the increasing attendance at sporting events despit...
The text discusses the 2011 film The Eagle, directed by Kevin Macdonald, and its historical context. It explores the success of similar films and the source material for The Eagle. The film is based on the novel Eagle of the Ninth...
The article discusses the trend of making music in the countryside in the late 1960s and early 70s. It mentions the top 10 albums that reflect the communal living and music-making experience during that time.
The text is a review of Carol Reed's 1938 film Bank Holiday. It discusses the plot, characters, and the historical context of the film, as well as the career of Carol Reed and the actors involved.
The text is a guide to the best of British jazz from 1957-79, highlighting the unique British sound and the emergence of originality and talent in the music. It provides a list of the top ten British jazz albums from that period, ...
The text discusses the less celebrated units of the British Army during the Great War, highlighting the essential but unglamorous work of various corps such as the Royal Army Service Corps, Army Catering Corps, Royal Army Pay Corp...
The text discusses Ridley Scott's 1977 film The Duellists, his career, and the challenges he faced in the film industry. It also highlights the success of the film at the Cannes Film Festival and its impact on Scott's career.