PLAYING THE ROLE: Zelensky in the comedy series Servant of the People
HENRY BELL is fascinated by the underlying curiosities and contradictions of one of the great poets of the Mediterranean
DAVID RENTON recommends a books that explores the ways in which disabled people are made to feel both of and not part of this world
JONATHAN TAYLOR is fascinated by the philosophical problems that permeate the art of life-writing
GORDON PARSONS steps warily in between the lines of Britain’s most famous diarist
SIMON DUFF recommends a recording of Arvo Part that takes the listener on a pilgrimage through seemingly distant times and events of the Bible
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY has been called many things. To some he is a hero, valiant defender of a small nation against a mighty one, David to Putin’s Goliath, or a saviour, turning back an invasion by sheer willpower.
To others he is a stooge, playing at diplomacy while not actually knowing what he is doing or, worse yet, a puppet, with the US, Nato and Ukrainian oligarchs pulling his strings.
But, perhaps the more accurate characterisation of Zelensky is to take seriously what he is in actuality — an actor, one who has been called upon to play at least four roles.
The federal government’s plans to finance the war in Ukraine with Russian assets, and a possible deployment of German troops, put the population in Germany in the highest danger, argues SEVIM DAGDELEN
GORDON PARSONS steps warily through the pessimistic world view of an influential US conservative
