Alexander Lee

For Whom the Bull Tolls

Ernest Hemingway’s love of bullfighting bordered on obsession. Did he see his own insecurities reflected in the ring?

Sexual Eeling

The slippery subject of eel reproduction evaded human understanding for millennia.

A History of Monkeys

From wall paintings in Egyptian tombs to the margins of illuminated manuscripts, we have always used portrayals of monkeys to express our more animal side.

A History of the Wolf

The most maligned of creatures, since ancient times, wolves have played a central role in mythology.

A History of Salt Cod

The origin of bacalhau, the Portuguese national dish with a global past of ingenuity and exploitation.

A History of Chop Suey

Chop suey arrived with the Gold Rush, spread with the railway and endured prohibition. Although Chinese by origin, it was claimed by America.

A History of Börek

From Turkish börek to Balkan burek, the celebrated dish of the Ottoman Empire spread far and wide.