Volume 52 Issue 8 August 2002

One of the most admired and reviled film makers in the history of cinema was born on August 22nd, 1902.

Jonathan Hughes looks at the significance, in alchemical terms, of this reign, and what the King himself made of alchemical prophecy.

Craig Clunas considers what we can learn of the society of Ming China by looking at how paintings were used as gifts.

Giles Worsley explains why so many country houses were demolished in the last century.

On August 11th, 1952, the Jordanian parliament declared that King Talal was suffering from schizophrenia and was unfit to rule and that Hussein was now King of Jordan.