Issue 1474

Rule of the exception
Henry Rollins may no longer be making music but his spoken word shows retain the intensity of his hardcore gigs. The former Black Flag frontman tells Ricky Stack about the things that continue to enrage him – and the things he can do nothing about.

Winter walks
Literature, lost villages, and of course pubs to warm up in. As winter conditions make another appearance across the North, Roger Ratcliffe laces up his boots for four rewarding rambles in the region.

A family to fear
In her new book Sarah Clegg walks readers through 4,000 years of serpents, sirens and succubae. Here she writes about the the top female demons (and one bloke) of the ancient and medieval world, which all happen to be related.

Plus
News, arts and entertainment, economist James Meadway on potential losers in the race to net zero, Jon Snow’s letter to his younger self and more.