William Shakespeare’s will, 1616, via
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A more sensible market for post-war and contemporary sales
Anna Brady, Apollo
As the global economy sputters, so does the art market. [Imagine that.] In Anna Brady’s report for Apollo on the recent post-war and contemporary sales at the major auction houses, she identifies a notable cooling of the previously scorching market. So what can we expect in the coming months? Brady quotes Christie’s Jussi Pylkkanen who says that the buzzwords will be “well curated lots, well priced.” Those who have looked at the recent upsurges with astonishment will be comforted by Brady’s assessment: “It’s a more sensible market, but despite all the talk and wider events, it’s far from doom and gloom.”

‘Polishing Poo’: Cameron’s Dirty Deal with the EU
Andrew Stuttaford, National Review
Last week we identified the puzzling situation in Britain, where despite near-perfect conditions for a Brexit, the leave vote still trails in recent polls. This week, Andrew Stuttaford of National Review dissects David Cameron’s foundering efforts to secure a better “deal” for Britain to remain in the EU. As Stuttaford tells it, “even on the most favorable construction, the deal does next to nothing to restore Britain’s control over its borders, next to nothing to return any powers to its parliament, next to nothing to extricate Britain from the jaws of ‘ever closer union,’ and nothing at all to restore supremacy to its courts. Adding insult to injury, what’s been thrown the country’s way are, for the most part, not even scraps but promises of scraps, promises that may well not be binding.” Out it is, then.

The best Will in the world: this year's top Shakespeare shows
The Art Newspaper
This year marks the four-hundredth anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. In recognition, The New Criterion will devote its annual April poetry issue to an examination of the Bard. Other institutions have their own commemorations planned and this week The Art Newspaper lists its picks for the top commemorative exhibitions. Shows span the cultural world, featuring architectural drawings, letters, paintings, and even the only copy of the Lout from Stratford’s will.

From our pages:

Confucian confusions
Eric Ormsby
Eric Ormsby reviews the final volume of A. David Moody’s biography of Ezra Pound

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