David Butterfield is a Fellow of Queens’ College, Cambridge, and Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Classics. His academic research covers Latin literature, ancient philosophy and the history of scholarship. Previous books have studied the philosopher-poet Lucretius, the polymath Varro and the scholar-poet A.E. Housman. Outside the classical world, he has written regularly on any subject other than politics for The Spectator, where he is a contributing editor.
"Butterfield's highly readable romp through its history reminds
members of The Spectator club—it has always had a very
clubby feeling—of editorial triumphs and disasters, commercial
horrors and some remarkable luck."
*Literary Review*
"Few journals have cut such a dash through history and culture as
The Spectator, and none have lasted as long. David Butterfield has
immersed himself to excellent effect in the British magazine’s
billion-word digitized archives, paying tribute to a unique
institution as influential now as at any time in its 10,000 issue
history. . . . Butterfield’s book demonstrates that [The
Spectator] has simultaneously helped make and mirror the British
psyche, and to read it is not just to read the mind of the British
right, but also the heart of a complex country."
*Chronicles*
"The Spectator: the greatest magazine in the English language."
*Prime Minister Boris Johnson*
"A gem of a book—in the hands of a superb writer. Butterfield’s
attention to detail is fabulous, his storytelling magnificent and
his playful affection for these often larger than life characters
makes them leap off the page. A delight."
*Emily Maitlis, Newsnight (UK)*
"More than individually surprising discoveries about people and
their strange ways, this history presents an intriguing moving
picture of life inside Britain’s oldest weekly."
*Christopher Howse, Daily Telegraph (UK)*
"A rich and beautifully crafted chronicle, often hilarious and
always informative."
*A. N. Wilson, author of Prince Albert: The Man Who Saved the
Monarchy*
"The Spectator has always had its own mind—and its own life.
David Butterfield has written a first-class biography of
that life: the highs and lows, the feuds and affairs, the best
jokes, the worst decisions—it's a treasure trove. A brilliantly
readable history of the magazine, its life and its times."
*Fraser Nelson, editor of The Spectator*
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