Barbara Amiel

In praise of magnificent women

Barbara Amiel on literary greats and everyday heroes

by Barbara Amiel - Thursday, April 25, 2013
Margaret Thatcher—the personification of true grit

Barbara Amiel on a barrier-breaking outsider

by Barbara Amiel - Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Vogue, Mrs. Assad and Joan Juliet Buck

A cautionary tale for those who move in the world of fashionable ideas—with Syria as its setting.

by Barbara Amiel - Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Why these are great times we’re living in

Today, science and technology reign supreme; humanities were for the good old days.

by Barbara Amiel - Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Tori Stafford’s story: a Canadian tragedy fit for Chekhov

The tale is as tragic as any in literature—and even more tragically, true

by Barbara Amiel - Monday, April 2, 2012
Decorating with the rich and famous

Barbara Amiel on catching glimpses of changing cultural attitudes from a magazine

by Barbara Amiel - Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Margaret Thatcher, in fashion at last

‘The Iron Lady’ succeeds despite the acknowledged political gap between its star and its subject

by Barbara Amiel - Monday, January 9, 2012
Murray Frum: The wild bid, the fake and other art tales

He could be defined by many aspects of his life, unfortunately all of them very good, writes Barbara Amiel

by Barbara Amiel - Wednesday, December 14, 2011
This isn’t the way to protect our children

Should we punish Joe Paterno in the 21st century for his retrospective cultural attitudes?

by Barbara Amiel - Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Welcome to prison email, hot chick

Email allows inmates who have never written much more than a bad cheque or dodgy prescription to keep in touch with the outside world

by Barbara Amiel - Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Rigoletto should have had a scooter

A decent society that wastes money on programs of no discernible use shouldn’t balk at giving the disabled the small benefit of free parking

by Barbara Amiel - Tuesday, November 1, 2011
The doctor who had time for people

Barbara Amiel on the death of her cousin, Dr. Robert Buckman

by Barbara Amiel - Monday, October 17, 2011
In my next life I’d like to talk like this

Noël Coward truly knew how to live

by Barbara Amiel - Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Epiphany in Air Canada seat 23D

You’d think, given the prices, “Book of Mormon” audiences would be more finicky

by Barbara Amiel - Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Rupert Murdoch, tabloids, and me

Barbara Amiel on the Sun King’s alternate universe

by Barbara Amiel - Friday, July 22, 2011
Why Kate might need to put on a few pounds

Lotsa luck Kate. Enjoy those bandage dresses while you can.

by Barbara Amiel - Friday, July 8, 2011
As he lifted his leg, I watched, enviously

Stoic about most things, Arpad and Maya were pulled up short by the Great Dane in a smoke grey tutu

by Barbara Amiel - Friday, June 17, 2011
It's true: 'what I want back is what I was'

It’s true: ‘what I want back is what I was’

by Barbara Amiel - Tuesday, April 19, 2011
'You can do it, pie' has been my call to arms

Barbara Amiel on the incandescence of the late, great Elizabeth Taylor

by Barbara Amiel - Friday, April 1, 2011
The woman who shoos off sacred cows

Canadian readers would be absolutely venomous if i wrote that i was purchasing a horse…

by Barbara Amiel - Thursday, March 24, 2011