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NATURE’SNUMBERS IAN STEWART commends the scientists who want to turn biology into a branch of mathematics.

Numbers up. Page 34

39 GENERATION GAP ALLAN MASSIE is nostalgic for the Little Englanders as British fiction floats away from its native shores.

Writing for England. Page 39

WITNESS 44 DEAR GREEN PLACE JEREMY CLARKE gets a hairy kiss in Glasgow and discovers the Irn-Bru in its soul. Is it still Miles Better?

REVIEWS 50 LAS VEGAS LESSONS DEYAN SUDJIC describes the poverty of architectural theory and the intellectual insecurity at the heart of the profession.

53 “I WAS THERE” MARTIN ROSENBAUM looks at inconsistencies in politicians’ memoirs.

54

RUSSIA’SFLEURS DU MAL LESLEY CHAMBERLAIN explores why Russian novelists remain anchored in the past and asks who can liberate them. 58 SCHLOCK OF THE OLD CHRISTOPHER TOOKEY asks whether Demi Moore is anyone’s idea of a 17th century puritan. 60 NATIONAL INTEREST MARC JORDAN praises an exhibition of paintings from National Trust houses.

INTERVIEW 62 JONATHAN MILLER MARK IRVING talks to Jonathan Miller about who’s who on the intellectual catwalks in France and Britain.

BRIEFINGS 68 THE RISE AND FALL OF INFLATION KIT MCMAHON discovers that Britain’s inflation record is not as bad as its reputation and warns against exaggerated inflation fears.

Glaswegian diva. Page 44

72 AMERICA’SPUNISHMENT INDUSTRY RICHARD FREEMAN For the first time last year, public expenditure for prisons in California was greater than spending on higher education. Is this what the public really wants?

SPECIAL REPORT

76 THE UN— MISSION IMPOSSIBLE DAVID HANNAY responds to critics of the UN’s record since the end of the cold war and says that the organisation is here to stay.

ENDS 81 DIGEST Graham Allison on nuclear terrorism; Robert Reich on US corporations.

86 THE PROSPECT CROSSWORD DIDYMUS

REGULARS 43 CHARACTERS BY THEO The meta-professor: he speaks in italics; his pauses are polyglot.

61 MODERN MANNERS RACHEL POLONSKY on culture in St Petersburg.

67 THE NET POSITION JOHN CARR on the net before you’re born.

75 WHAT IF? PETER KELLNER the Attlee government had dropped steel nationalisation.

80 SOCIAL NOTEBOOK PAUL BARKER on the new shopping landscape.

85 BRUSSELS DIARY MANNEKEN PIS

88 PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS MARCELLE D’ARGY SMITH on enjoying her Jewishness.

PROSPECT February 1996 3