The women who loved Picasso shaped his art in surprising ways.

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Why we can't let go of Never Let Me Go

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"We look at paintings to imagine other worlds, other times. They are doors into an alternative, creative way of life."

So writes Sue Roe in her latest book, Hidden Portraits: the Untold Story of Six Women Who loved Picasso. 

And if there was ever an artist who opened the door to an alternative view of the world, surely Picasso qualifies: unorthodox, exhilarating, and experimental, his art broke new ground and made him the most successful artist of the 20th century.

But as is so often the case, his work was underpinned by a series of women - remarkable women - whom Picasso loved, and seemingly attempted to control.

Sue Roe's book tells their stories in turn, unveiling their extraordinary lives, exploring the impact they had on the artist and he on them.

In doing so it reveals, without moralising, some patterns of behaviour by Picasso which one might conclude were, at best, controlling and manipulative. 

This opens up the fashionable question in 2025: can we appreciate the art while recognising that the artist could be a very unpleasant human being.

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Hidden Portraits: the Untold Story of Six Women who Loved Picasso

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Picasso's mistreated muses - book review by Sue Prideaux

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As Putin wages a shadow war across the European continent—and the US commitment to NATO grows uncertain—we ask: would the West really defend the Baltic states if Russia advanced?

Andrew Marr is joined by Oliver Moody, Berlin bureau chief for The Times and author of Baltic: The Future of Europe.

Drawing on deep history, extensive reporting, and sobering military realities, Moody argues that Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are not just small nations on the edge of Europe—they are a test of whether the West still believes in itself.

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Yesterday the US president Donald Trump unveiled his plans for his long trailed tariff liberation day. After a lengthy ‘speech’ about the cost of eggs and why the rest of the world wont buy American chicken and beef, Trump unveiled the quote unquote reciprocal tariffs the US will impose in the coming week.

So do the figures add up? And what will these tariffs mean for the UK and for the global economy?

Andrew Marr is joined by economist and journalist Duncan Weldon.

Read more from Duncan Weldon

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US President Donald Trump has his sights set on making Greenland part of the US, claiming the autonomous, self-governing territory of Denmark is essential "for national security and international security."

However, the vast majority of Greenlanders have said they do not want to become part of the US. Denmark has also strongly opposed the suggestion. Despite this, the US President has continued to pursue the issue - his vice president JD Vance recently visited Greenland to make the case for the US annexing the territory.

Katie Stallard is joined by Markus Valentin, a journalist based in Greenland, and Romain Chuffart, a professor of Arctic Studies, to discuss.

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"Meet your heroes - it'll help you get over them"

Kate Mossman is known for her singular, surprising and ultra-perceptive interviews - in which she often reveals more about her subjects than sometimes they appear to know themselves.

And there is one breed of interview subject Kate has written about more than any other: the ageing male rock star.

If anyone knows about meeting their heroes, it’s her.

In her debut book, Men of a Certain Age, Kate Mossman collects and revisits the interviews she’s conducted with rock royalty such as Kiss, Jon Bon Jovi, Nick Cave, Ray Davies… and her teenage obsession: Roger Taylor of Queen.

In this episode of Culture from the New Statesman Kate join Tom Gatti to discuss her obsession with ageing rockers, and shares some behind the scenes stories of her time with rock royalty.

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Men of a Certain Age is available to pre-order here: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/men-of-a-certain-age-my-encounters-with-rock-royalty-kate-mossman/7792527?ean=9781788705646

SEE KATE LIVE

Kate Mossman in discussion with Alexis Petridis, live in London

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/men-of-a-certain-age-kate-mossman-with-alexis-petridis-tickets-1270535970289?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&_gl=1*25lj0d*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTU1MDAwNzE1Ni4xNzQzMTg1MTYz*_ga_TQVES5V6SH*MTc0MzE4NTE2My4xLjAuMTc0MzE4NTE2My4wLjAuMA..

READ MORE

Kate interviews Jon Bon Jovi: https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2016/11/jon-bon-jovi-on-trump-bono-bieber-and-the-agony-of-his-split-with-richie-sambora

Kate meets Terence Trent D'Arby: https://www.newstatesman.com/long-reads/2015/10/i-was-killed-when-i-was-27-curious-afterlife-terence-trent-d-arby

How Jeff Beck became a guitar hero by saying no: https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/music/2023/01/jeff-beck-interview-tribute-guitar-hero

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How would it work? Can a state really find out how rich someone is? If Britain were to introduce serious wealth taxes, would the super rich simply leave?

Rachel Cunliffe is joined by the political editor Andrew Marr and business editor Will Dunn to discuss the prospect of a wealth text, and the implications of the Houthi PC small group on Westminster's Whatsapp addiction.

Read: Would a wealth tax work?, Westminster’s WhatsApp addiction must end

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Growth has halved, welfare has been cut, and defence is hoovering up more and more. Things are looking, and sounding, pretty grim for the Chancellor - and in yesterday's Spring Statement we learned what the fallout from this harsh economic reality will be.

Rachel Cunliffe is joined by the New Statesman's political editor Andrew Marr and economist Ben Zaranko from the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

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In today's Spring Statement Labour are having to make cuts - and welfare has been hit hard. Last week the health secretary Wes Streeting said that too many people were being written off work due to overdiagnosis. A statement which received considerable backlash.

But what do we really mean by overdiagnosis? And how is it affecting public health?

Hannah Barnes is joined by neurologist and author Suzanne O’Sullivan about her increasing fears of overdiagnosis and the impact it can have on both physical and mental health; what she thinks about those comments from Wes Streeting (and the reaction to them); and the relationship between public policy and health.

This conversation was recorded in partnership with the Cambridge Literary Festival.

If you’d like to register for tickets for the upcoming festival from 23-27 April please follow the link: cambridgeliteraryfestival.com

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Kazuo Ishiguro's most popular novel is as relevant today as when it was published 20 years ago.

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When it was published in 2005, Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel Never Let Me Go was acclaimed by critics and shortlisted for the Booker Prize. 

Twenty years on – having been adapted for stage and screen and adopted as a set text for schools – it is Ishiguro’s most read work, and is considered a modern classic.

Why does this profoundly settling book continue to absorb us? And what does it tell us about the role novels play in helping us grapple with the ethical dilemmas created by advances in science and technology?

The critic David Sexton has been re-reading Never Let Me Go and joins Tom Gatti on the Culture from the New Statesman to discuss the impact of Ishiguro's most popular work.

RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE:

Winner of the 2025 Booker Prize, Samantha Harvey, on her novel Orbital - and how "political choices are sculpting the surface of the earth"

https://www.newstatesman.com/podcasts/culture-podcast/2024/11/booker-prize-winner-samantha-harvey-political-choices-are-sculpting-the-surface-of-the-earth

READ

David's essay: Kazuo Ishiguro's everyday dystopia

https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/books/book-of-the-day/2025/03/kazuo-ishiguro-never-let-me-go-everyday-dystopia

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Are Labour on track for their target of 1.5million homes? What is NHS England? Why can't the Green's electrify the left in the same way that Reform has done for the right? What will the consequences be of cutting international aid?

Hannah Barnes answers listener questions with the New Statesman's political editor, Andrew Marr, and associate political editor, Rachel Cunliffe.

Read: Labour’s housing slump

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The prospect of peace in Ukraine, Liz Kendall's welfare cut announcements, and while Kemi Badenoch flails as Conservative leader ... who's waiting around the corner for her job?

Hannah Barnes is joined by Andrew Marr and Rachel Cunliffe to discuss this week in Westminster and beyond.

Read: A Labour welfare revolt is still brewing, Diane Abbott rails against Keir Starmer, What went wrong for Kemi Badenoch?, Who could succeed Kemi Badenoch?

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