Obituary
Obituary
Maggie Smith, the dowager countess of comic timing
She could transform herself into anyone, hilariously
The storyteller of Beirut
Elias Khoury encapsulated the confusions of the Middle East
The Lebanese novelist and activist for Palestinians died on September 15th, aged 76
The land of forgetting
Francisco Lopera’s travels in the Andes began to solve a great mystery
The Colombian neurologist and Alzheimer’s researcher died on September 10th, aged 73
Samba plus sunshine
Sérgio Mendes sent Brazil’s party spirit out into the world
The pianist, arranger and bandleader died on September 5th, aged 83
How to mend a cathedral
Simon Verity believed in working the medieval way
The stonemason and grotto-builder died on August 11th, aged 79
The anatomy of love
Helen Fisher found out the science behind romance
The biological anthropologist died on August 17th, aged 79
Sweet stardom
Wally Amos built, and lost, a delicious empire
The showbiz promoter of Famous Amos cookies died on August 13th, aged 88
Running the peaks
Joss Naylor never let any mountain defeat him
The sheep-farmer and champion fell-runner died on June 28th, aged 88
Out of Stalin’s terror
Inna Solovyova studied both stagecraft and the Russian soul
The historian of the Moscow Art Theatre died on May 29th, aged 96
The Country Girl
Edna O’Brien’s books scandalised Ireland
The novelist and playwright died on July 27th, aged 93
Weapons into light
Thomas Neff’s idea rid the world of a third of its nuclear warheads
The physicist and government adviser died on July 11th, aged 80
Let’s talk about sex
Dr Ruth aimed to shake America out of its puritan ways
The psycho-sexual therapist and media star died on July 12th, aged 96