After the same county lifted the MacCarthy Cup on seven occasions in the noughties, the decade that followed was always going to be more democratic.

A Book of Voyages

THE swashbuckling high-seas adventure Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is set during the Napoleonic wars where England is struggling to contain the power of the all-conquering Bonaparte.

The cult novels of Patrick O'Brian have always been treated as things to be highly protected by their millions of fans; already they are complaining that Weir has taken too many liberties in his epic film.

A real British naval commander came face-to-face with the Hollywood version tonight as the Prince of Wales met heartthrob Russell Crowe at the UK premiere of his latest movie.