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Reviews

Books: Museums, Equality and Social Justice

Sharon Heal is engaged by a provocative book that asks how museums can help challenge inequality and injustice

Museum of East Anglian Life, Stowmarket, Suffolk

The interpretation at this museum about life in East Anglia is firmly focused on involving the visitors, an approach that Jane Weeks enjoyed greatly

Peterborough Museum, Cambridgeshire

Peterborough's redeveloped museum has a lot going for it, but Maurice Davies is unsure whether it’s good enough to thrive in the long term

Victoria Revealed, Kensington Palace, London

Nicky Ryan is thrilled by the innovative new approaches to telling the story of Queen Victoria’s life at the recently revamped Kensington Palace

Catalogue: The Unexpected Guest

Sally Tallant on an ambitious book created for the Liverpool Biennial

On my bookshelf

Transformation of a Valley: the Derbyshire Derwent by Brian Cooper

The Novium, Chichester

Rebecca Atkinson found beautiful and informative displays at the Novium but was left wondering what role the museum will play in the local community

Musselburgh Museum/John Gray Centre, East Lothian

Simon Stephens on two very different museums that have opened recently in East Lothian

On my bookshelf

Natural History Collecting by Reg Harris

Catalogue: Francis Bacon to Paula Rego

Jeanette Edgar on why Abbot Hall's 50th anniversary was the chance to publish a special catalogue

Books: Banksy: The Bristol Legacy

Timothy Mason on a hugely enjoyable book that assesses the impact that street artist Banksy had on Bristol when he returned to his home city to put on a show

Joseph Wright of Derby Gallery, Derby Museum and Art Gallery

The dramatic works of Derby's most famous son are shown to great effect in a new exhibition. By Stuart Burch