This tells me that wine lovers are still entranced by French wine, so here are three to be getting on with: Cuvée Fleur Rosé 2008 Vin de Pays de L'Herault (£3.89, Waitrose ; 12% abv) is a rustic rosé with bite, freshness and character, more charming than many a more expensive bottle, and one I'd swig from a Duralex tumbler.

We read the contract with an eye to how it could be made to look to voters.

The radical party agitated for the region to secede from the confederation and establish self-government.

The interests of the Russian aristocracy — the boyardom — which by definition defended the social limitations on power (since these were a matter of life and death for it), did not contradict the interests of the peasant proto-bourgeoisie, which by definition defended the economic limitations on power (also a matter of life and death).