Obituary
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
Haunted by a painting
Pål Enger never quite knew why he had to steal “The Scream”
The petty criminal and former footballer died on June 29th, aged 57
The keeper of memory
Ángeles Flórez Peón, “Maricuela”, made sure Spain did not forget its history
The last militiawoman who defended the Second Republic died on May 23rd, aged 105
Just keep having fun
Willie Mays’s philosophy was simple: They throw the ball, I hit the ball
Possibly the best baseball player ever died on June 18th, aged 93
No witches in this world
Birubala Rabha fought to end the stigmatisation of women
The intrepid campaigner against witch-hunting died on May 13th, aged 75
Out of the window, Earth
William Anders took the photo that kicked off the environmental movement
The Apollo 8 astronaut and nuclear engineer died on June 7th, aged 90
Unearthing ancient mysteries
Barry Kemp spent his career digging up Akhenaten’s abandoned city
The eminent Egyptologist died on May 15th, aged 84
Fixing a likeness
June Mendoza captured both the famous and the unknown
Britain’s most prolific portrait-painter died on May 15th, aged 99
Morality and butchery
Ebrahim Raisi was obsessed with the security of the people
The hardline president of Iran died in a helicopter crash on May 19th, aged 63
Life is too short to stuff a mushroom
Shirley Conran wrote a bonkbuster to teach schoolgirls about sex
The author and campaigner for maths education died on May 9th, aged 91