Books
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Writer and critic Catherine Taylor explains how the French writer became the ‘great chronicler to a generation’
• Annie Ernaux wins the 2022 Nobel prize in literature -
As he releases his first short story collection, the revered writer talks about magic, the problem with superhero movies and why he will never write another graphic novel -
The actor’s first novel brilliantly conveys the life and times of an 18th-century composer, from his birth on a slave ship to thriving in London society
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In this selection of essays, the prize-winning Kenyan author, who died in 2019, shines a light on his continent without cliche -
Ten writers appearing at the Lviv BookForum, run this year in partnership with the Hay festival, discuss why we need books more than ever -
The vagabond life of a brilliant but doomed European genius
What to read
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From Ukrainian history to Putin’s kleptocracy and Gogol’s stories, author and former Russia correspondent Oliver Bullough chooses the best titles -
Looking for a new reading recommendation? Here are some exciting new paperbacks, from the history of a public space to fascinating memoirs of food and fame -
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A murky alliance between intelligence agencies, among them the UK and US, is revealed in a scandalous tale of mistrust and misjudgment, including British teenager Shamima Begum being smuggled into Syria by a Canadian spy -
In a disarmingly candid memoir, the Blur guitarist relates the madness of fame and addiction, his unease with Britpop, and how folk led him to greener pastures -
The Victorian biologist and anthropologist TH Huxley and his Unesco director grandson, Julian, are compelling twin poles in this wonderfully ambitious saga of a scientific dynasty -
This rich history of economic thought shows that the concept of completely unfettered trade is an extremely recent invention
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A 50-year-old treasure hunt haunts its creator’s daughter, detectives Strike and Robin pursue a mysterious cyber-criminal, and Tuva Moodyson, and a creepy home provides chills -
Two former sociology students revisit the radicalism of the 1980s in an explosive examination of class, politics and memory -
Days Like These by Brian Bilston; A Little Resurrection by Selina Nwulu; England’s Green by Zaffar Kunial; After Sylvia, edited by Ian Humphreys and Sarah Corbett; Journeys Across Breath by Stephen Watts
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A fascinating collection of early fiction foreshadows motifs and concerns that Cohen the performer later mined across decades -
Set against the backdrop of the pandemic, the Booker-shortlisted author’s monumental new novel is her most nuanced and intensely moving to date -
A novella and short stories from the 1950s showcase Cohen’s fascinating self-fashioning, but also a taint of bitterness
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A tender portrait of adoption; a zebra on the run; an uplifting poetry anthology; an exceptional YA debut; and more -
Frances Hardinge’s gripping tale of redemption, stories of the Syrian war and a Swiss finishing school for the undead -
Bad manners in the jungle; a magical inner-city tree; galactic danger; a conservationist call to arms; plus the best new YA novels
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The writer of the novel that inspired the hit TV series starring Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington talks about how her new book turned dystopian after Trump came to power -
The award-winning Argentinian author on how the language of horror fiction merges with her country’s history, what Stephen King taught her about writing and using ‘testers’ for her male sex scenes -
The author on his latest ‘whole-life’ novel, the brutal realities of modern publishing and the inspirational influence of Catch-22
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Elizabeth Strout There’s a quiet rumbling of violence in America. Is it going to expand and explode?
The Booker-shortlisted author on the enduring popularity of Olive Kitteridge, cancel culture and why she couldn’t avoid US politics in her latest Lucy Barton novel -
The US playwright on the traumatic impact of Bell’s palsy on her life, the dangers of judging on appearances and why Jo from Little Women is her literary heroine -
The Atonement author answers your questions on why he continues to write to what he would do if he wasn’t a novelist
Regulars
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The author on the underrated brilliance of PG Wodehouse, taking inspiration from Harper Lee, and the play that made her think differently about Northern Ireland -
The leader of the Harlem Renaissance wrote poems and plays, short stories and children’s books. If you’re new to Hughes’ work, here are some good places to begin -
Every human brain is different – it’s time to embrace the diversity of our experiences
You may have missed
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In The Jukebox Heart, this posthumously released work, the great singer-songwriter imagines a young romantic courting a mysterious, beautiful woman. Will it end in Hallelujah – or so long Mariette? -
The beloved writer of the Wolf Hall trilogy and Beyond Black has died. Here, leading contemporaries pay tribute -
Growing up in Pakistan , the novelist experienced the euphoria of free elections and the disillusionment when vested interests reasserted themselves. She reflects on the parallels with Westminster today -
After he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the Discworld author began an autobiography. He never finished it, but seven years after his death, his long-time assistant has taken up the task
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