Books

A stunning new novel captures the weight of history on a country rinsed with regrets

In spite of human rights and its ongoing threat to Taiwan, Brexit and concerns over the union could soon force us to align with the communist state

HV Morton was a pioneering travel writer of genius.. and also a philandering, racist snob

With Nineteen Eighty-Four more relevant than ever, a group of Orwell enthusiasts – in special company – visits the remote house on the Inner Hebridean island of Jura where he wrote his dystopian masterpiece

As the country faces its greatest crisis, a writer has delivered one of its greatest novels

For many of us, holidays offer a chance to catch up on our reading and in our post-Covid, post-Brexit world, so too does tortuous travel. CHARLIE CONNELLY has you covered

There is a link between UK foreign policy and recent global traumas. So what is our place in the world, and what kind of country do we want to be?

Unless we change our thinking, we will never achieve a revolution in our understanding of reality. We need to shed our ignorance

My books pledge and hope that while they have your attention you will not be alone, and that the same will be true when you are finished

Two centuries since his dramatic death at sea, the legacy of Percy Bysshe Shelley lives on

A remarkable account of illegal travels through the deserted villages and towns near Chernobyl

He wrote fantasy, horror and crime, invented music criticism.. and had time for a day job too

A newly translated novel portrays Europe as a dilapidated hotel that’s wallowing in nostalgia

Once colonised and abandoned, Ireland's capital is buzzy and booming. But whether it is truly European remains unresolved

Spine-tingling stories of our relationship with the most perfect format of them all.. the book

Could understanding contemporary Russian literature have given the west an insight into Putin’s intentions?

A new book, Madwoman, is a poignant tribute to America’s first female investigative journalist. Author Louisa Treger explains why her legacy is crucial now more than ever

The death of the travel writer Dervla Murphy marks the end of an era of great adventurers

Norway’s humane approach to rehabilitating prisoners is at odds with many Europe nations. And it is a remarkable success

A new auto-narration service turns any book into an audio version. And it’s terrible

To render any word unspeakable and un-writable is to impose totalitarian double-think rather than advance the cause of racial justice

When Teffi grew sceptical of the revolution, she headed for Paris, writing a masterpiece on the way

Across the world, democracy is in rapid retreat as populism, polarisation and post-truth have given the whip hand to a new breed of autocrat. The consequences are dramatic

The reluctance of men to explore the wealth of outstanding fiction by female writers is baffling

How the video social network has raised sales figures and revived forgotten titles

Comedy is regarded as the lowest form of writing. It should be considered among the highest

Even inside his own monogrammed funeral casket the writer of Don Quixote remains an enigma

The latest – and last? – novel by Michel Houellebecq, France’s most controversial writer, takes on politics

The works by great authors that were left on trains and buses... or accidentally smoked

The surprising European roots of stories like Beauty And The Beast reach back to the Bronze Age

Online events have kept us going during Covid, but nothing can replace the real thing

A former journalist’s debut novel explores our fascination with the partners of dictators