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Books

Book reviews, author interviews and literary news.

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Books stories

Freddie Foreman obituary

Murderous gangland criminal who consorted with the Kray twins and was jailed for the 1983 Security Express robbery

Duncan Campbell12 Oct

The Weight of Angels by John Boyne review – what if Oscar Wilde had lived?

The great Irish writer died, a broken man, at only 46. Imagining a second act for him is a great idea – but the results are sentimental and unconvincing

Neil Bartlett12 Oct

Peasants by Maryam Aslany review – why an ancient way of life may hold the key to our future

Modernity means cities – or so we’re told. This bold new study of those who make their living from the land argues otherwise

Joe Moran12 Oct

John Branfield obituary

Other lives: Teacher who made a mark as a writer of novels for teenagers and was also a noted art collector

Susan Branfield11 Oct

‘The crime fiction I’m interested in is political’: Ian Rankin on his new novel about the super-rich

The bestselling writer talks about leaving Edinburgh for London in his latest mystery, and what the future holds for Rebus

Alex Clark11 Oct

‘People forgot I existed’: Audrey Niffenegger on taking 14 years to write a sequel to The Time Traveler’s Wife

Her debut made her a global star. Now she has finally written a follow-up – and this time, it’s political. She talks about impostor syndrome, screen adaptations and becoming radicalised

Sophie McBain10 Oct

Mao’s Last Dancer Li Cunxin on his long-awaited follow-up: ‘I don’t think my publisher expected it to take 14 years!’

As The Lucky Son picks up where Cunxin’s 2003 memoir left off, the renowned Chinese Australian ballet dancer reflects on sacrifices made by his wife, his years at a stockbroker, and his success leading the Queensland Ballet

Tim Byrne9 Oct

‘Infinite genius’: Yiyun Li on Anne Carson

When her sons died, the Book of Goose author turned to Grief Lessons, Carson’s translation of four plays by Euripides. She reflects on the ‘life sustaining’ work of an extraordinary writer

Yiyun Li9 Oct

The best recent science fiction, fantasy and horror – review roundup

The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle; As You Wake, Break the Shell by Becky Chambers; The Eye of Goliath by Diego Muzzio; Our Cut of Salt by Deena Helm

Lisa Tuttle9 Oct

AK Blakemore: ‘The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt was extremely silly and bad’

The poet and author on F Scott Fitzgerald’s perfect novel, losing faith in Ernest Hemingway – and the recent debut that blew her away

AK Blakemore9 Oct

Please, sir, can I have a walk? Dickens biographer finds likely inspiration for Oliver Twist

Exclusive: Theresa Musgrove unearths newspaper archives showing one Alice Shepherd was severely punished in 1836 for similarly innocent request

Dalya Alberge9 Oct

The Queerest of Folk by Russell T Davies review – the groundbreaking screenwriter tells it like it is

From Coronation Street to It’s a Sin, Davies’ memoir of a career in TV is also a rallying cry for creativity

Rebecca Nicholson9 Oct

Where to start with: Anne Carson

From essays on sexual jealousy to retellings of classical Greek tragedies, here’s a guide to the Nobel prize winning writer’s catalogue of work

Fiona Sampson8 Oct

Anne Carson wins Nobel prize in literature 2026

Most prestigious literature prize goes to Canadian known for genre-crossing works such as Autobiography of Red

Emma Loffhagen and Leyland Cecco in Toronto8 Oct

The Starving Bride by Catherine Chidgey review – a girl wastes away in a gothic near-future

The New Zealand author’s ninth novel is gorgeously written, but feels tame and almost quaint against the real world of GLP-1 drugs and looksmaxxing

Beejay Silcox8 Oct

Book of Lives by Margaret Atwood audiobook review – a dryly funny memoir

The Handmaid’s Tale author reflects on her loves, losses and literary achievements in a memoir that showcases her wisdom and wit

Fiona Sturges8 Oct

Canadian poet Anne Carson wins Nobel prize in literature 2026 – as it happened

Swedish Academy says Carson selected for her ‘bold and inventive oeuvre’

Ella Creamer, Philip Oltermann, Emma Loffhagen and Molly Bennett8 Oct

Queensland literary awards: ‘stunning’ debut inspired by segregated shantytown wins top prize

Lenora Thaker wins $30,000 prize for ‘a work of state significance’ for The Pearl of Tagai Town, which draws on her ancestors’ stories in Cairns-Malay Town

Sian Cain8 Oct

Agate Head / Stone Soup by Patricia Lockwood review – a gem of a collection

Inspired by stones and metals, the memoirist and novelist’s first poetry collection for more than a decade is charming, whimsical and intimate

Rishi Dastidar8 Oct

Letter: Sir Anthony Kenny obituary

Rory Murphy: For a technician who left school at 17 to find himself negotiating with the master of Balliol was daunting, but Kenny was courteous, supportive and in no way patronising

Rory Murphy7 Oct

Anne Carson and Can Xue favourites to win Nobel prize in literature

The Canadian poet and Chinese experiment writer are the bookmakers’ favourites to win, with Haruki Murakami, Gerald Murnane and Margaret Atwood also in the mix

Ella Creamer7 Oct