Helen Castor: ‘I’d rather not live in such interesting times’

The British historian on the drama and resonance of the lives of Richard II and Henry VI, the writers she most admires and the book she wishes she had written

Trevor Noah: ‘I’ve met a few people where I’ve thought – yeah, you’re probably an alien’

On the publication of his first children’s book, the comedian and presenter answers pithy questions from Louis Theroux, Susie Dent and more on Trump, his mother and what makes a great rollercoaster

‘Elephants show immense interest in corpses’: Susana Monsó, the philosopher examining what animals know about death

Do other species understand that life ends? Do they mourn and even bury their dead? The Spanish academic and writer is looking for answers

‘Coal jobs were out, opiates were in’: how shame and pride explain Trump’s rural popularity

Sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild spent years in America’s whitest and second-poorest district. She discusses what she found

‘I’ve dealt with anti-hillbilly bigotry all my life’: Barbara Kingsolver on JD Vance, the real Appalachia and why Demon Copperhead was such a hit

As the Pulitzer-winning author’s little-known first book is published in the UK, she discusses the roots of division in the US, her wild childhood, and putting the story straight about where she’s from

Nobel prize winner Olga Tokarczuk: ‘We live with violence and misogyny like some sort of constant illness’

The Polish author on her new horror novel, the genius of John Cheever and chasing the London of her dreams

Attica Locke on the US election: ‘It’s white Americans that have to fix this’

The Highway 59 author discusses the influence of politics on her crime novels, how Beyoncé caused a backlash, and why Trump’s re-election is not as likely as it seems

Tim Winton: ‘I lived in the worst possible space for seven years. It knocks some paint off you, I can tell you’

After years of wrestling with difficult subject matter in secrecy, the Australian novelist talks about the grim future he has imagined for his latest novel, and how it can be avoided

‘If we can’t tell the truth … we can’t run Attica’: Ben Shewry on the failings of fine dining

In his new memoir the acclaimed Melbourne chef calls out ‘incredibly problematic’ restaurant awards and toxic hospitality culture

‘Are you good in bed?’ Jilly Cooper on horses, lefties and which fictional character she would like to sleep with

As her much-loved story Rivals is turned into a lavish Disney+ production, the author answers questions from Observer readers and famous fans including David Tennant, Caitlin Moran and Gillian Anderson

Stuart Murdoch: ‘I feel like this book will be the Trainspotting of ME’

The Belle and Sebastian musician on his new novel, inspired by his years of illness, choirs and his love of Victorian authors

Philomena Cunk: ‘A mind is for speaking, not for thinking’

The amateur historian and presenter discusses which law she would abolish, her search for the meaning of life, and how she had to write her latest book herself

Beyond The Tipping Point: Malcolm Gladwell on Covid, Trump and what he got wrong

Twenty-five years after his bestselling debut, the author has updated it for ‘a more anxious age’. So which of his theories stood the test of time – and what does he find ‘embarrassing’ to read now?

Liane Moriarty: ‘I was wondering, “How is everyone on this plane going to die?”’

The global best-selling author on anxiety, eavesdropping and being grateful to be alive

Alice Oseman: ‘I’m 50 pages into writing the final Heartstopper… I’m excited but it’s also bittersweet’

The creator of the bestselling graphic novels and TV series on turning 30, making playlists for her books and why it’s important to her to be visibly political