Tracey Thorn: ‘I went through a phase of carrying Camus under my arm’
The musician on rereading her teenage diaries and why she’s now a fervent fan of Jack Reacher
Dr Rachel Clarke: ‘Wrinkles, middle age, grey hairs… these are reasons to celebrate’
The palliative care doctor on her moving new memoir, Boris Johnson’s broken promises, and why the way we treat dying people should be the number one metric of a civilised society
From war carnage to Greek idyll: the 1917 team take on The Magus
Flushed with awards success, Sam Mendes and his partners at Neal Street Productions reveal their latest film, TV and theatre projects
From fig leaves to pinups: Mary Beard on the evolution of the nude
The male gaze has shaped art’s obsession with the naked body. Mary Beard offers a female perspective
Eimear McBride: ‘Women are really angry. I feel a deep, burning sense of injustice at the way women are treated’
Her modernist debut explored the trauma of a young woman, while her latest novel examines the loneliness of middle age. The novelist talks about powering fiction with fury
Liz Moore: ‘It made a big impression to know early what addiction was’
Long Bright River portrays the blight of addiction in Philadelphia and in a troubled family. The novelist explains how her own experience informed its story
Gary Beadle: how I took on the curse of EastEnders – and won
Albert Square’s bad boy was told leaving would end his career. But he has no regrets. He relives his journey from Bugsy Malone to existential Cormac McCarthy play
Jonathan Safran Foer: ‘Why don’t Extinction Rebellion issue specific ideas? They are awfully vague’
The bestselling author explains why simple changes to our diet are a good way to address the climate crisis
Richard Layard: ‘It’s in politicians’ self-interest to make policies for happiness’
The economist on the science of happiness – and how it can help us rethink the world
Maaza Mengiste: ‘The language of war is always masculine’
The Ethiopian-born novelist on her book about the female fightback against Mussolini’s invasion of her homeland and the lure of Moby-Dick
Jacqueline Woodson: ‘It’s important to know that whatever moment we’re in, it’s not the first time’
With more than 30 children’s books to her name and Judy Blume and the Obamas as fans, the US bestseller has written a book for adults. She explains why
TS Eliot prize-winner Roger Robinson: ‘I want these poems to help people to practise empathy’
From a lament for the victims of Grenfell Tower to snapshots of Windrush arrivals … activist, musician and poet Roger Robinson discusses the inspiration behind his prize‑winning collection
Raising the bar: Hashi Mohamed’s journey from child refugee to top lawyer
He defied a life of poverty and hardship to reach Oxford and become a barrister. Now Hashi Mohamed has written a book which aims to rethink the stalled project of social mobility
Jo Nesbø: ‘We should talk about violence against women’
The Norwegian author of the Harry Hole detective series on Tom Jones and his soft spot for a crime cliche
Pippi Longstocking: can the world’s strongest girl conquer Britain?
Karin Nyman tells Richard Orange of her hopes that a new film and musical will lead another generation of readers to her mother’s subversive heroine