Nicholas Thirkell obituary
Designer who shook up ideas of what a book cover should be and gave the Independent newspaper its distinctive look
Thich Nhat Hanh obituary
Zen Buddhist monk and peace campaigner who brought mindfulness to the west
Lalage Bown obituary
Adult educationist whose anthology Two Centuries of African English helped transform approaches to literature in the continent
Adrian Crilly obituary
Other lives: Lover of literature and art who was content with a life centred about his books
Trevlyn D’Cruz obituary
Other lives: Managing director of the publishing company New English Library in the 1970s
Joan Didion obituary
Detached observer of American society and political life through her collections of journalism, novels and screenwriting
Almudena Grandes obituary
Radical Spanish novelist, newspaper columnist and cultural commentator determined to tell the truth about the Franco era
Sylvère Lotringer obituary
Critic and writer who launched postmodern French theory in the US but became better known for his role in his wife’s memoir I Love Dick
bell hooks obituary
Trailblazing writer, activist and cultural theorist who made a pivotal contribution to Black feminist thought
Anne Rice obituary
Leading writer of supernatural fiction whose 1976 novel Interview With the Vampire was turned into a hit film
Nawal El Saadawi remembered by Mona Eltahawy
The influential and fearless Egyptian feminist author, doctor and government official is remembered by the journalist and social commentator
Janet Malcolm remembered by Michael W Miller
The US journalist on his aunt, whose exacting vision – from her writing to her elegant dinner parties – was an expression of love and generosity
Jacky Flurscheim obituary
Other lives: Editor at Oxford University Press who oversaw one of Britain’s most distinguished poetry lists for more than 20 years
Katharine Whitehorn remembered by Edie Reilly
The pioneering Observer journalist, columnist and agony aunt is remembered by her devoted personal assistant for her kindness, intelligence and sense of fun
Mark Huband obituary
Foreign correspondent respected for his work in west Africa and the Middle East who went on to write books and poems