Philip Roth: ‘It no longer feels a great injustice that I have to die’

In a rare interview, Philip Roth, one of America’s greatest living authors, tells Danish journalist Martin Krasnik why his new book is all about death - and why literary critics should be shot

Sound and fury

Nick Cohn tells how the alienation and anger of New Orleans exploded into a whole new genre of hip hop in his best book yet, Triksta, says Sean O'Hagan.

Waiting for God

Blake Morrison finds some comfort in memoirs from Richard Hoggart and George Melly, and a celebration of growing old disgracefully from Susanna Johnston, Late Youth.

Great Scott

Kevin Rushby applauds Scott of the Antarctic, David Crane's fine biography of the flawed polar hero whose death was his finest hour.

What curriculum?

Frank McCourt's account of his time working in New York high schools, Teacher Man, sees him on top form, says Rebecca Seal.

The Miller’s tale

Carolyn Burke follows Lee Miller from artist's model to documenting Dachau, but throws little light on her troubled later years, says Peter Conrad.

Borborygmic Burgess

Andrew Biswell's The Real Life of Anthony Burgess has failed to capture its subject's rollicking, manic energy, says Anthony Thwaite.

A spoonful of bile

Even Valerie Lawson's sympathetic biography of PL Travers, Mary Poppins She Wrote, reveals little to love in the creator of Disney's favourite nanny, says Kathryn Hughes.

Poetic licence

Vincent Carretta's controversial life of an abolitionist hero, Equiano the African, only adds to his heroic stature, argues David Dabydeen.

Hurricanes’ roar

The Oxford Book of Caribbean Verse vividly captures how West Indian poets have answered history, says Bernardine Evaristo.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Peter Bradshaw: Gorgeous to look at, superbly cast, wittily directed and funny and exciting by turns.

Letters from the edge

Malcolm Brown reveals the emotional side of a hero renowned for his coldness in his biography and his selection of Lawrence of Arabia's correspondence, says Martin Bright.

If there was a cage, he’d rattle it

Richard Ingrams remembers one of Britain's most accomplished investigative journalists in My Friend Footy, says John Kampfner.

Mixed emotions

Bernice Rubens fills her poignant memoir, When I Grow Up, with life and humour. She seems almost too animated a writer to have died, says Kate Kellaway.

America the bountiful

Sean O'Hagan finds a more reflective Louis Theroux revisiting some of his richest television sources in The Call of the Weird.