James and John by Chris Bryant review – the cost of being gay in 19th century London
The Labour MP tells the story of two men tried and executed for having sex nearly 200 years ago
The Promised Land review – Mads Mikkelsen is a Euro Gary Cooper in Nordic western
Inspired by a true story about a retired 18th-century army captain turned farmer, Nikolaj Arcel’s brash drama is entertaining, if a little preposterous
Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind by Molly McGhee review – a dark American dream
A dream auditor sweeps up workers’ nightmares so as to maximise profits in a world not so different from our own
Maurice and Maralyn by Sophie Elmhirst review – all at sea
The electrifying story of a couple who set out on an ocean adventure – and got far more than they bargained for
Intervals by Marianne Brooker review – a daughter’s angry and profound memorial to her mother
The author’s singular account of her parent’s illness and decision to hasten her death is written with remarkable clarity and precision
Cold Crematorium: Reporting from the Land of Auschwitz by József Debreczeni review – hell on earth in poised prose
An eminent journalist’s remarkable Auschwitz memoir balances the epic crime of the Holocaust with the minutiae of daily dehumanisation
Rapture’s Road by Seán Hewitt review – a hide and seek of the self
Nature reveals and conceals Hewitt’s identity in his stunning second book of poems, a set shot through with yearning and sacred imagery
Burma Sahib by Paul Theroux review – George Orwell’s Burmese days vibrantly brought to life
The US writer’s fictionalised portrait of the young Eric Blair’s time with the imperial police in Burma is a keenly felt and vividly researched account of colonial bigotry and power
In brief: Splinters: A Memoir; Fervour; Elderflora: A Modern History of Ancient Trees – review
A jolting memoir of motherhood, a gripping debut novel about family politics and faith, and a fascinating study of our relationship with ancient trees
The House of Broken Bricks by Fiona Williams review – a tender tale of race and roots
A biracial family in rural Somerset struggle with relationships and identity in a debut novel of subtle originality
A Song for Ella Grey review – Orpheus casts a fateful spell over teenage dreamers
David Almond’s young adult novel is brought to life in a soulful production that weaves its mythical elements with imagination
Better Broken Than New by Lisa St Aubin de Terán review – from bank robber’s bride to best young novelist
The author’s warm and shrewd account of her incident-packed existence is a hymn to her survival skills
The week in theatre: The Hills of California; Metamorphosis; Candace Bushnell: True Tales of Sex, Success and Sex in the City – review
Dreams of fame trap and inspire in Jez Butterworth’s female-centred, Blackpool-set new play; Lemn Sissay takes a personal approach to Kafka; and the Sex and the City creator is full of unsurprises
Silent Cavalry review: Howell Raines’ fine work on southern resistance
The former New York Times editor’s remarkable book on Alabamians fighting for the Union in the civil war, and his own family history
Breaking Through: My Life in Science by Katalin Karikó review – real-life lessons in chemistry
This vivid account of the Hungarian biochemist who endured decades of derision before pioneering Pfizer’s Covid vaccine is a tribute to her tenacity and self-belief