The Foghorn’s Lament by Jennifer Lucy Allan review – a whole world in a sound
From Shetland to San Francisco ... in praise of the coast’s most monstrous and melancholy sound machines
Circus of Wonders by Elizabeth Macneal review – atmospheric Victoriana
An egotistical ringmaster gives his “monsters” a chance to shine in this glittering follow-up to The Doll Factory
Pedro and Ricky Come Again by Jonathan Meades review – dandyish Hulk rampage
From Duchamp to Orwell, fascism to Brexit … this collection of journalism and speeches showcases one of the world’s best haters, who has never composed a dull paragraph
Lean Fall Stand by Jon McGregor review – slogging it out in the frozen wastes
A polar adventure becomes a tale of recovery that evokes unstinting grind with too much accuracy
Summer Brother by Jaap Robben review – empathic portrait of a dysfunctional family
A young boy looks after his disabled sibling in this shrewd and humorous International Booker-longlisted novel
Whereabouts by Jhumpa Lahiri review – hypnotic disappearing act
An unnamed woman in an unnamed city wavers between solitude and brief encounters in a spare examination of alienation
In brief: Love in Five Acts; The Musical Human; Footprints – reviews
Stories of female desire and ambition, an all-encompassing history of music, and our shocking environmental legacy
The Secret to Superhuman Strength by Alison Bechdel review – no pain, all gain
The author of Fun Home reflects on self-improvement, death and her lifelong obsession with exercise in an extraordinarily generous memoir
The Twelve Lives of Alfred Hitchcock by Edward White review – looking for Mr Fright
This innovative biography of the director – a wily tormentor of audiences and colleagues – is most successful when tracking his contemporary influence
New York, New York, New York review: superb reflections on a city resurgent
Thomas Dyja offers a clear-eyed history of a city which came back from the brink, which remains a citadel for immigrants - but which still lies at the mercy of money
Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller – fierce, angry energy
Middle-aged twins who lived in rural isolation until their mother’s death rail against ‘civilisation’ in Fuller’s skilful tale
The Gun, the Ship, and the Pen by Linda Colley review – how the modern world was made
The vital role of war ... a virtuoso global study of how nations were formed and constitutions written upends the familiar narrative at every turn
Madam Speaker review: how Nancy Pelosi bested Bush and Trump
John Boehner calls the Democrat the most powerful House speaker ever. Susan Page’s authoritative biography shows why
Children’s books roundup – the best new picture books and novels
Spies, ships’ captains, terrific tantrums and more – plus the best new YA novels
How the Just So Stories were Made by John Batchelor review – an origin story of origin stories
A scrupulous account of the brilliance and family tragedy that lies behind Kipling’s joyful collection of animal stories