Is being a ‘gentleman’ really a genuine aspiration for anyone today?

Philip Hensher: Social mobility has been on the decline since the 1990s. Could it be that a new enthusiasm for learning how to be a gentleman heralds a revival

Roland Meighan obituary

Other lives: Educational academic, researcher and author who was an advocate of home schooling

What book would you send to a prisoner?

Regulations introduced by the justice secretary Chris Grayling that stop people sending books to prisoners in England and Wales, have caused outrage among writers, teachers and prison experts. But what titles would they send?

Jane Goodall blames ‘chaotic note taking’ for plagiarism controversy

Scientist revises her book Seeds of Hope after allegations 12 sections were lifted from other websites

Prison books row: justice secretary could face legal action, says lawyer

Leading human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson QC intervenes against Chris Grayling as Nick Clegg backs book-sending ban

Joanna Trollope: ‘I’m amazed my archives have raised any interest’

Teased for her 'Aga sagas', Joanna Trollope thought no one would want her archive but Oxford snapped it up. She is thrilled – as well as hopping mad about the announcement of a ban on posting books to prisoners, writes Decca Aitkenhead

The prison book ban will cause a real catch-22

Tanya Gold: Chris Grayling's restriction on prisoners' reading material will spark a vicious cycle where they'll likely earn less too

Chineasy peasy: Noma Bar brings fun and colour to Chinese characters

When ShaoLan Hsueh realised her children didn't have the patience to learn Chinese, she wanted to simplify it for them – so she worked with graphic artist Noma Bar on a new book that turns a fiendish world into a visual treat

The big steal: rise of the plagiarist in the digital age

Thanks to the internet, it has never been easier to steal other people's work. There's also a high risk you'll be found out. So why do it? Rhodri Marsden goes in search of a little originality

Cambridge college drops ‘Beautiful South’ themed ball

This week's student news: contemporary southern US theme for May ball discarded amid accusations of racism

Steve Carell to star in cancer memoir The Priority List

Actor attached to adaptation of book by teacher diagnosed with brain cancer aiming to reconnect with former students

Novelist Kureshi is wrong: creative writing helps us respond to literature

Creative writing, under fire from professor Hanif Kureshi as a playground for future bestseller writers, is in fact a demanding academic discipline that is transforming the study of English

Nicholas Brooks obituary

Historian, archaeologist and authority on the Anglo-Saxons

I agree with Hanif Kureishi – creative writing courses are a waste of time

The novelist and professor Hanif Kureishi has voiced criticism of creative writing courses – and having been on one, I find it hard to disagree. Share your experiences below

Creative writing courses have their uses – but pick one carefully

Anna Davis: Why is Hanif Kureishi teaching writing if it's a 'waste of time'? Courses can help writers find out if they've got what it takes